Species sheet · The Edible River
Chub
Big head, big scales, and a weakness for cherries.
- As quenelles or a fish loaf
- Marinated for a long time, then grilled
- Small ones fried crisp
- In French
- Chevesne
- Scientific name
- Squalius cephalus
- In the water
- A surface fish of European rivers, often in small groups under overhanging branches, watching for whatever drops in.
- Season & buying
- Caught year-round by anglers; best in cold water, when its flesh firms up.
- Common length
- ~40 cm
- How to identify it
- Broad head with a domed brow and wide mouth
Large scales edged in black like netting
Orange to red belly fins
On the plate
White, rather bland and very bony flesh: a fish to work on rather than simply pan-fry.
Avoid: Serving it as a plain fillet: the forked bones spoil everything. Mince it, blend it or fry it very small.
A greedy omnivore, it gulps fruit, insects and bread that land on the water; anglers catch it with a ripe cherry.
In Umay recipes
One Umay recipe calls for it.
