Q: I am hosting a BBQ for around 10 to 15 close friends. My boyfriend and I are pescatarian, and while I am open to inviting the carnivores in attendance to bring their own hot dogs or other meat, I want to make one "main" that everyone can eat, too.
So I am looking for a fairly inexpensive fish (since I need to buy a lot of it) that will be good prepared in a simple way on the grill.
Any thoughts and/or recipes?
Sent by Arielle
Editor: Arielle, here are a few ideas from the archives:
• Fish and Shrimp on the Grill: 8 Quick Recipes for Summer
I especially like the idea of doing halibut in small foil packets, along with plenty of vegetables. You can stretch just a few pounds to feed quite a lot of people this way. If you do go with halibut, look for Alaskan or Pacific wild-caught halibut, which is well-rated by the Seafood Watch. Atlantic halibut has been quite overfished and is ranked as "Avoid" for that reason.
Readers, any thoughts or ideas for Arielle?
Related: How to Cook a Whole Fish
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I have fond memories of grilled rainbow trout in the summertime.
Make gravlax and then cut it in inch thick strips and grill them quickly, the skin should be slightly charred but the center should be uncooked. There is an image (and Swedish instructions) here
Tilapia, while delicate, grills well. It is good dressed in some cumin- pepper-lime juice and grilled for fish tacos which are good inexpensive lo-key party food.
Just wanted to remind you that not all carnivores eat fish, so it is not "something that everyone can eat". Im only saying this because I went to three consecutive fish-only events over memorial day weekend and got tired of eating sides. If you want something "everyone can eat", make a great and filling vegetarian main course and have some fish as an add on to the meal. This also allows you to spend a little more on the quality and type of fish, since it's not the feature item.
Great vegetarian grilling options? Make your own pizzas cooked on the grill, stuffed portobellos, Vegetable packets (that you could add fish too).
(and I will step off my soapbox now).
No mention of Branzino anywhere? About $10 for a whole one. Split it and stuff it with lemon, garlic and herbs, S&P to taste. Brush the skin with olive oil, and slap it on a hot grill.
Saba no Shioyaki: Mackerel, filet or whole. Sprinkle a little salt on both sides, leave the skin on and toss on the grill. Take only a couple minutes to cook. Delicious, rich/oily, and cheap.
howzabout shrimps? Make some nice kabobs. Easy, fast and cheap.
Char-grilled squid with chilli and lime!
We used to do tialipa in foil packs with a bit of butter, chopped ginger and lemongrass, lime juice, and a splash of soy. Delicious!
But shrimp are also super good--pesto marinated, chipotle marinated, whatever.
I've never thought about mackerel, @Domyoji--that sounds like a great idea!
I would second Mackerel!
There was just a post covering grilled sardines:
http://www.latartinegourmande.com/2007/07/20/sardines-on-the-gril-rule-les-sardines-grillees-sont-reines/
I love mackerel too, but it can be too fishy for some people.
fi_burke: That's why Arielle is suggesting that her friends bring any mains they'd like to grill too. If you don't like fish, then don't go to the barbecue or bring your own main. It's pretty simple.
Mussels!
whole sardines!
Another person for whole sardines! So lovely grilled and everybody can get their own fish.
instantphoebe - That solution would be simple but then how else would fi_burke be able have his/her daily announcement to everyone about his/her food allergies/aversions?
Wow, instantpheobe and sygyzy. I was just responding to the comment in the original post that clearly stated "I want something everyone can eat". If the questioner really does value that, vegetarian is the way to go. And yes, while she said she is "open to inviting the carnivores in attendance to bring their own hot dogs or other meat", she did not yet say that she was definitely going to do that.
If she does that, great! I just think it's something that people planning parties forget: Just because someone is not a vegetarian, that doesn't mean they eat everything.
When I host parties I try to get a good sense of peoples likes and dislikes, mainly because if they don't get enough to eat, they will leave early because they're hungry, which I don't want.
Does anyone have a great seafood grilling recipe they would like to share? Beacon Light Seafood is having a grilled seafood recipe contest. Entries are due on Monday 6/13/11. http://seastarcorp.com/news/beacon-light-extends-deadline-for-spring-grilling-recipe-contest
@fi_burke, You're misenterpreting the "that everyone can eat" statement. She doesn't mean everyone as in carnivores and vegetarians alike. She means everyone as in all of her guests. As in, people can bring their own food, but everyone can also eat her main dish if they'd like.
fi_burke, I'm coming to your defense here because the statement she made struck me the same way. I thought "fish?" You usually can't get that many people to agree on what fish they like eat. Plus there are too many people who don't like eating fish peroid (my husband is one) So as for a dish "everyone would eat" I would say fish is not a great choice. It's her party and she can roll it, but unless I know a group of people real well and their seafood habits, I wouldn't do it.