Species sheet · The Edible Ocean
Atlantic halibut
The largest flatfish, with a discreet flavour.
- Oven-roasted in thick steaks
- Poached in fish stock
- Pan-seared fillets
- In French
- Flétan
- Scientific name
- Hippoglossus hippoglossus
- In the water
- A large demersal flatfish of the north Atlantic, lying on sandy seabeds from 50 to more than 1 000 m deep.
- Season & buying
- Caught year-round under quotas; favour clearly stated provenance.
- Common length
- ~470 cm
- How to identify it
- Very broad diamond-shaped body
Both eyes on the right side
Can reach several metres in length
On the plate
White, firm and very mild flesh.
Avoid: Overcooking: the flesh is best when still slightly pink in the centre.
It is one of the largest flatfish in the Atlantic; big specimens can weigh many tens of kilos.
In Umay recipes
One Umay recipe calls for it.
