Species
Trevallies
Description
Two similar species are marketed as Jack Mackerel, T. murphyi grows larger and has more bony, enlarged scales extending from the base of the tail along the midline of the body.
Available wild caught they are free-swimming marine fish found from bays and harbours to depths of about 500m, mainly schooling over the continental shelf, and caught mostly off southern Australia as bycatch of demersal and midwater trawls, as well as in Tasmanian coastal waters by purse seine. They are a similar size and shape to their close relative, Yellowtail Scad.
Other Names
Cowanyoung, Horse Mackerel, Scad.
Family
Carangidae (Trevallies).
Season
Supply is limited with peaks in December - February.
Size and Weight
Commonly 25-40cm and 200g-600g, but can grow to at least 64cm and 1.6kg.
Price
Low priced.
Relations
Trevallies (including Bigeye, Black, Bluefin, Bluespotted, Diamond, Giant, Golden and Silver Trevallies), Black Pomfret, Darts, Queenfishes, Samsonfish, Turrum, Yellowtail Kingfish, Yellowtail Scad.
To Buy
Sold whole (gilled and gutted); look for lustrous skin, firm flesh, and a pleasant, fresh sea smell.
To Store
Make sure fish is scaled, gilled, gutted and cleaned thoroughly. Lay in a single layer on a plate and cover with plastic wrap or place in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months below -18ºC.
To Cook
Average yield is 35%. Has a strong flavour, oily, dry, medium-textured flesh with fine flakes. The scaled thin skin can be left on.
Cooking Methods
Deep-fry, pan-fry, bake, grill, barbecue, smoke, pickle. Marinating prior to cooking helps prevent drying out, as does wrapping in foil or banana leaves if baking or barbecuing.
Goes Well With
Basil, caraway, chilli, coriander, cumin, curry, fennel, garlic, ginger, herbs (such as coriander, dill, French tarragon, parsley, sage, thyme), lemon, lime, olive oil, onion, oregano, sesame oil, soy sauce, tamarind, teriyaki sauce, tomato, vinegar, wasabi, white wine.
Alternatives
Australian Salmon, Blue Mackerel, Mullet, Yellowtail Scad.
Imports
None.
Recipes
Potted Fish Paste