Do you feel like being adventurous in fish preparation? If you do, we are here to guide you by telling you all that you need to know about the best fish cookbooks.
For instance, we are going to point out some of the things you need to look out for to land the ideal fish cookbook. Some of these factors include:
- The author of the book
- How the illustrations are done
- Use of pictures
- The price, among others
Check out the following reviews, which we have done on a sample of fish cookbooks, amongst which you should find your best pick.
Top-Rated Fish Cookbooks in 2023: Comparison List
Listed below are the 7 top-rated fishing cookbooks. Keep scrolling for the detailed reviews of each one of them.
| Ranking | Name | Language | Hardcover |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The MeatEater Fish and Game Cookbook | English | 368 pages |
| 2 | Afield: A Chef’s Guide to Preparing Wild and Fish | English | 272 pages |
| 3 | Pike Place Public Market Seafood Cookbook | English | 144 pages |
| 4 | Fish Without a Doubt: The Cook’s Essential Companion | English | 448 pages |
| 5 | Fish: The Complete Guide to Buying and Cooking | English | 544 pages |
| 6 | Fish & Shellfish: The Cook’s Indispensable Companion | English | 418 pages |
| 7 | Good Fish: 100 Sustainable Seafood Recipes from the Pacific Coast | English | 336 pages |
1. The MeatEater Fish and Game Cookbook by Steven Rinella
Do you wish to try out fish cooking for the first time? Then this cookbook would be your ultimate guide.
It is authored by a renowned fish cook, who also hosts a podcast (MeatEater Podcast), and he shares with you some of his methods of preparing fish and game.
The book features over 100 game and fish recipes, plus it also contains appetizers and main courses.
In the end, you should be a versatile cook who would have no problem preparing the fish in the kitchen, on the campfire, or on the grill.
Pros
- Prepared by a seasoned expert
- Ideal for beginners and pros
- Offers versatility
Cons
- Some books arrive with warped pages
2. Afield: A Chef’s Guide by Jesse Griffiths
If you like being adventurous in the kitchen, then the Afield cookbook is just for you. With over 80 recipes, the book aims to equip you with knowledge on how to prepare various fish and game such as deer, catfish, rabbits, and so on.
The book is well-organized with simple illustrations on various topics such as hunting, butchering, and cooking.
Since an award-winning author prepares the book, you can rest assured that you would be receiving genuine and reliable tips and techniques.
Pros
- Delicious recipes
- Easy-to-understand illustrations
- Tips on butchering and hunting also included
Cons
- Number of recipes could always be more
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3. Pike Place Public Market Seafood Cookbook
For the restaurant chefs, here is a handy fish cookbook. Besides cooking, the book also teaches you how to cut the fish open as well as how to store it.
Authored by Braiden Rex-Johnson and Jeff Koehler, the book features over 500 recipes on how you could prepare over seventy fish species.
What’s more, is that it involves fish that are readily available in the market.
Whether you are a novice or an expert, this book covers all angles, including grilling, frying, and smoking fish.
Pros
- Packed with many recipes
- Involves readily available types of fish
- Easy-to-follow recipes
Cons
- Could have used pictures to make illustrations easier
4. Fish Without a Doubt: The Cooks’ Essential Companion
Inspired by the Pike Place Public Market, this cookbook features over 50 recipes, including Classic Romesco, Shellfish Risotto, and Glazed Salmon.
The book is prepared by Rick Moonen, who is an award-winning author, the book borrows several ideas form the specialists involved in the making of the Pike Place Public Market.
It utilizes pictures to make the presentations easier, plus it also features photos of people close to the fish market to make things more interesting.
Pros
- Features unique recipes
- Well-organized
- Uses pictures for illustrations
Cons
- Very few recipes
5. Fish: The Complete Guide to Buying and Cooking
Prepared by a celebrated seafood chef, this book offers you simple and detailed techniques on how you could prepare fish. On top of that, it features 70 types of fish that are readily available in American stores.
The book contains extensive guides on how you could prepare the fish, including how to gut and store them.
Further, you will get information on the best cooking procedures for the fish, including frying, sautéing, grilling, among others.
It would be hard for you to exhaust all the 500 recipes available in this book.
Besides the preparation, the book also contains handy buying guides on the fish.
Pros
- Photography used in the illustrations
- Ethical (no endangered fish species)
- Roughly 500 recipes to choose from
Cons
- Some recipes are complicated for beginners
6. Fish & Shellfish: The Cook’s Indispensable Companion
The author of this book, James Peterson, offers you all you need to know about preparing seafood. It includes useful information on grilling, steaming, frying, baking, marinating, among others.
What’s more is that the book also allows you to try out various types of salads, stews, pasta, and soufflés,
Then, Fish & Shellfish also provides you with information regarding some of the common fish species in the market.
A bonus Finnish dictionary is also included.
Pros
- Ideal for newbies
- Comes with a dictionary for referencing
- Informs you on different ways of preparing fish
Cons
- Most of the recipes can be found in other sources
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7. Good Fish by Becky Selengut
This cookbook features roughly 100 recipes involving 20 popular fish species. The various types of fish species include Oysters, Clams, Pacific Cod, Rainbow trout, Herring, among others.
Additionally, the book also offers you handy cooking techniques, plus it also provides you with buying guides and other information on the fish species included in the book.
The illustrations used are clear and easy to understand, and this helps in making the preparation easier and faster.
Pros
- Offers extra information on the fish species
- Clear illustrations
- Impressive organization
Cons
- Few recipes
The Buying Guide
There are countless fish cookbooks in the market, and therefore you may have a hard time settling on one. In this case, you need to focus on several factors that would boost your chances of landing the most useful book.
First, you should do some research on the author and ensure they have some experience as fish chefs. Ideally, they should also be award-winning authors as this would be a mark of quality.
Then, the illustrations should be clear with easy-to-follow steps. This would especially make things easy for beginners.
You should also take into account how well-organized the book is. This would ensure that you locate what you are looking for easily.
The use of photography is also essential to make things clearer and fun.
Lastly, only go for what you can afford.
FAQs
The following section aims to boost your understanding of fish cookbooks.
Who should buy a cookbook?
A cookbook is ideal for anyone who feels like being creative in the kitchen. This is because such a book offers you new ways of preparing your fish to give you a break from what you are used to.
Are cookbooks appropriate for Beginners?
Yes, they are, since the book would help in expanding their knowledge by offering them useful tips and techniques for preparing food.
Further, cookbooks have a way of building up a chef’s confidence since they are more informed on what they are doing.
The Best Overall
After the above brief reviews, we have settled on The MeatEater Fish and Game Cookbook by Steven Rinella as the best of them all. Not only is it authored by a seasoned expert, but it is also not restricted to any skill level.
Wrapping it Up
Although you have unlimited options of cookbooks out there, there is a reason why the above five cookbooks have made it to our list. This is because they feature unique recipes, which may even boost the chances of your hotel getting a five-star rating.
So, any time you feel like trying out a new fish recipe, these cookbooks would be a reliable companion.