Species sheet · The Edible Ocean
Mediterranean moray
It leans out to see who is going past.
- In a fish soup, where it adds body
- Fried in lengths, Provencal style
- Braised in white wine
- In French
- Murène
- Scientific name
- Muraena helena
- In the water
- Rock crevices and scree of the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic, 5 to 80 metres, hidden by day.
- Season & buying
- Autumn and winter, the traditional Mediterranean season.
- Common length
- ~100 cm
- How to identify it
- Snake-like body with no pectoral fins
A continuous ridge from back to tail
Dark marbling over a yellow ground
On the plate
Rich, fragrant flesh, prized by the Romans and largely forgotten since.
Avoid: Its raw blood, which is toxic. Cooking neutralises it completely.
The Romans farmed morays in seawater ponds and served them at banquets. Some were prized enough to be fitted with gold rings on their fins.
In Umay recipes
One Umay recipe calls for it.
