Species
Dories
Description
Available wild caught, they are bottom-dwelling marine fish found mainly on the continental slope commonly between 750-1,200m, often over hard bottoms and underwater hills, and caught mainly by trawling south of Bass Strait. They have a rougher, darker skin, larger eyes and more elongated bodies than their relatives the Dories.
Two species are marketed as Black Dory; the most common, A.niger, has a larger pelvic fin and taller dorsal fin than the less common A.verrucosus, which is also called Warty Dory.
Other Names
Black Oreo, Black Dory, Black Oreo Dory, Warty Dory, Warty Oreo.
Family
Oreosomatidae (Oreodories).
Season
Available year round.
Size and Weight
Typically grow up to 1.5kg and 47cm (black), 2kg and 42cm (warty).
Price
Medium priced.
Relations
Oxeye Oreodory, Rough Oreodory, Smooth Oreodory and Spikey Oreodory. Also closely related to dories, including John Dory, King Dory, Mirror Dory and Silver Dory.
To Buy
Sold whole (gilled and gutted) and in fillet form (always skinned). In whole fish look for lustrous skin, firm flesh, and a pleasant, fresh sea smell. In fillets, look for yellowish-white, 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 and fillets for up to 3 months, below -18ºC.
To Cook
Average yield is 25%. Have a mild flavour, medium-high oiliness and moist, medium-firm textured flesh with few bones, which are easily removed.
Cooking Methods
Steam, poach, deep-fry, pan-fry, stir-fry, bake, grill, barbecue. Thin fillets are best wrapped in foil or banana leaves to protect them when barbecuing or grilling.
Goes Well With
Butter, citrus, fresh herbs (such as chives, coriander, dill, French tarragon, parsley, thyme), ginger, garlic, lemongrass, nuts, olive oil, onion, pepper, white wine.
Alternatives
Other Oreodories or Dories, Flounder, Ling, Orange Roughy, Sole, Whitings.
Imports
Black and Smooth Oreodories are imported from New Zealand as chilled fillets and chilled or frozen whole fish.