Angry rockfish nigiri

Angry rockfish (Menuke)

【Nigiri sushi: Shiromi】
Angry rockfish, also known as Menuke or Munuki, is a term for red-bodied species of the Scorpaenidae family that live in deep waters. The name comes from the way their eyes seem to bulge when they’re brought up from the deep sea—a result of decompression. In short, Menuke refers to red rockfish found throughout Japan.

That said, it’s mainly sushi restaurants in Hokkaido that use Menuke as a sushi topping. Here, it usually refers to Oosaga, also called Koujinmenuke, which is caught in Hokkaido. The name Oosaga comes from ‘Ooki-saga,’ meaning ‘large saga,’ with ‘saga’ referring to red rockfish species like Coral-rockfish (Sankoumenuke) found in Hokkaido and the Tohoku region. While Sankoumenuke and Oosaga look very similar, they can be told apart by the color of their mouths: Sankoumenuke has a white interior, whereas Oosaga’s is black. Since catches of Sankoumenuke are low, the two are often not strictly distinguished in the market.

Menuke used to be considered a cheap fish, but in recent years it has become a super-premium delicacy. Careful handling after catch allows it to reach the market in top condition, making it perfect for modern tastes that favor rich, fatty fish. If you visit a high-end sushi restaurant in Hokkaido, you might get the chance to try it. Deep-sea fish often lack strong flavor on their own, but they pair beautifully with vinegared rice—definitely worth giving a try.


【Related contents】
List of White flesh fish (Shiromi)