Umay FR

Species sheet · The Edible Ocean

Meagre

A powerful sandy-bottom drummer.

  • Whole grilled with fennel
  • Very fresh ceviche
  • Baked in parchment with herbs
Meagre in its natural habitat, Umay image
Argyrosomus regius · Umay image, generated from a reference photograph — Fernando Losada Rodríguez, CC BY-SA 4.0
In French
Maigre
Scientific name
Argyrosomus regius
In the water
A marine and brackish fish of the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, found over sandy and muddy bottoms from 15 to 300 m.
Season & buying
Autumn and winter yield the finest specimens; choose locally certified fish.
Common length
~150 cm
How to identify it
Large underslung mouth
Long dorsal fin with anterior spines
Clearly visible lateral line

On the plate

Firm, white, slightly sweet flesh, similar to sea bass.

Avoid: Overcooking, which dries out its generous flesh.

The meagre can produce low drumming sounds, earning it the nickname 'drumfish' in some regions.

In Umay recipes

3 Umay recipes call for it.

Pan-seared meagre, warm chicken jus vinaigrette with sherry and basilPan-seared meagre with surf and turf mushroom jus, scallops, and langoustinesClassic leche de tigre ceviche