Yelloweye rockfish, commonly referred to as yelloweye, is a large variety of rockfish that can be found in fisheries off Southeast Alaska. It’s a lean, flaky, and versatile fillet to have in your white fish rotation, as its firm texture makes it suitable for a wide range of cooking methods. Its fillets are mild in flavor and are a great option for baking, searing, grilling, or broiling, especially when accompanied by a flavorful sauce, robust seasonings, or a quick marinade.
This species is named after its bright yellow eyes. It’s also known as Pacific red snapper and red rock cod due to its vibrant red-yellow-orange color. Some say that it resembles a giant goldfish.
What does yelloweye taste like?
Though yelloweye is a type of rockfish, it is much milder than smaller, more familiar varieties of fish in this family. It’s the largest, longest-living, and most well-known species of rockfish, prized for its delicious qualities.
Its fillets typically look and taste a lot like Pacific cod or lingcod, making it another delicate variety of white fish to enjoy any day of the week. It also cooks more like these two species of white fish, since it produces thicker fillets due to its size. When cooked perfectly, it has a light texture that takes on a pleasantly shreddable flake. Try using it in place of Pacific cod, lingcod, or even Pacific halibut.
Nutrition Facts
Yelloweye is a lean source of protein that’s low in fat and calories that can be a great addition to a healthy diet. It also contains other essential nutrients like calcium and potassium.
Nutrition per 3-ounce serving:
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Calories: 130 calories
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Fat: 1 grams
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Protein: 29 grams
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Potassium: 630 grams, or 15% RDI
Is yelloweye sustainable?
Yes, yelloweye is a sustainable species of white fish when harvested from Alaskan fisheries. The species is caught with a longline as a non-targeted species alongside Pacific halibut harvests. Its populations are healthy and abundant.
Best Ways to Cook Yelloweye
Yelloweye cooks like Pacific cod, so try using it in place of Pacific cod in recipes for a different experience. For the best ways to cook this large species of rockfish, it’s best to use the same cook times and techniques that you would use for Pacific cod:
Where to Buy Wild-Caught Yelloweye
Stock your kitchen with sustainably-harvested yelloweye by sourcing your seafood online from Wild Alaskan Company. You’ll get high-quality, wild-caught seafood delivered straight to your doorstep. Choose your seafood subscription box today.