Halibut and Other Flatfish

The world of flatfish is vast. They start out life with an eye on either side their head, like a round fish. As they mature, they start to swim on one side only and one eye moves over onto the dark skin side of the body. At this point, they hang out on the seabed and feed on whatever edible creatures swim by. Because they don’t have to chase their food, their flesh is delicate and without much muscle. They have a simple bone structure, which is great for people who are nervous about bones for how to fillet a flatfish). The fish in this chapter are flatfish that you’ll encounter in the market. Note that monkfish and dogfish are not true flatfish but are included in this chapter because their flesh when cooked is similar to flatfish.