Warm waters give us many culinary gifts, including the triggerfish but what does it truly taste like? Ride a wave of flavor with this delicious guide to the tasty flavor of triggerfish.
Triggerfish is a truly one-of-a-kind fish with so much oceanic flavor to offer, but it’s so unique that many people have not gotten a chance to experience this special fish yet!
Don’t let yourself miss out on all the sumptuous benefits this fish has to offer! Cast your net and catch some flavor with this tasty look at everything you need to know about the flavor of triggerfish!
What Does Triggerfish Taste Like?
Triggerfish may be small but they are packed with big, bold flavors. Triggerfish taste fishy yet still fresh and sweet in flavor. The perfectly sweet fishy flavor of triggerfish is sometimes likened to the flavor of crab or grouper fish.
Triggerfish has beautifully flakey and white flesh that is perfect for chunking into fritters or fish salad. It is light and delicate in texture so extra care should be taken when cooking this lovely fish.
What is Triggerfish?
Triggerfish love warm tropical and subtropical waters and can be found in abundance throughout the reefs. These fish are often found in coastal waters in the Atlantic Ocean. They are arrow-like in shape and come in a variety of scale colors and patterns and their flesh is white.
Triggerfish are commercially harvested and fished by ambitious anglers. They are commonly prepared pan-seared or baked and they hold a special place in the world of coastal cuisine.
Is Eating Triggerfish Healthy?
Some foods, like wonderfully sweet triggerfish, taste so good that you have to wonder about their effect on your nutrition. Fortunately, triggerfish is a rare food that tastes great and is good for you too!
Triggerfish is very low in calories and fat. It is also rich in healthy cholesterol and omega-3 fatty acids. It is also lower in sodium than some other types of fish, so triggerfish is a health-healthy alternative to other proteins.
Being such a widespread fish means that some triggerfish from different environments have higher mercury content. This fish can be high in mercury though, so always consume this protein in moderation.
Where to Buy Triggerfish
If you’re lucky enough to live on the Atlantic in Florida you might be able to hook one of these tasty fish, but if not you probably have to find it at the store.
The first concern when buying this fish is freshness. Never buy frozen triggerfish, instead find a reputable fish seller to buy from. Try online fish markets or your local butcher shop.
Fresh triggerfish will be slightly aromatic and have a nice sheen. Fresh triggerfish fillets should be slightly firm to the touch.
How to Serve Triggerfish
Triggerfish is fresh and sweet and it needs some friends to complement its flavor. Making the right choices for your triggerfish brings the whole plate together!
Make this fish into a Souther American classic with a warm green salad and some crispy fried hush puppies. It’s a plate of pure Southern comfort! Try things a little lighter with some herbed rice and a roasted tomato medley to bring out the sweet flavors in this whitefish.
To make the perfect drink match, think tart. Sour, tart, and bitter flavors complement the sweet, briny notes in this fish.
Try a glass of sparkling wine or rose with this fish or opt for a beer pairing with your favorite pale ale. Keep it non-alcoholic with tasty triggerfish and strawberry lemonade.
Notes on This Triggerfish Recipe
Ingredients
- Triggerfish Fillets – Triggerfish might be tough to find in your area if you are not near the coast, but the deliciously crab-like flavor of triggerfish is worth the hunt! Try your local seasonal food market or butcher or even try an online fresh-fish supplier.
- Sea Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper – Sea salt and pepper of the cornerstones of any great fish dish! Choose freshly cracked pepper and fine-grain sea salt for this recipe.
- Paprika – Paprika gives a wonderfully smoky and sweet peppery note to this fish, plus it has an irresistible color! Use your favorite variety of this spice for this recipe.
- Dried Thyme– Thyme brings a nice earthy and leafy note to this spice blend. Swap the dried for fresh if desired.
- Chili Powder – Chili powder brings a little heat. Use standard chili powder or substitute this for smoky chipotle or hot and spicy cayenne.
- Olive Oil – For brushing the grill grates. In a pinch, you can substitute this ingredient for neutral cooking oil.
- Lime Wedges – Fish needs a little citrus and lime is just the flavor to complete the bold and slightly spicy seasoning blend in this recipe. In a pinch, you can substitute this ingredient for a few dashes of bottled lime juice.
Expert Tips
- Before heating the grill place a small pan over half of the grill’s grate and oil both this and the open grate. Place the fish on the grates long enough to get grill marks then move it to the pan so it does not fall apart.
- Be sure to brush the grill well before placing the fish to avoid any sticking.
- Serve this delicious triggerfish with herbed rice and beans for a perfect coastal meal!
Easy Grilled Triggerfish Recipe
Ingredients
4 Triggerfish Fillets
1 Tablespoon Sea Salt
¼ Teaspoon Fresh Ground Pepper
¼ Teaspoon Paprika
¼ Teaspoon Dried Thyme
¼ Teaspoon Chili Powder
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1-2 Lime Wedges
Directions
- Preheat the grill to 400°F.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the salt, pepper, paprika, thyme, and chili powder.
- Use the dry seasonings to generously season all sides of the triggerfish fillets.
- Take the fillets to the grill; just before placing them, brush the grill grate with olive oil and then lay the fish on the oiled grill.
- Cook the fish for about 3-4 minutes and then fill. Continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes or until the fish read 145°F when checked with an internal thermometer.
- Immediately after removing the fish from the grill, squeeze some fresh lime juice on it to finish. Optionally garnish each fillet with a fresh lime wedge.
