Species sheet · The Edible Ocean
Round sardinella
A little silver fish with a perfect black spot.
- Grilled whole
- Quickly fried
- Marinated or escabeche-style
- In French
- Allache
- Scientific name
- Sardinella aurita
- In the water
- A coastal pelagic fish of warm Atlantic and Mediterranean waters, between 0 and 350 m.
- Season & buying
- Availability varies by area; ask the fishmonger about origin.
- Common length
- ~25 cm
- How to identify it
- Elongated silvery body
Golden line along the flank
Distinct black spot at the edge of the gill cover
On the plate
Fatty, delicate and slightly briny flesh.
Avoid: Overcooking it: the flesh dries quickly and becomes strongly flavoured.
It is often mistaken for sardine, but is distinguished by the black spot behind its gill cover.
In Umay recipes
One Umay recipe calls for it.
