Umay FR

Species sheet · The Edible Ocean

Whiting

A delicate cod relative, all finesse.

  • Breaded or fish and chips
  • Poached in bouillabaisse
  • Oven-roasted with butter
Whiting in its natural habitat, Umay image
Merlangius merlangus · Umay image, generated from a reference photograph
In French
Merlan
Scientific name
Merlangius merlangus
In the water
A benthopelagic fish of the north-east Atlantic and North Sea, found from 10 to 200 m over varied bottoms.
Season & buying
Winter and spring; fillets remain abundant and affordable.
Common length
~23.5 cm
How to identify it
Elongated streamlined body
Continuous dorsal fin
Small barbel under the chin

On the plate

Fine, tender, slightly sweet flesh, leaner than cod.

Avoid: Thawing too quickly, which weakens the flesh.

Whiting is a close relative of cod, but is recognised by the absence of a dark lateral line along the flank.

In Umay recipes

3 Umay recipes call for it.

Steak with Herb Butter (Maître d'Hôtel Butter)Steak with Black Pepper Sauce and Jasmine RiceWhole roasted whiting with eggplant ratatouille-piperade and chili oil