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Bluefish

Latin name : Pomatomus saltatrix (L.)

Synonyms : Snapper, chopper, tailor

Origin : Bluefish are marine fish found in all oceans except for the eastern Pacific.

Description : They are the sole members of the Pomatomidae family. They have a greyish-blue colouration on the top part of the body, and a silvery coloration on the belly. They can grow to about 130 cm and can weigh up to 15 kg.

Edible parts : The edible skin is usually left on the flesh, which ranges in colour from white to silver-grey. The meat is rich and fatty with a fine, soft texture and long flake. The flavour is mild on the day of the catch yet gains in strength a day or two later.

Sold as : Whole fish, fillets, steaks

Best cooking : First, remove the dark, oily strip of flesh that runs down the centre of the fish, which can infuse the meat with a powerfully fishy flavour when it's cooked (you can ask your fishmonger to do this for you). Bluefish is excellent baked or broiled, or wrapped in foil and grilled over an open fire. It is also well suited for roasting and pan-frying, and for stir-frying in flour-dredged chunks. Its rich meat smokes well. Bluefish is not recommended for stews, soups, or chowders, since the meat falls apart easily.

Buying tips : Whole fish should look alive, smell fresh and clean, and be displayed over ice. Fillets should glisten. Keep the fish well iced until cooking (natural oils in the flesh turn rancid when the internal temperature of the fish rises). Bluefish does not freeze or travel well, and is best purchased locally when in season.

Nutritional value (based on the US nutrition database):

Beware : as with all fish and shellfish, the nutritional value varies among (sub)species, place of origin, freshness and size. The data below thus are provided as indication only.

Sources:

Sources:

•  http://www.foodsubs.com/Shelfish.html

•  http://www.gortons.com/cookbook/gl_ab_bu.php

•  http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/

•  http://www.alltackle.com/Bluefish2.jpg

•  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluefish