Proposal for Enhancing the Taste and Nutritional Value of Braised Fish

Abstract

Braised fish, a highly popular Chinese dish known for its delectable taste and rich nutritional content, is prone to being affected by factors such as its inherent fishy taste. To elevate the dish's flavor profile and impart a delightful aroma, it becomes essential to mask the fishy taste effectively. This study compared the salt solution method, sensory masking method, biological method, and acid-base method to comprehensively analyze and address the underlying causes of the fishy taste. It was observed that both the salt solution method and sensory masking method proved successful in concealing the fishy smell. While the biological method effectively mitigated the production of fishy substances, it fell short in completely eliminating the fishy smell. On the other hand, the acid-base method demonstrated promising results in significantly reducing the fishy odor. Furthermore, manipulating the Maillard reaction's efficiency by controlling water activity and temperature through the use of the control variable method was studied. The highest Maillard reaction rate was achieved when the water activity was set at 0.7, and a neutral or weak base pH was maintained. Optimizing temperature and processing time led to the successful formation of aromatic compounds while minimizing damage to human cells. In addition to enhancing the taste, incorporating vegetables such as tofu, broad beans, or celery into braised fish recipes can offer additional health benefits, such as preventing obesity and reducing the presence of carcinogens.