Characteristic
A small-sized fish belonging to the herring family is the sprat. Its body rarely exceeds a length of 15 centimeters, and its weight rarely reaches more than 20 grams. Among other marine representatives, it is recognizable by its strongly flattened sides, as can be seen from the photo. Its scales are large and fall off easily. The abdomen and sides have a light silver color, and the upper part of the head has greenish and bluish shades. Looks pretty nice.
You can distinguish a male from a female by size. The first representative is slightly smaller than the female, as it grows more slowly. The maximum age they reach is six years. Individuals become adults when they reach two years of age.
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Composition and KBJU
Black Sea Caspian sprat is famous for its high fat content, which accounts for about 18 percent of its composition. 100 grams of fresh fruit contains about 88 kilocalories, 70 calories come from proteins.
Nutritional value may vary depending on cooking methods. Boiled, baked or salted fish have the lowest KBJU index. The highest percentage goes to the fried dish.
Calories, proteins, fats and carbohydrates per 100 grams:
- proteins – 17.5 grams;
- fats – the indicator ranges from 4 to 30 (conditions and methods of preparation);
- There are no carbohydrates in fish.
Like any sea and other fish, this representative contains a large number of elements from the table of Dmitry Ivanovich Mendeleev. It contains calcium, phosphorus, iron, molybdenum, vitamins PP, potassium, magnesium, chlorine, vitamins B1 and B2, and so on.
Description
The average length of the fish is 11 centimeters and the weight is approximately 9 grams. But the body of some individuals can reach 15 centimeters in length. There are large specimens weighing up to 22 grams.
The sprat is easy to recognize by its external features. You can see what the sprat fish looks like in the photo. It has a strongly laterally compressed body and a well-developed ventral keel, which consists of approximately 27 - 28 scales.
The wide and large head of the sprat has an elongated shape. The upper jaw is slightly elongated relative to the anterior edge of the eye, and the lower jaw is extended slightly further than the upper.
The back of the sprat can be painted in colors ranging from gray-green to bluish-green. The photo shows that the color of the abdomen and sides can be golden-yellow or silver-white.
The lifespan of fish is approximately 5 years. The period of sexual maturity of the sprat begins when it reaches 5 centimeters in length. Spawning lasts from April to the end of August, with a peak in May. The water temperature for spawning is not a decisive factor; it can occur at 5 or 25 degrees. It is important for the development of eggs. They develop in 25 hours at a temperature of 10˚, and it will take up to 98 hours for the eggs to develop at a temperature of 20˚.
The food for sprat is zooplankton.
Composition and calorie content
100 grams of fish meat contains 88 kcal, of which 18 kcal are fats and 70 kcal are protein calories. The number of calories may vary depending on how the fish is prepared.
Salted, baked or boiled sprat has low calorie content, but when frying it increases significantly.
Nutritional value of 100 grams of product:
- Proteins – 17.5 grams,
- Fats – from 4 to 26 grams, depending on the cooking method,
- Carbohydrates – 0 grams.
Do you like salted fish?
- Yes 98%, 242 votes
242 votes 98%242 votes - 98% of all votes
- No 1%, 3 votes
3 votes 1%
3 votes - 1% of all votes
- I don't eat fish 1%, 2 votes
2 votes 1%
2 votes - 1% of all votes
Total votes: 247
27.09.2019
- Yes 98%, 242 votes
242 votes 98%242 votes - 98% of all votes
- No 1%, 3 votes
3 votes 1%
3 votes - 1% of all votes
- I don't eat fish 1%, 2 votes
2 votes 1%
2 votes - 1% of all votes
Total votes: 247
27.09.2019
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Sprat meat is beneficial for humans due to its content of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, chlorine, sulfur, iron, zinc, molybdenum, nickel, chromium and PP vitamins,
B1 and B2.
Habitats
The fish loves warm waters, which create optimal conditions for spawning. It is found mainly in the waters of the Azov, Caspian and Black Seas, preferring desalinated areas. In recent years, fish migration has brought them to the upper reaches of rivers. Now it can be found in lakes and artificial reservoirs. Their migration along rivers begins with the onset of spring, moving away from the sea to a distance of 70 kilometers.
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Fish sprat |
| Fish sprat |
Abrauska sprat fish |
Description. Tulka is a small fish that belongs to the herring family. There are Abrau, Caspian, Black Sea-Caspian, Black Sea-Azov forms of sprat; sometimes sprat is called sprat.
The head of the sprat is widened and short in length. The body is flattened laterally, the width is approximately 20% of the body length. The mouth is of the upper type, has no teeth, the lower jaw is noticeably pushed forward. The scales are quite large, come off easily, and form a keel of scales on the belly. The belly and sides are white-silver, while the back and top of the head are darker in color, with a slight shade of green and blue. The pectoral fins have a pointed shape. The eyes are small, with a black iris. They live up to 4-6 years, reaching a length of 9-15 cm and a weight of up to 22 grams; the Abrau sprat lives for 2 years, reaching 9 cm and 10 grams, respectively. Females are usually larger than males.
Lifestyle . Tulka is a schooling fish, considered semi-anadromous, but some types of sprat have already become desalinated. Tulka does not like to stay near the shore. It begins to reproduce at the age of 1-2 years with a length of 5 cm. It migrates to the north for spawning; migration begins in March when the water warms up to 6-14 °C. Spawning takes place in portions in the evenings in river mouths, reaches sheltered from the winds and bays at a water temperature of 5-24°C, from April to June. The larvae of the sprat live in shallow areas; in the fall the sprat returns to the south.
Nutrition. The sprat feeds in daylight, but rarely eats at night. The main food of the sprat is zooplankton: various crustaceans, mollusks, rotifers and their larvae, juvenile herring and goby.
Spreading. Tulka lives in the Black Sea, as well as in the Caspian and Azov Seas, choosing desalinated areas or fresh rivers flowing into them. In recent years, sprat has risen up the rivers and spread greatly; now it can be found in lakes and reservoirs. Tulka lives in the Volga, Terek, Ural River and their basins. It is found near Volgograd, Saratov, in the Volga-Don Canal, in the Tsimlyansk Reservoir, since 1968 in the Kuibyshev Reservoir, since 1984 in the Gorky Reservoir, since 1994 in the Rybinsk Reservoir, since 1999 in the Uglich Reservoir, since 2000 in the Ivankovsky and since 2001 in the Sheksninsky reservoir and Lake Beloye. In the Urals, only Caspian sprat is found, it is caught in the Kama River, since 1971 - in the Votkinsk Reservoir, since 1975 - in the Kama Reservoir and rivers flowing into the Kama, for example, on the Ocher River. Sprat is now food for predatory fish such as perch and burbot.
Fishing for sprat. Sprat is practically not caught individually; it is caught industrially. Single specimens can be caught with a float rod using grains flavored with anise and vanilla. The bite improves during the day and in bad weather; at night you can fish with illumination. In winter, sprat stays at a depth of up to 3 meters in places with slow currents. It is well suited as live bait for catching pike, perch and burbot, but dies quickly after being caught.
Some fishermen are very fond of eating sprat; they say that it is only slightly inferior to smelt.
Benefits of use
All the beneficial properties of fish are included in its composition. But since eating this fish has its contraindications, it is better to analyze it in more detail:
- Fatty acids have a particular beneficial effect on the body of women and older people. They reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Improves mental activity, enhances concentration. They can lower blood pressure and are also indispensable for the prevention of diabetes of any type.
- Few people know, but calcium reduces the risk of malignant cells and prevents the formation of polyps in the intestines. Reduces the likelihood of cancer. Plus, it takes an active part in building the normal functionality of the musculoskeletal system, developing and strengthening bone tissue. Regulates blood clotting. It has a beneficial effect on the growth and strengthening of hair, nail plates and teeth.
- Phosphorus helps the body absorb calcium. It is also indispensable for damage to muscle tissue, helps in its contraction and improves condition after training. It has a beneficial effect on the children's body, improving concentration, intelligence and reducing nervousness in children.
Help: Phosphorus is found in large quantities in fish skin, spine and tail, which is why experts recommend cooking the sprat whole.
- Iron plays the main role in hemoglobin molecules. It delivers oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and carbon dioxide in the opposite direction.
- 100 grams of sprat contains 430 mcg of fluoride, which helps restore tooth enamel after contact with an acidic environment.
- The microelement nickel takes an active part in hematopoiesis and other regenerative processes in the body.
- Chlorine, the content of which in one hundred grams of fish is 165 mg, helps remove salts and fluid from the body, and also normalizes the acid-base balance.
- Molybdenum normalizes metabolism, breaks down proteins, and promotes the production of vitamins.
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The benefits of sprat
The beneficial properties of sprat for the human body are due, first of all, to the huge calcium content in this fish. This element is necessary for the formation of bone tissue, healthy hair and nails, and it also regulates blood clotting processes.
To absorb calcium, phosphorus is needed, which kilka is also rich in. These minerals are mainly concentrated not in its meat, but in the tail, bones, ridge and skin. Therefore, sprat should be cooked as a whole and consumed whole, without trying to get a small amount of fillet from it.
In addition to minerals, sprat is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have pronounced antioxidant properties. Also, sprat meat contains polyunsaturated fatty acids, which lower the level of triglycerides in the blood and thereby have an anti-atherosclerotic effect. Therefore, nutritionists recommend including sprat in the diet of people suffering from atherosclerosis, diseases of the cardiovascular system and joints.
Possible harm
The benefits of fish are obvious and it is difficult to imagine that a fish so small in size and large in purpose could have contraindications. This fact is influenced by the method of preparation, as well as additional ingredients.
It looks harmless, as in the photo, but when salted, sprat contains over 30 percent salt, which exceeds the daily requirement for the body several times. Therefore, in this form it is not recommended to be eaten by people suffering from high blood pressure. Who has problems with the heart, kidneys, blood vessels. People suffering from diseases of the gastrointestinal tract should not eat it.
Sprat canned in oil is found everywhere on all shelves in the country. Here, production technology on an industrial scale should be taken into account. For large quantities of a product with a low final cost, it is rare that high-quality components are used. Tests show that canned oil is not of the best quality, which means that it contains a certain percentage of carcinogens.
One hundred grams of canned sprat has 320 kilocalories, while fish canned in its own juice has only 200 kilocalories.
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Harm of sprat
Despite all its beneficial qualities, salted sprat can hardly be called a healthy food product.
This is due to the fact that 100.0 g of well-salted fish contains at least 1.5 g of table salt, which is 30% of the daily requirement. Therefore, salted sprat should be eaten in small quantities and not every day. This food product should be completely excluded from the diet of people suffering from kidney and cardiovascular diseases. It is best for them to eat boiled or baked sprat, which has valuable beneficial properties and does not contribute to the development of edema or increased blood pressure. Canned sprat in oil is also not a healthy food product, because they contain excess of both oil and salt. It should be borne in mind that for the production of canned food, most manufacturers use the cheapest varieties of vegetable oil, which practically do not contain vitamins and fatty acids, and, therefore, do not give anything to a person except extra calories. So, for example, the calorie content of sprat in its own juice is about 200 kcal per 100.0 g of product
, and the calorie content of the same amount of canned sprat in oil is already 320 kcal.
There are types of fish that everyone knows about, even people who are not experienced in fishing. Fish sprat
of such. She, and the equally famous anchovy (kamsa) were at one time very popular among their compatriots and allowed them to survive in periods of despair and lack of money.
Tulka is a small sea fish. Belongs to the herring family.
Kinds
With slight external differences, fish are divided into types:
- ordinary. This species is divided into two subspecies, Azov sprat, Caspian sprat;
- Black Sea Caspian;
- big-eyed;
- Abrauskaya;
- anchovy-shaped.
Azovskaya
The Azov sprat lives in the Sea of Azov and stands out for its large numbers not only in its genus, but also in the entire herring family. It actively spawns in May, at a water temperature of 15-20 degrees.
Help: If you divide the fish of the Azov subspecies among the entire population of the planet, then each person will get fifteen fish.
In the cold season, it mainly lives in the sea, and in the spring it approaches the shores. It is not uncommon for sprat to be used as bait to catch predatory representatives of the deep sea. She herself feeds on a variety of small crustaceans, plankton, and other vegetation, not shying away from hunting species of animal origin. They catch fish using seines, but they are of no interest to fishermen with fishing rods.
Information: In common parlance, the Black Sea fish also has another name - “ampoule with fat.” This is the name given to the fish of the autumn catch because of its high fat content (more than 18 percent).
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How to cook and serve
The sprat is a small fish, but because of its ability to easily clean its scales, it is in demand among zealous housewives. It is not for nothing that its closest relative is sprat. This fish can be prepared in different ways, depending on your preferences: it can be deliciously salted, smoked, dried, fried, or cooked as a first course. Sprat meat is suitable for proper nutrition due to the lack of carbohydrates in its composition when baked or boiled.
Serve sprat to any table. A good side dish for it is boiled potatoes with butter, buckwheat or rice porridge. Any low-alcohol drink (beer or kvass) is great for dinner with dried sprat.
This is interesting! Children's writer Julia Donaldson, captivated by the size of the sprat, wrote a whole book in verse about the small fish - “Tulka is a small fish and a big inventor.”
Marinating in oil
Nutritional value: 225.6 kcal/10.5g/19.7g/1.6g.
What do you need:
- sprat – 1000 grams;
- vegetable oil – 100 g;
- onion – 45 grams;
- carrots – 0.1 kg;
- garlic – 2 g;
- 9 percent vinegar – 100 ml;
- bay leaf, spices;
- water – 100 ml.
How to do:
- Make a marinade by mixing vinegar, oil, spices, diced onion, grated carrots and chopped garlic.
- The marinade is put on fire and brought to a boil.
- The fish is cleaned and washed, removing the heads and entrails.
- The carcasses are well seasoned with salt and left for a couple of hours.
- Then, the fish is washed and marinated.
The pickled sprat is ready the next day.
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Casserole with cheese and garlic
Nutritional value: 177.1 kcal/14.9g/12.7g/0.9g.
What do you need:
- sprat – 1200 grams;
- spinach – 500 grams;
- cheese – 0.1 kg;
- onion – 1 piece;
- garlic – 2 cloves;
- egg – 60 g;
- butter, a mixture of Italian herbs, ground pepper, salt, breadcrumbs.
What to do:
- The fish is cleaned and washed, removing the heads and entrails.
- Finely chop the onion.
- The cheese is grated.
- Pour oil into a frying pan, fry onion and chopped garlic in it.
- Add spinach to vegetables and cook until softened.
- Grease a baking dish and place some of the fish on it.
- Mix spinach with cheese and beaten eggs. Salt and pepper.
- Distribute the mixture onto the fish.
- Place another layer of fish on top of the cheese-spinach mixture. Sprinkle with Italian herbs and breadcrumbs.
Bake for 45 minutes.
Other uses
Black Sea sprat is used not only in cooking. It serves as an excellent bait for catching larger sea, river and lake fish. It is especially good for winter fishing in this capacity. Used fresh or frozen. Pike perch bite well on it.
Catching predators and satisfying gourmet needs are not the only purposes of sprat. It is actively used in livestock farming for fattening pigs. Subsequently, the pork acquires a special flavor.
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