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Common Dolphifish (Shiira)

【Nigiri sushi: Shiromi】
Common Dolphinfish (Shiira) is a migratory fish widely distributed throughout temperate and tropical waters worldwide. Its body is laterally compressed, and adult males have a protruding, angular forehead. They can reach up to 1.8 meters in length. Their body color is bluish-yellow on the back and pale yellow on the belly. They swim in surface waters in schools ranging from a few to several hundred individuals. Because these fish swim together in pairs, shiira is sometimes used as a betrothal gift in wedding ceremonies.

Shiira tends to lose freshness quickly, becoming watery and often giving an impression of poor taste. It is crucial to kill them while alive and thoroughly bleed them out. In the past, they were sometimes fraudulently sold as yellowtail (Buri) or amberjack (Hiramasa). This means they are tasty and inexpensive. Conversely, in Europe and the US, they are treated as a high-end fish; in Hawaii, they are called mahi-mahi and prepared as steaks or fried.

In Japan, fresh shiira is used for sashimi or sushi. Although it is a white-fleshed fish with a light flavor, its lack of umami makes itnot considered a premium sushi topping. We have never seen it in Tokyo sushi restaurants.

Generally, it is prepared as miso-marinated fish, grilled with sake lees, teriyaki-style, butter-grilled, or fried. A key cooking note is that the skin contains a mucous toxin, so it must be properly processed.

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