Gizzard shad: Don’t just eat it! From the season, cooking methods, benefits, to precautions

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Seasonal gizzard shad that even doctors like

• A treasure of the autumn sea

The nutritional value of gizzard shad, from a doctor’s perspective

When autumn arrives, gizzard shad in the sea become plump and delicious.

Gizzard shad caught during this season enrich the Korean table with their rich, savory flavor.

In particular,

there is even a saying that "the smell of grilled autumn gizzard shad is so good that even a daughter-in-law who ran away from home comes back," which shows how appealing its aroma is.

Gizzard shad is rich in DHA and omega-3 fatty acids, helping support brain health and blood circulation.

It also contains a large amount of calcium and vitamin D, making it beneficial for bone health.

Gizzard shad eaten in season have maximized nutrients, so they are good for taking care of your health in autumn.

Seasonal gizzard shad

Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Culture, Academy of Korean Studies

Gizzard shad are a fish species widely distributed along the southwestern coast of Korea.

As a coastal fish, they spend the summer in offshore waters and, from around October to around March of the following year, move into inner bays or estuarine brackish waters (where seawater and freshwater meet).

In particular, autumn gizzard shad are known for being fatty and savory.

Gizzard shad festival

Various gizzard shad dishes recommended by a doctor

** Preparing gizzard shad**

After washing the gizzard shad thoroughly with tap water, scrub it with a brush to remove any residue.

Using a brush rather than a knife helps prevent the scales from coming off.

Make a shallow cut along the belly with scissors or a knife and remove the innards carefully.

If the innards are left inside, they can taste bitter and spoil the flavor, so be thorough!!

The next step, and the most important and difficult one, is removing the bones.

Make cuts along the back and belly of the gizzard shad.

At this point, a cut about 1 cm deep is appropriate,

and you should be careful not to cut too deeply, as the flesh may tear.

After making the cuts, open the gizzard shad by hand.

Use tweezers to pull out the backbone and bones one by one.

Grilled

When gizzard shad is grilled, the oil drips out and adds a savory flavor even to the bones.

Even simply grilling it with salt lets you fully enjoy its natural taste.

Adding salt, pepper, and ginger juice brings out even more flavor.

Raw fish

If you thinly slice fresh gizzard shad and dip it in cho-gochujang,

you can enjoy both the freshness of the sea and its savory taste at the same time.

It is even better for your health when served with ssam vegetables, aged kimchi, garlic, and chili peppers.

Seasoned gizzard shad

If you season gizzard shad with vegetables and a spicy dressing, the crunchy texture can help stimulate your appetite.

These days, there are sauces that help with blood sugar management, such as low-sugar cho-gochujang and allulose,

so using them would be even better, right?

Remember this when eating gizzard shad!

• Eating gizzard shad healthily

Gizzard shad is tasty and nutritious, but there are a few things to keep in mind when eating it.

Check the freshness of the gizzard shad

Gizzard shad is a fish where freshness matters.

Eating gizzard shad that is not fresh not only reduces the taste, but may also increase the risk of food poisoning.

So when buying gizzard shad, check that the eyes are clear and transparent and that the scales are firmly attached.

A strong fishy smell can also be a sign that freshness has declined.

Fish allergies

People sensitive to fish may experience allergic reactions when eating gizzard shad.

Symptoms such as skin rash, hives, itching, and difficulty breathing may occur,

so people with fish allergies should be careful!!

Caution with gizzard shad sashimi / bones

When eating gizzard shad sashimi, it is important to consume it as fresh as possible.

If eaten as raw fish, properly handled gizzard shad can help prevent food poisoning.

Also, you should eat carefully while watching out for the skin and bones, and it is safer to eat it after making cuts or removing the bones as much as possible.

Gizzard shad is a fish with a relatively large number of bones.

When eating it grilled, you should remove the bones carefully before eating,

and if you eat it with the bones, you need to pay attention to how you eat it.

In particular, children should be careful about the bones when eating it.

If a bone gets stuck in your throat, instead of trying to swallow rice or a clump of food to push it down,

it is better to visit a nearby dentist or ENT clinic right away to have it removed.

Trying to force it down with food may tear the affected area or push the bone further down, making it harder to remove easily.

And

even after the bone has been removed, the wound where it pierced may continue to sting

and may feel as if the bone is still there,

but this will usually improve on its own after a few days.

Be careful not to consume too much oil

As gizzard shad become plumper in autumn, they also become fattier.

Eating too much can put a burden on digestion, so it is better to consume an appropriate amount.

In particular, when eating it grilled, a lot of oil comes out,

so people who need to avoid greasy foods should adjust their intake accordingly.

If you enjoy gizzard shad while keeping these precautions in mind, you can enjoy the taste of autumn more safely and healthily.