Barbecue and grilling pros Karen Adler and Judith Fertig offer 300 varied recipes for grilling and smoking nearly every variety of fish and shellfish, from amberjack to whitefish. Recipes, which include apple cider-smoked trout with horseradish cream and fresh corn and smoked clam cakes with ancho chile sauce, are supplemented by information-packed tips and guidance, such as an overview of different oyster varieties in North America and guidelines for healthy grilling and smoking. Chapters on marinades, rubs, sauces, and side dishes help readers build sumptuous, complete meals.Recipes include: Grilled Tuna with Fresh Peach and Onion Relish Salmon with Tunisian Spiced Vegetables Teriyaki Stir-Grilled Mahimahi Tequila-Lime Grilled Shrimp Latin Lover’s Grilled Baby Squid Balsamic Smoked Haddock Apple Cider-Smoked Trout with Horseradish Cream Fresh Corn and Smoked Clam Cake with Ancho Chili Sauce Smoked Scallops with Citrus Vinaigrette Orange and Red Onion Salad Parmesan-Crusted Tomatoes
Fish, often bottom-billed in many barbecue and grilling cookbooks with a few token recipes, succeeds spectacularly as the star of the show in Fish & Shellfish, Grilled & Smoked. Authors Karen Adler and Judith M. Fertig–Kansas City foodies and members of an all-women barbecue team called the ‘Que Queens–argue that fresh fish and shellfish are a healthier option to other traditional barbecue meats due to their low-fat, low-calorie qualities. There’s also wonderful variety, as demonstrated by the 300 recipes–presented in a clean, eye-pleasing layout–that pack this book. Standouts, and there are many, include Cape Cod Blackfish (“mild-flavored yet firm and meaty”); Grilled Baby Squid, brushed with olive oil, garlic, and paprika; and North Woods Smoked Walleye, marinated in wheat beer and served over mixed greens. “Fish Tales,” sidebars of fish facts and history that pop up throughout, are a nice touch. There’s also a funny story about the authors’ reluctance to include a smoked-eel recipe. (“First of all, you have to buy a live eel. That means 30 minutes with a live eel squirming in a plastic bag next to the driver.”) In addition, for folks who have a hard time getting fresh fish locally, there’s a handy list of fish purveyors. This is a terrific cookbook that would fit nicely on any griller’s bookshelf. –Andy Boynton
