How To Cook Black Jack Fish

Bluefish, also known as tailor and shad is the only member of the Pomatomidae family. It is found throughout the world but is most common along America's eastern seaboard. It is an oily fish similar in texture to mackerel with a fatty, soft flesh. It is a good source of niacin, magnesium, omega-3 and potassium. Bluefish is characterized by a strong taste and somewhat fishy odor that can be balanced by soaking in milk or being prepared using citrus. It can be grilled, baked, broiled or smoked, but is best prepared as fresh as possible as it does not keep very long or freeze well.

Credit: Tuned_In/iStock/Getty Images
  • Grill the jack fillet flesh side down for 3 to 4 minutes, until it is well marked by the grill. Turn, and cook for another 5 to 6 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets, until the jack is no longer translucent in the thickest part of the fillet.
  • Heat a heavy cast iron pan on high heat until extremely hot, about 10 minutes. Pour 3/4 cup melted butter into a shallow dish. Dip each fillet into butter, turning once to coat both sides. Sprinkle both sides of fillets with spice mixture, and gently pat mixture onto fish.

Preparing the Fillets

Preheat the grill. Ensure your grill is clean or you'll risk having the fish stick and fall apart during the cooking process. Place the fish steak directly on the grill in the hottest portion. Sear the outside for 1 to 2 minutes per side. Move the fish steak to a slightly cooler section of the grill to finish cooking. Use the 10-minute-per-inch rule.

At first glance, bluefish may not seem like the most appetizing of fish with its blue skin, brown flesh and slightly fishy smell. But once cooked, the flesh turns a delicate silvery white. And its strong taste and odor can be neutralized by first soaking the fillet in milk prior to preparing it for cooking. Rinse the fish and pat dry, then place the fish into a glass baking dish and pour low-fat milk onto it to submerge it. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and place it into the refrigerator for 30 minutes. When ready to use, rinse the fillet with cold water before seasoning.

Deliciously Baked

Bluefish works well baked in the oven but is best cooked covered to insure that the flesh is infused with the cooking liquid and does not dry out. Fillets are enhanced with bright citrus flavors, fresh herbs, dry white wine or vermouth and a variety of vegetables. They can be sealed up in aluminum foil or placed into packets of parchment paper. Cook the fish in a preheated oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes until the flesh is opaque. You can also check it when the paper is slightly golden in color.

Boldly Grilled

Bluefish can handle bold and spicy flavors without becoming overwhelmed. Create a rub by mixing together olive oil, lemon zest, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika and crushed Aleppo peppers. Rub the mixture onto clean fish fillets placed into a baking dish. Let the fish marinate in the refrigerator for one hour. Heat a grill to medium-high heat. Place the fish onto an oiled grill grate or use an oiled fish cage to cook the fillet. Grill the fish for three to five minutes over direct heat until slightly charred. Flip the fish over and allow it to cook three minutes longer.

Roasted in Bacon

The smoky flavor of bacon deliciously enhances bluefish. Fillets can be wrapped in strips of bacon and roasted in the oven until crispy and juicy. Season the bluefish lightly with salt and pepper. Wrap fillets crosswise with bacon strips and tuck a small sprig of fresh thyme between the fish and the bacon. Preheat the oven to 425 F. Place the fish onto a greased baking pan. Cook the fish four minutes on each side until fish is cooked through. Turn the oven to broil for one last minute to crisp the bacon.

Jackfish are a large family of sleek predators, native to warm and temperate waters around the world. Several varieties are found along the Eastern Seaboard as far north as Nova Scotia, though they become less common as you move away from warmer Southern waters. They're enjoyed as game fish throughout their range, and in some areas they're the subject of a limited commercial harvest. The flesh of jacks is well flavored and firmer than most fish, which makes them suitable for grilling.

Step 1

Rinse your jack fillets or fillet pieces, and pat them dry with paper towels. Check the fillets with your fingertips for bones. If you find any, remove them with a pair of tweezers.

Step 2

Sprinkle the fillets with lemon juice and season them with salt and pepper, and then brush them lightly with vegetable oil. This will help prevent them from sticking to the grill.

Step 3

Preheat your grill to a moderately high temperature, approximately 400 degrees F. Place the fillets on the grill with the skin side up, so the flesh can take on grill marks.

Step 4

How To Cook Jack Crevalle

Grill the jack fillet flesh side down for 3 to 4 minutes, until it is well marked by the grill. Turn, and cook for another 5 to 6 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets, until the jack is no longer translucent in the thickest part of the fillet.

Step 5

Remove the fillet portions from the grill and serve them hot, with your choice of condiments or side dishes.

Things You'll Need

How To Cook Black Jack Fish Market

  • 1 jack fillet per person, or 6- to 8-ounce portions from a larger jack fillet

  • Paper towel

  • Tweezers

  • Lemon juice

  • Salt and pepper

    Dec 03, 2019  Bonus Spins No Deposit. 21 Casino is giving new players 50 Bonus Spins no deposit to use on the one and only Narco’s slot. Sign up to receive 50 spins no deposit on Netent’s newest slot Narcos.; There is more where that came from, check the 121% deposit bonus out below. Updated Twenty One Casino Review! Make a minimum deposit of €/£/$20 or more, and get a 100% Welcome Bonus up to €/£/$350. Also get your 50 Starburst No Deposit free spins by simply signing up at the casino. NO deposit required. One of the Joo casino no deposit bonus codes we prepared for you is B50C, and if you enter it during the registration process, you can get a very nice surprise. For those of you that never used bonus codes until now, as you may have guessed, these codes are used by casinos to award free bonuses or target certain players with special deals. Our library holds over 1000 top games, courtesy of Play'n GO, Evolution Gaming, NetEnt, Blueprint & many others. Join today for a World Class Welcome Offer of 121% up to €300 Bonus + 21 spins! 200 dollars no deposit casinos.

  • Basting brush

  • All slots casino free games. Vegetable oil

  • Gas or charcoal grill

How To Cook Black Jack Fish Meat

Tip

Grilled jack goes well with acidic accompaniments such as fruit or tomato salsas, or vinaigrette-style dressings.

Jack also can be broiled or baked with excellent results.

Warning

How To Cook Black Jack Fish Recipe

Sale

How To Cook Fish On Stove

Like other warm-water predator fish, jacks are sometimes the cause of ciguatera poisoning. This is a toxin secreted by some marine plankton, which are eaten by herbivorous fish. Those fish are eaten in turn by predators, and become concentrated in larger predators such as jacks. Before eating a jack you've caught yourself, check with local authorities to see if ciguatera is a concern in the area's waters.