What Does Walleye Taste Like? Does Walleye Taste Good?
In this article, you will know the answer to the query “What Does Walleye Taste Like?“.
The walleye is a native North American freshwater fish.
They are popular in the Great Lakes region as well as in other lakes throughout Canada and the United States.
The walleye is closely related to the perch and pike. The walleye can grow to a length of 30 inches and weigh more than 20 pounds.
Perhaps you are wondering what walleye tastes like if you have never eaten it before?
What is Walleye Fish?
Walleye fish are freshwater Perciformes of the pike family. Canadians and northern contiguous Americans are the main habitats.
Anglers frequently catch walleyes using small jigs or flies, as the fish are a popular game fish.
Unlike their cousins, pickerels, walleyes typically live in warmer water.
When viewed through binoculars, its eye resembles a human’s eye (imagine it like an all-seeing little peeper).
White, yellow, or olive green are the base colors, with vast areas of dark spots outlined by light.
“The North American Sport Fish Survey” found that walleye is the second most popular freshwater fish caught by American anglers.
Bass are the only species that are heavily fished. Typical Walleye food consists of smaller baitfish, such as minnows and shiners. In addition to crayfish and frogs, they also eat waterbirds and their eggs.
They can feed both above and below the surface thanks to their strangely shaped mouths.
In addition to being easy to catch, Walleyes are abundant in the Midwest region of North America, can be easily stocked into lakes, and have great flavor when cooked fresh or smoked.
Health Benefits of Eating Walleye
Many people consider salmon, tuna, and trout to be their favorite fish.
Where does walleye fit in? Compared to salmon and sardines, it is reported to have more Omega-3 fatty acids.
High in protein and fat, it’s low in calories. Additionally, it contains vitamins such as Vitamin B-12, A, and E, as well as selenium, an antioxidant that boosts the body’s resistance to heart disease and cancer.
The depth of water where Walleye live is usually close to the shore, so the levels of pollution are not as high as in deeper waters or open waters where larger fish species live.
Fish like walleye can lessen mercury poisoning’s effects thanks to selenium and vitamin D.
What Does Walleye Taste Like? Does Walleye Taste Good?
Walleye are loved by many anglers, but they are not sure what to expect when they catch them.
During this time of day or season when they spawn, walleye usually gather in cooler water at night where they feed heavily.
The taste of Walleye is unique. The taste of walleye can vary depending on where you locate it in North America; depending on where you find it, it might have different spices or seasonings. The texture of this product is firm and flaky, which you’ll love.
Depending on the fish’s diet, the flesh color can also range from dark pink to dark red.
Cooked walleye is white to off-white gush. It can be served with a wide variety of sauces or used for fish tacos.
What Other Fish Taste like Walleye?
You might find it difficult to comprehend the hype surrounding walleye if you’ve never tried it.
When properly prepared, its delicate flavor profile and firm flesh texture resemble those of salmon.
We recommend trying perch or grouper if you’re a fan of walleye and would like to try something different.
In addition to having a firm texture, they are also known for their delicate flavors when cooked correctly.
A fish similar to walleye is cod, and pike has a milder taste than cod or walleye.
Salmon and tuna usually don’t have the same taste profile as walleye because they have a more delicate flavor.
How to Clean and Prepare Walleye?
The preparation time of walleye prevents people from cooking it.
It is possible to de-head, gut, and scale Walleye in just a few minutes with the right tools:
- Knives or fillet knives that are sharp
- Fish scaler (kitchen shears)
Walleye can be cleaned in a variety of ways. Innards are sometimes removed before cooking, while for others they are cooked with.
Ensure the taste of your walleye is not tainted by the blood by bleeding the fish before cooking.
Make a slit from head to tail (front and back) and allow it to gushe out of both sides with a sharp knife.
With kitchen scalers (fish scalers), you should remove the scales.
If any scale residue or guts remain after cleaning, rinse them off in cold water so they don’t stick to the fish when it’s fried or baked.
Prepare dishes such as breaded fillets or oven fries by slicing the meat into desired thicknesses. Before cooking, sprinkle with herbs of your choice.
In addition to salt, pepper, thyme, and dill, add to taste. Try marinating overnight too for more flavor.
How to Cook Walleye?
Beginners may not be able to cook walleye successfully and get excellent results.
You will have a tasteless or even inedible meal if you don’t know how to prepare it.
Fried, baked, and grilled walleye are the most common ways anglers prepare them.
An angler’s favorite cooking method is frying because it has a crispy crust around the fish while still maintaining moisture.
You can cook more food at the same time without worrying about it sticking together or breaking apart because it uses less oil than pan-frying or deep-frying.
Baking walleyes are also popular with anglers because it gives them a crisp texture and white coloration.
Additionally, breadcrumbs are often added to walleye to enhance its flavor.
Walleye can also be prepared by grilling because it is a simple process.
While grilling, the hot coals will make your food taste better with less effort than boiling or steaming would take you, just like baking does, so you can relax more while you cook.
Consider preparing them as though you were stir-frying them for a healthier alternative.
To make oven fries from walleyes, slice them thinly before covering them with breadcrumbs mixed with herbs and spices of your choice.
On two baking sheets, place one at 350 degrees and the other at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, so they will crisp up nicely without being burned.
Cook the fries for another five minutes after you’ve taken both trays out, flip each tray over and then return them to the oven.
If you prefer, serve these with ketchup, tartar sauce, or other dipping sauces you enjoy.
Conclusion
In summary, walleye is a white, flaky fish with an excellent taste. Proteins like this add great taste to any dish.
The walleye is a great fish to try if you are looking for an exciting new fish.
You can contact us below with any other questions you have about walleye or anything else on our blog.
If you want to read more about cooking, read here: Cooking Tips and Tricks.