It is obvious to anyone who loves seafood at dinnertime what a great piece of fish looks like.
If you love wild Alaska salmon or Cod, you look for the healthiest, clearest skin and texture.
Wild shrimp and scallops are also without imperfections if they are frozen and stored properly.
However, most people aren't aware of the tasty and inexpensive seafood option of Alaska Surimi.
What is Alaska Surimi? First of all, contrary to some erroneous reports circulating around the rumor mill, Surimi is definitely real seafood.
The main ingredient is Alaska Pollock, the white fish known for its clean flavor and excellent texture.
When making Surimi, this Pollock serves as a base, to which is added shellfish from Alaska.
Pieces of shrimp, scallops and even lobster or crab give the true flavor of the finished product.
It is packaged and sold in a few different forms - as chunk meat or as legs - and can be stored and used whenever the mood strikes you.
What can be done with Alaska Surimi? Even the people who are familiar with this boneless and cleaned form of Alaska Seafood can find themselves stumped when it comes to preparation.
The best way to go about using Surimi is to consider it a cost effective way to substitute for shellfish in a meal.
If you need a couple of ideas, try the quick recipes below.
Chef's Salad Surimi: What makes a salad great? You need to use the freshest produce available on the market to start out.
Next, you need some ingredients that add real flavor.
Avocado, black olives and diced onion are sure to make your salad perk up, but Surimi is the coup de grace in terms of flavor.
Your family will wonder how you put together such a fantastic seafood salad in just a couple of minutes.
Pasta Surimi: Another trick to use in the kitchen is to add Surimi to any pasta dish.
You may have been too busy to go shopping or even cook with the fresh ingredients you have in the house.
What can you do? Make pasta the way you usually do - even with a packaged sauce - and three or four minutes before it will be ready, let the Surimi add a big flavor boost.