Garfish

What Is Garfish (Zargana)?

Garfish (Belone belone) is a surface fish with a long, very thin body and beak-like pointed jaws. It is known for its bright silvery-bluish color and lives near the surface in coastal waters.

Its most notable feature is that its bones turn green when cooked; this comes from a natural pigment (biliverdin) in the bones and is harmless. Its thin, tasty flesh is enjoyed grilled and pan-fried.

Nutritional Values of Garfish

Like semi-fatty fish, garfish contains about 100 kcal of energy and high protein per 100 g; since there is no verified USDA data specific to this species, values are given as approximations based on a similar profile.

What Are the Benefits of Garfish?

With its high-quality protein content, garfish can be considered part of a balanced diet; part of its fat consists of omega-3 fatty acids.

This information is general; garfish is a food and is not a substitute for medical treatment.

How to Choose Garfish

Fresh garfish has a bright silvery-bluish color, clear eyes, firm flesh, and a clean sea smell. Since it has a thin body, freshness is especially important.

• Color should be bright silvery-bluish, not dulled
• Eyes should be clear, gills red
• Sea smell should be clean, body should be firm

How to Store Garfish

Since garfish spoils quickly, it should be stored on ice in the refrigerator for at most 1 day, and cooked the day it is bought if possible. It can also be cleaned and kept in the freezer.

Using Garfish in Cooking

Garfish is most often grilled and pan-fried; since its thin body cooks quickly, it is kept over high heat for a short time. In some regions it is cut into rings and fried.

How to Make Grilled Garfish

The cleaned garfish is rubbed with olive oil and salt and grilled briefly on both sides; served drizzled with lemon.

Why Do Garfish Bones Turn Green?

A natural pigment called biliverdin in the bones turns them green when cooked; this is completely natural and harmless.

Which Recipes Use Garfish?

Grilled garfish, pan-fried garfish, and fried garfish rings are the best-known uses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the green bone of garfish edible?

The bone itself is not eaten, but its green color is harmless; it results from a natural pigment and is not related to the fish's freshness.

Is garfish a fatty fish?

It is a moderately fatty fish; this fat gives good results when grilled and contains omega-3.

When is garfish caught?

Its most abundant period is spring and summer, when it is caught near the surface of coastal waters.

Does garfish have bones?

It has a long spinal bone but few fine intermediate bones; the flesh separates easily when grilled.

How is garfish cleaned?

Its beak-like jaw and innards are removed and it is washed thoroughly in water; being thin-bodied, it is cleaned quickly.