I came across this fish yesterday at Grocery Outlet. I was a bit reluctant to buy it because it was only $4 for a 2lb bag – at least one third the cost of most fish I buy. But it was the only fish I could find at that store that didn’t come from China or Vietnam (instead, it was wild caught in the US), so I figured it was worth the risk. I think it was.
Pacific whiting, also known as Pacific hake, is a relative of the merluza I grew up eating in Argentina. It’s a medium-sized fish, with relatively fragile flesh and a distinctive, somewhat sweet, flavor. It has a greater oil concentration than other species, so it tastes fishier than most of the white fish I usually eat (catfish, cod, sole, tilapia, etc.). This flavor was too strong for my daughter, and didn’t particularly thrill my husband either. I liked it, but probably because it took me back to childhood.
That said, if I was cooking just for the adults I would definitely buy it again, specially at $2lb!
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