Copius
Haddock, drawn for Copius

Haddock

Églefin

Latin nameMelanogrammus aeglefinus
FamilyFish & seafood
OriginNorth Atlantic and North Sea
Season (France)October – March
FlavourSweet · Mild · Marine · Delicate
Typical price (France)12–20 €/kg

What it is

The dark thumbprint above the pectoral fin is where, the story goes, Saint Peter lifted the fish to take the tribute coin from its mouth. The smoked version has a stricter address: finnan haddie is named for Findon in Aberdeenshire and is cold-smoked, which means it is still raw and still needs poaching.

In the kitchen

Poach smoked haddock in milk rather than water, at a bare tremble for eight minutes; boiling squeezes it dry. Keep the milk — it is already the sauce.

Goes with

Butter Cream Potato Leek Parsley Egg Black pepper Bay leaf

Same species

Smoked haddock

In season alongside

Hake John Dory Pollock Sea bass Trout Whiting

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