Here’s how to eat fish the Kosher way…
If you are of Jewish heritage, you may find that it’s tough to find kosher foods in every supermarket. You may have to shop at only a few establishments, as they are the only ones that ensure that all of the food you purchase is kosher.
Or maybe it’s not as hard as you think! Shopping for kosher food–such as kosher fish–could be a bit easier than expected, if only you knew how to find the best, healthy kosher fish options! Read on to find out more…
What is Kosher?
To understand what “kosher fish” is, you need to understand what “kosher” really means.
“Kosher” refers to food that conform to the Jewish dietary laws, called “kashrut”. A few foods that fall into this category include:
- Eggs from ritually pure animals
- Milk from a kosher animal
- Cheese made from the rennet of kosher animals
Kosher primarily refers to animal products, as there is nothing inherently unhealthy about fruits and vegetables–all natural foods created by Yahweh.
READ MORE: Health Benefits of Salmon Skin
If you are trying to eat only Kosher fish, here are a few things you need to know:
- It must have the skin on. This allows you to identify the type of fish that you are eating, as it must have scales and fins. Not all fish have both fins and scales, so make sure that you ONLY buy fish that still has the skin on. Even if the bones have been removed, you will be able to identify it by the skin.
- No shellfish. Shellfish is not Kosher, so it is not permitted on your Kosher menu. This means no scallops, oysters, clams, or mussels.
- No crustaceans. Crustaceans are not Kosher, and thus you are not allowed to eat anything with a shell. This includes crabs, shrimp, lobster, and crayfish.
- No unusual fish. If it doesn’t have fins AND scales, it’s not permitted. This means that you are not allowed to eat sharks, dolphin, whales, sturgeon, sailfish, marlin, swordfish, eels, puffer fish, squid, octopus, and paddlefish–among many others.
So, if you can’t eat all these fish, which fish can you eat? Which fish are Kosher?
Wikipedia has an amazing list of the most kosher (and halal) fish, but here are the best to eat:
- Salmon — Loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids, salmon is the best of the best! Not only is it fully Kosher, but it’s incredibly healthy.
- Albacore –– Albacore Tuna is available just about everywhere in the U.S., and it’s another Kosher fish that you are permitted to eat. It’s also a great source of fatty acids!
- Sardines –– The best sardines come from the Pacific, and you’ll find that they are usually the most Kosher option. You get A LOT more Omega-3 fatty acids per ounce of sardines than you do with tuna.
- Rainbow Trout –– As long as it’s not lake trout, you should have no worries about contaminants. Rainbow trout is one of the tastiest of the Kosher fish options.
- Striped Bass –– This fish is usually fairly low in mercury and heavy metals, making it one of the safest fish options to consider. You get A LOT of Vitamin B12 and selenium from this fish.
- Pollock –– This fish is usually used to make imitation crab meat. Make sure to buy Atlantic Pollock, as the Pacific Pollock contains more contaminants.
If you want to eat healthy and kosher, these are the healthy kosher fish options for you!
