I had never been a huge fan, but on a recent outing for sea bass, we were overrun with massive scup so I took a few home.

I blackened some fillets in a cast iron pan, and made soft tacos with fresh lettuce and tomatoes, and it was pretty good.

Any good recipes that work well with scup?

Poach them whole (scale and gut them) in water with a little white wine and top them with Chinese black bean sauce.

I got a scup sandwich from a fish market in New Haven awhile back that was a lightly grilled whole scup on two pieces of white bread. It was soggy and filled with bones. I don't recommend it that way.
I would have said blackened on tacos, but you tried that. I usually squeeze lime on it and make a chipotle mayo and cabbage slaw when I do the tacos.

I also mix a bit of old bay in flour, then toss the fillets in it and saute in butter, then add a squeeze of lemon. Good that way with some rice on the side.

Grill with anchovies then feed to cat.
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Not a huge fan... but breaded in a cajun breading and pan fried is OK in a pinch

I got a scup sandwich from a fish market in New Haven awhile back that was a lightly grilled whole scup on two pieces of white bread. It was soggy and filled with bones. I don't recommend it that way.

What fish WOULD be good that way?!?!?!? that sounds horrible!:yak4:

What fish WOULD be good that way?!?!?!? that sounds horrible!:yak4:
I didn't eat more than a few bites. Wasn't what I expected when the specials just said grilled scup sandwich. They went out of business :huh:

Grill with anchovies then feed to cat.
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Perfect. Lmao

Scup are great to eat but I don't keep them often as it takes a lot for a meal and I hate filleting them. That said, when I keep some I simply roll the filets in corn meal, pan fry and sprinkle with Kosher salt. They come out like scup nuggets and are excellent.

They make great sashimi or ceviche. I also like them breaded and fried.

Another way is to grill them, basting with a mixture of 1/2 EVOO and 1/2 lemon juice spiked with lots of garlic. IMHO filleting scup is a waste of time and meat.

Eat them regularly with the family. One recipe is to mix equal amounts of seasoned bread crumbs, and cornmeal, and a bit of Bay Seasoning and dip fillets in milk and fry in a bit of butter and peanut oil. Then put cooked fillet on top of a bun, put 1/2 slice of American cheese on them, and microwave 30 seconds. Put a piece of lettuce on, perhaps a slice of tomato. Enjoy with some Tartar sauce....yum! Also have had them as shashimi....cut out all dark meat, dip thin strips in soy sauce or Wasabi...YUM.

Filleted and pan fried I love em. They do make a tasty sandwich, lettuce mayo and ketchup on a burger bun.
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Medium heat, cast iron pan, lightly sprinkle with brown sugar and drizzle soy sauce, cook covered until done. Teriyaki scup is pretty darn good.

I haven't targeted them lately, but I used to catch some at the height of the tomato season. I'd fillet them. Sautee some onion, garlic, and sliced garden tomatoes in olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and then add the fillets to cook briefly. Topped with Old Bay, they were tasty.