fishfiles

The flesh of the mulloway is mild and moist with only a few big bones, which are no fuss to remove. The shape and size of this finfish allow for many uniform cutlets of serving-portion size. The large, firm flakes make it ideally suited to grilling as steaks or fillets and are delicious when coated and fried. Larger specimens, which can be a little drier, are perfectly suited to casseroles and so...

Ideal as fillets or whole, and well suited to baking, shallow frying, grilling, barbecuing and poaching. It is prized in Chinese cuisine for presentation as a steamed finfish. Stuffing a whole Murray cod with wild rice and lemon zest, then baking it wrapped in foil, seals in the flavours, keeps it moist and also presents wonderfully.

Oysters have a strong, rich and distinctive flavour and a soft, silky texture. They are often served raw, but deep frying, shallow frying and grilling are also popular. Pacific oysters are particularly good in pies. The key to not overcooking oysters is to ensure that cooking stops as soon as the edges of the meat start to curl.Raw or “au naturel” oyster can create precious portions such as:• wit...

Jackets (leather and ocean) derive their name from their skin, which should be removed before serving. This can be done after cooking, for easier and cleaner removal. Under their tough skin these fishes have a white flesh with a pleasing light flavour. The flavour is best when the leatherjacket is fresh. Because of their firm texture, leatherjackets are very good for Thai-style curry or a stir-fr...

Dories are fine table fishes, readily available freshly chilled and frozen all year round. They have succulent, white, sweet and finely textured flesh that can be baked, grilled, barbecued, fried, steamed or poached. Be careful to not overpower the delicate flavour. If baking or steaming whole, use the complementary flavours of tarragon, dill, parsley, thyme or chives. Asian flavours of chilli, c...

Whitings are prized for their sweet, delicate flavour. None more so than the might King George Whiting. Some argue this is Australia best table fish. As such they should be treated with respect and not overpowered with flavour. They are versatile fishes that can be prepared in a number of ways including steaming, baking, barbecuing and grilling, with frying the most common. Careful handling is re...

Greatly underrated fishes, the Threadfin Salmons yield thick, sizeable and essentially boneless fillets. They are often available, have a high recovery rate and can have a good shelf life. Threadfin salmons are excellent eating when cooked in a wide variety of ways. Their firm flesh and large flakes make them absolutely ideal for barbecuing or grilling in steaks, cutlets or fillets, depending on ...

Redfin can be cooked either as fillets or whole, but are more manageable as fillets as the scales can be difficult to remove. The firm to medium texture and low oiliness of this finfish make it suitable for steaming, poaching and frying. Alternatively, try deep frying redfin fillets and accompany with strong flavours such as a curry or sweet and sour sauce. Redfin is best filleted and skinned bef...

Most Tropical Snapper (seaperches family) have superb white flesh and a delicate, yet generous, flavour. They can be prepared in a wide range of ways including grilling, poaching, deep frying, shallow frying, baking and steaming. Simple pan-frying allows for a range of different flavours and textures to be utilised. Crimson Snapper can be large, but the smaller fish are excellent baked whole (gil...