Fatty, Firm-textured Fish Category

Fatty, Firm-textured Fish

The flesh of fatty fish is darker in color and usually packs more nutrients (including heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids) than leaner choices. It also tends to have a "fishier" flavor.


anchovies
anchovies
It's best to get these salted rather than canned. Rinse the salt off before using. Unopened canned anchovies can be stored for up to a year in a dry, cool place. Once opened, they will keep for up to two days if you wrap them well and refrigerate them.
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basa, basa catfish, bocourti, China sole, Mekong catfish, Pacific dory, panga
basa
The flesh is firm and white and milder than our catfish. This Vietnamese catfish relative has a mild flavor and firm texture.
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bluefin tuna
bluefin tuna
This is the favorite for sushi. It is the most expensive.
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eel, anago, angulas, baby eels, conger, conger eel, elvers, freshwater eel
eel
These haven't caught on much in the U.S., but they're highly prized in Europe and Japan for their rich, firm meat and terrific flavor. Freshness is crucial, so always buy live eels. Smaller eels are more tender. This category includes conger eel = conger = anago, which are tough saltwater eels that are sometimes available in fish markets in the spring and summer, elvers = angulas = baby eels, which are about an inch long and very expensive, and freshwater eel = unagi.
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elvers, angulas, baby eels
elvers
Elvers are juvenile eels. They are thin and about 2" long. Elvers are a delicacy especially in Spain and Asia. They are caught as they return to freshwater streams after being born in the mid-Atlantic.
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spiny eel, eel, spiny
spiny eel
In the United States, you're more likely to find these in an aquarium that in a supermarket, but Southeast Asians consider them a delicacy.
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tuna, ahi, aku, albacore, bigeye, blackfin, bluefin, bonito, kawakawa
tuna
Unopened canned tuna can be stored for up to a year in a dry, cool place. Once opened, it will keep for up to two days if you wrap it well and refrigerate it. Varieties include albacore, bluefin, blackfin, bonito, skipjack = aku, kawakawa, and the leaner yellowfin = bigeye = ahi.
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vesiga
Vesiga is the spinal cord of a European sturgeon. It is considered a delicacy in Russia. Coulibiac is a Russian dish that features vesiga.
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