Species
Trevallies
Description
Four similar species are marketed as Queenfish, they all have long bodies, looking more like mackerels than like the other members of the Trevally family. Available wild caught they are free-swimming marine fish found in tropical, often quite shallow, waters of the continental shelf from Shark Bay (WA) to Batemans Bay (NSW). They are caught using gill nets, by lining and trolling.
Other Names
Deep Leatherskin, Double-spotted Queenfish, Giant Dart, Giant Leatherskin, Leatherskin, Needle-scaled Queenfish, Queenie, Skinny, Skinnyfish, Slender Leatherskin, Talang Queenfish.
Family
Carangidae (Trevallies).
Season
Mostly available from June - October, though supply is limited.
Size and Weight
Commonly 50-100cm and 1-7kg, but can grow to 14kg and 120cm.
Price
Low priced.
Relations
Trevallies (including Bigeye, Black, Bluefin, Bluespotted, Diamond, Giant, Golden and Silver Trevallies), Black Pomfret, Darts, Jack Mackerel, Samsonfish, Turrum, Yellowtail Kingfish, Yellowtail Scad.
To Buy
Sold whole (gilled and gutted) and in fillet form. In whole fish look for lustrous skin, firm flesh, and a pleasant, fresh sea smell. In fillets, look for pale reddish-brown, 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, gilled, gutted and cleaned thoroughly. Lay whole fish or fillets 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 slightly fishy flavour, and slightly oily, dry firm flesh with medium flakes and few bones, which are easily removed. The leathery skin is best removed.
Cooking Methods
Steam, poach, deep-fry, pan-fry, bake, grill, barbecue, smoke, pickle. It tends to be dry so 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
Silver Perch, Morwong, Gemfish, Warehou, Samsonfish, Snapper.
Imports
None.
Recipes
Barbecued Queenfish in Vine Leaves with Chickpea & Fennel Salad