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Buying Guide and Glossary

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Dorade Royale



Other Names: Sea Bream, Guilt Head Bream, Sparus Aurata

Identification & Biology: like all fish in the Sparidae family, the sea bream is a bottom-dwelling, carnivorous fish found in temperate and tropical waters. Most species in the family posses molar like teeth for grinding.

Range & Habitat: Dorade are common throughout the Mediterranean, they are less frequent in eastern and south-eastern Mediterranean, and very rare in the Black Sea.

Market Description: More and more quantities on the market is a farm raised fish coming either from France or Greece, Spain, Turkey, Israel, etc.

Ardag, founded in the early 1980's near Eilat, a resort area on the Red Sea coast within walking distance of the Israel-Jordan border, has been selling dorade royale in Europe for eight years. Ardag raises the fish in giant mesh cages in the Red Sea, which is considered a good environment because the water is clean and the temperatures moderate.

Recommended Preparation: Dorade is a small fish with tender white flesh, shimmering silver skin and, when grilled or braised, a rich, succulent, meaty flavor. The clean flavor and meaty texture of dorade royale compares to that of red snapper or pompano, the white-flesh salt-water fish. The grilled skin is incredibly delicious, and the flesh stays moist because there is a layer of fat between the skin and flesh. 

Available in: Year Round