Market Name: Yellowtail, amberjack
Scientific Name: Seriola quinqueradiata
Common Name: Hamachi, king amberjack, Japanese amberjack, buri, racing tuna
Flavor: Mild
Texture: Firm
Description:
Yellowtail is a confusing name, as it can apply to flounder, tuna and
sole. It’s also the common name for several species of amberjack,
sleek migratory tuna-like fish found off both U.S. coasts. The most valuable
member of this family is the yellowtail farmed in Japan and featured in
U.S. sushi bars under the name hamachi. The fish is prized for eating raw
and commands a premium price in Japanese markets. Raised in cages in
Japan’s Inland Sea, hamachi are harvested at around 15 to 20 pounds. Upon
harvesting, the fish are iced and handled with great care to prevent bruising
of the flesh, which lowers its value as sashimi. A small amount of hamachi is
harvested wild off the coast of central Japan. Another yellowtail species
(Seriola lalandei) is harvested wild off southern California and Baja, California
and farmed in Mexico and Australia. While amberjacks are subject to
parasite infestation in the wild, this is not a problem with farmed hamachi.
Product Profile:
Yellowtail meat is pink, though wild yellowtail can vary in color due to differing fat content among fish. Farmed yellowtail is consistently light colored because it is high in fat. Yellowtail fillets can have a dark muscle line along the edge.
Cooked meat is white and firm with a sweet, mild flavor. The high oil content gives the flesh a buttery texture.
You Should Know:
Yellowtail harvested off California (S. lalandei) are sometimes passed off as farmed hamachi. The wild variety is leaner and inferior for sashimi.
Cooking Tips:
Hamachi is a versatile fish. Though mostly served raw, thinly sliced for sashimi, it is delicious lightly seared or marinated and then roasted, grilled or braised. It can also be simply seasoned with salt for grilling; salt and high heat bring out the sweet, delicate flavor.
Cooking Methods: Broil,Grill,Saute'
Substitutions: Albacore tuna, Swordfish
Primary Product Forms:
Fresh: H&G, Fillets, Loins
Frozen: Fillets, skin-on, vac-packed
Value-Added:
Global Supply:
