Sturgeon has long been called tsar, or tsar-fish in Russia. Not a single princely and subsequently royal feast could do without baked or steamed sturgeon. Today, sturgeon in natural conditions are on the verge of extinction, so the royal fish is grown in specialized sturgeon farms, and black sturgeon caviar is officially banned for industrial production.
What is she, the king-fish
Previously, the distribution area of the royal fish - sturgeon - was quite extensive. It was found in the Volga, Amur, Don and Irtysh, sturgeons were caught for the tsar's table even near Tver. Cases have been recorded when specimens under 7 meters long and weighing more than 200 kilograms came across in the fishermen's nets. But it seems that there are no such giants left - the fish are simply not allowed to grow in those reservoirs where it is still found - this is the lower reaches of the Volga. The last large specimen, more than 5 meters long, was caught in the 40s of the last century.
Despite the fact that sturgeons are one of the oldest groups of living vertebrates, human greed has now brought them to the brink of extinction. And, although they are listed in the Red Book, their livestock is constantly decreasing. The royal fish is consumed for the sake of black caviar and meat, which are valuable both in their nutritional properties and in taste. Sturgeon contains a whole complex of essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, many vitamins and microelements.
Its distinctive feature is the high content of glutamic acid - a natural taste improver, which determines the truly "royal" taste of this fish. In addition, sturgeon contains a large amount of omega-three acids, vital for metabolism, prevention of atherosclerosis, improvement of brain function and increase in life expectancy. Even the number of calories is ideal in this fish - there are 98 kcal per 100 g.
The sturgeon must be butchered immediately, while still alive, since the causative agents of botulism are in its intestines.
The cost of sturgeon is quite high, so its regular use is not available to everyone, but it is perfect for a festive table, because any dish made from it is guaranteed to be a culinary masterpiece.
Sturgeon shashlik. Sprinkle the sliced fish with red sweet paprika, ground coriander, salt, drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. Marinate at room temperature for an hour.
What can be cooked from sturgeon
This fish is good in any form - a delicious rich ear is obtained from the head, fins and tail, you can make a sauce from sturgeon, steam it, bake it in the oven, fry it in a pan and just dry it. Sturgeon stuffed with ripe fresh tomatoes, whole baked and poured with lemon juice is very tasty. One of the most delicious cooking methods is sturgeon shashlik.
