A slender inshore fish with a smooth silver skin and a compact, sweet white fillet. It is cleaned and gutted before freezing, so it goes from the pack to the pan with nothing more than a rinse and a pat dry.

What is in the pack

• Net weight: 2 kg
• 10 to 12 whole fish
• Each fish is 18 to 22 cm long and weighs 160 to 200 g

Where it comes from

Wild caught in clean coastal water close to the shore, then frozen within hours of landing

Its condition

Whole and cleaned, then frozen so the body keeps its shape and the skin stays intact

Storage and thawing

Keep at -18 C or colder. Thaw slowly in the refrigerator, then dry the skin thoroughly; any surface water will spit when it hits hot oil.

Shelf life and delivery

Best within 9 months of the pack date on the back panel. Ships in an insulated box with gel ice.

How to cook it

Deep frying is the classic treatment: coat lightly in starch and fry until golden and crisp, about 4 minutes. Pan fried with salt and pepper works just as well, and a light braise with ginger and soy makes a good sauce for rice. The bones are fine, so serve it whole.

Allergen

Contains fish. Keep it away from anyone who reacts to this group, and wash hands, boards and knives after handling raw product.