Species sheet · The Edible Ocean
Tiger pufferfish
Small, round, polite, and far more dangerous than it looks.
- Sashimi sliced thin enough to see the plate through
- Fin grilled and steeped in hot sake
- As a broth, once the flesh is taken
Never prepare it yourself
A prized dish in Japan, where only licensed cooks may trim it. Prepared badly, it kills.
- In French
- Fugu
- Scientific name
- Takifugu rubripes
- Status
- Never prepare it yourself
- In the water
- Coastal waters of Japan, China and Korea, over sandy bottoms down to 200 metres.
- Season & buying
- Winter, November to February, the fugu season in Japan.
- Common length
- ~40 cm
- How to identify it
- Stout, rounded body
Small beak of fused teeth
A few dark patches on the back
On the plate
Translucent, firm, almost fat-free flesh with a very clean flavour.
Avoid: Absolutely anything not prepared by a licensed cook.
Its toxin has no antidote and the licence to trim it takes years to earn. The liver and ovaries cannot legally be sold in Japan.