A seafood and fish guide what fish and seafood should I order and how do I eat well and sustainably
Seafood is my priority on this trip and being an island I expect it to be great But I do not know the local fish and seafood What types should I look for (I see seer fish tuna prawns cuttlefish crab on menus) what is best how is it cooked (curry grilled devilled) how do I make sure it is fresh and order well and is there anything to know about eating seafood sustainably (avoid certain things) I want to eat the best seafood without being clueless Seafood lovers and locals please give me a fish guide
6 Answers from travellers
Food guide and fish market regular so your seafood guide The fish and seafood to look for SEER FISH (thora) the prized firm meaty white fish (like a king mackerel) excellent grilled or as a curry a top choice TUNA (kelawalla) common firm and good (great in a curry or as steaks and in the ambul thiyal the sour fish curry) PRAWNS (isso) from small to giant tiger prawns wonderful in curries grilled or devilled CUTTLEFISH and SQUID (dallo) tender and good devilled or curried CRAB (kakuluwa) the famous mud crab a treat (the crab curry and the Jaffna crab the seafood threads) LOBSTER where available a splurge small reef fish and the catch of the day SARDINES and small fish for the local curries How it is cooked the great ways CURRY (the fish or seafood in a spiced coconut or sour gravy try a fish ambul thiyal the tangy black sour fish curry a southern speciality) GRILLED or barbecued (fresh whole fish or prawns simple and superb at the beach restaurants) DEVILLED (the spicy stir fried devilled prawns cuttlefish or fish hot sweet and sticky delicious) battered or fried and in the seafood platters How to ensure it is fresh and order well eat seafood where it is FRESH and turns over coastal and fishing towns (Negombo my town with its fish market the south coast) where the catch lands daily choose busy popular places ask what is the CATCH OF THE DAY (the freshest) at a beach restaurant you can often pick your fish (see it fresh) avoid sad looking seafood in a quiet inland spot fresh fish should smell of the sea not fishy Sustainability some sensible notes choose the ABUNDANT well managed species (tuna seer prawns are widely caught) be cautious with LOBSTER and reef fish (can be over harvested and out of season) avoid anything endangered (do not eat shark fin turtle or undersized or clearly threatened species the conservation threads) eat what is in season and locally abundant ask the restaurant a good one knows support places that fish responsibly Where the best seafood the FISHING and COASTAL towns (Negombo the south coast Mirissa Tangalle the east coast in season) the fish markets and the beach grills June note the south and west are in the monsoon now (rougher seas) while the EAST coast (Trincomalee Arugam) is in its calmer dry season so the east has great fresh seafood this month (the seasonal threads) So for the best seafood look for SEER fish TUNA PRAWNS CUTTLEFISH and CRAB cooked as a curry grilled or devilled (try the sour ambul thiyal) eat it FRESH in the fishing and coastal towns where the catch lands daily ask for the catch of the day choose abundant species and avoid the threatened ones and head to the calmer EAST coast for fresh seafood in June you will eat superbly
The pick your fish at a beach restaurant tip is great seeing the fresh catch and choosing your fish or prawns to be grilled then and there is the best way to guarantee freshness and quality the simple grilled fresh fish by the sea is hard to beat
Devilled prawns or cuttlefish are my guilty pleasure the spicy sweet sticky stir fry is so good with rice or even as a snack with a cold drink if you like a bit of heat and stickiness the devilled seafood dishes are a must try alongside the curries and grills
Look for seer fish tuna prawns cuttlefish and crab cooked as a curry grilled or devilled and try the sour ambul thiyal eat it fresh where the catch lands ask for the catch of the day choose abundant species over threatened ones and head to the calmer east coast in June this is exactly the seafood guide I wanted thank you
Try the ambul thiyal the sour dry fish curry made with goraka it is a southern speciality that preserves the fish and gives a unique tangy intense flavour quite different from a creamy coconut fish curry it is one of the most distinctive ways to eat fish here
The avoid threatened species note is important I always ask and skip lobster if it is out of season or looks over harvested and never anything endangered eating the abundant tuna seer and prawns lets you enjoy the seafood with a clear conscience a good restaurant respects this
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