The black-bellied monkfish (Lophius budegasa) inhabits the seabed along European coasts. It feeds on crustaceans and fish, which makes its meat one of the most prized of its kind.
It’s a white fish with a large, broad and flattened head and a conical body. The mouth, with abundant teeth, is enormous, almost as wide as its head. The lips are fleshy, and the lower jaw protrudes in front of the upper one. It doesn’t have scales, and it can vary in colour, from dark red to grey. Its belly can also be whitish in colour.
The black-bellied monkfish contains different vitamins, mainly group B (B1, B3, B9 or folic acid), and minerals (iron, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium). It's the perfect fish for low-calorie and low-fat diets.
The best-known monkfish species are the common monkfish (also called white monkfish) and the black-bellied monkfish. The latter is the most sought after due to the quality of its meat (which doesn’t shrink when cooked) and the larger size of its tail compared to other species. The tail of the black-bellied monkfish accounts for approximately half of its weight, with the other half corresponding to the head.
Its meat is excellent, firm, and free of bones. The head can be used to make fish stock, and the tail can be enjoyed in many ways, particularly with recipes that call for a firm, flavourful, and boneless fish. It’s delicious battered, in suquet seafood stews, a salpicón together with other fish and shellfish, on fish and shellfish skewers, or simply cooked with mayonnaise or a seafood sauce.
Commercial name: Black anglerfish / Black belly angler
Scientific name: Lophius budegassa
FAO 3-alpha code: ANK
Catch area: FAO-27 – Northeast Atlantic
Subarea: Main subareas of origin at the port of Vigo: 27.7 (Waters West of Ireland / Celtic Sea), 27.8 (Bay of Biscay), and 27.9 (Portuguese and Galician Waters / Iberian Atlantic Waters). The exact subarea will be specified on the product label at the time of delivery.
Production method: Wild caught
Fishing gear or production system: Trawls
Physical state: Fresh (not frozen)
Commercial presentation: Customer's choice
Net quantity: Will be specified at the time of delivery
Allergens: Contains: fish. May contain traces of: not applicable.
Storage conditions: Keep refrigerated between 0 °C and 4 °C. Consume as soon as possible, preferably within 24–48 hours from purchase.
Information on dates and batch: Expiration date and batch number: indicated on the product label at the time of delivery.
