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Red Emperor

Lutjanus sebae

Red Emperor
Species

Species

Description

Available wild-caught, it is a marine fish often found around coral reefs but also over shallow to deep rocky and soft bottoms to about 100m from Sydney north to Shark Bay, WA. Mainly caught off Queensland, WA and NT by trawling, droplines, handlines and longlines. It has a white-red body with 1 broad darker band along the head and 2 across the body (usually darker in juveniles).

Other Names

Government Bream.

Family

Lutjanidae (Tropical Snappers).

Season

Available year round.

Size and Weight

Commonly to 6kg and 70cm, but can grow to 22kg and 100cm.

Price

High priced.

To Buy

Sold whole (gilled and gutted), as trunks (headless) and fillets. In whole fish look for lustrous skin, firm flesh, and a pleasant, fresh sea smell. In fillets, look for yellowish-white to 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 38%. Has a medium flavour, low oiliness and moist, medium-textured white, flaky flesh with few large bones, which are easily removed. The skin is thick and best removed. The bones make excellent stock. Score whole fish at the thickest part of the flesh. Cut thick fillets into serving-size portions and score to allow even heat penetration.

Cooking Methods

Steam, poach, deep-fry, pan-fry, stir-fry, bake, braise, grill, barbecue.

Goes Well With

Butter, coconut milk, herbs, lemon, lime, olive oil, orange, saffron, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, tomato.

Alternatives

Blue-Eye Trevalla, Goldband Snapper, Pearl Perch, Ruby Snapper, Snapper, West Australian Dhufish.

Imports

None.

Recipes

Whole Red Emperor Baked in a Salt Dough