Copius
Arctic char, drawn for Copius

Arctic char

Omble chevalier

Latin nameSalvelinus alpinus
FamilyFish & seafood
OriginArctic & alpine lakes
Season (France)June – October
FlavourDelicate · Rich · Sweet · Marine
Typical price (France)18–28 €/kg

What it is

It lives in the coldest fresh water on Earth, further north than any other freshwater fish, and in the deep alpine lakes of Savoie and Switzerland. Somewhere between salmon and trout in richness, and rarer than either.

In the kitchen

Cook it barely — it is at its best still translucent at the centre. It goes from perfect to chalky in under a minute.

Goes with

Butter Lemon Dill Crème fraîche Hazelnut Chives Beetroot Horseradish

Also used with

Labrador tea Mountain sorrel

In season alongside

Brill Crayfish Dentex Greater amberjack (kanpachi) Splendid alfonsino (kinmedai) Lobster

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