Mirror Dory
Zenopsis nebulosus
Other Names
Silver Dory.
Family
Zeidae (dories).
Description, Location, Habitat and Harvesting Information
Available wild-caught, it is a bottom-dwelling marine fish found mainly on the outer shelf and upper continental slope commonly between 200-500m and caught by trawling off the south-eastern coast of NSW and Victoria, Tasmania’s eastern and western coasts, in the Great Australian Bight (SA), and off southern to central WA.
Season
Available year round with peaks in NSW from June to September, WA from August to October, and Tasmania from October to January.
Size and Weight
Typically 700g-1.2kg and 40-50cm, but can grow to 3kg and 70cm.
Price
Medium priced.
Relations
John Dory, King Dory, Silver Dory. Also closely related to the Oreosomatidae family of Oreodories, including Black Oreodory, Smooth Oreodory and Spikey Oreodory.
To Buy
Sold whole (gilled and gutted) and in fillet form (usually skin on). In whole fish look for lustrous skin, firm flesh, and a pleasant, fresh sea smell. In fillets, look for pale pinkish, firm, lustrous, moist flesh without any brown markings or oozing water and with a pleasant fresh sea smell.
To Store
Make sure whole fish is scaled, gutted and cleaned thoroughly. Wrap whole fish and fillets in plastic wrap or place in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze whole fish for up to 6 months, and fillets for up to 3 months, below -18ºC.
To Cook
Average yield is 35%. Has a mild flavour, low oiliness and moist, fine-medium textured flesh with fine flakes and few bones, which are easily removed. The edible, scaleless skin can be left on.
Cooking Methods
Steam, poach, pan-fry, stir-fry, bake, grill, barbecue. Fillets are thin and, to protect them when barbecuing or grilling, best wrapped in foil or banana leaves.
Goes Well With
Butter, citrus, fresh herbs (such as chives, coriander, dill, French tarragon, parsley, thyme), olive oil, white pepper, white wine.
Alternatives
Flounder, Golden Perch, Snapper, Sole.
Imports
Chilled and frozen fillets are imported from New Zealand. Fillets sold as ‘Pacific dory’ (also known as Basa) are imported from Asia and are from a freshwater catfish unrelated to the Dories.
Recipes