What Is Walleye And What Does It Taste Like?

If you're cooking fish often, you might get bored of making the same dish over and over again. There are only so many different ways to prepare salmon and cod. If you're looking to switch things up and try something new, consider picking up some walleye next time you're at the fish store. 

Walleye is a freshwater fish whose finely flaked fillets, according to Cuisine Vault, have "a subtle, sweet flavor with low levels of fishiness. Its texture is firm yet delicate with a buttery mouthfeel." Its thick fillets aren't too bony, and its texture is "firm yet delicate and moist." 

A good, fresh cut of walleye will have skin that's firm and shiny, and its flesh will be moist without much of a fishy odor. The fresher the cut, the more mild the fishy flavor will be. You can also reduce the fishy flavor by coating the fillets in vinegar and refrigerating them for a half hour, giving the vinegar a chance to absorb into the meat.

According to Thumbwind, a Michigan fishing blog, you'll want your fillets double bagged with ice around the inner bag to keep the fillets as fresh as possible, and refrigerate it. When you're ready to start cooking, skin and clean the fish. Popular methods of preparing walleye include frying, pan searing, and oven-baking. 

"Many people claim they are the best-tasting fish ever," explains hunting and fishing magazine Outdoor Life. "...There are some purists who believe that frying is the only way to cook walleye and the only argument to have is whether you use Ritz crackers or Saltines as your breading." Although many people stick to their preferred method of cooking walleye, there are many ways you can incorporate the fish into dishes and really play on its flavor.

Other methods of preparation that Outdoor Life suggests include basting it in butter, cooking it sous vide with a parmesan crust, and grilling it with tequila and lime for tacos.