Coral Trout
Common Coral Trout
Coral trouts are among the most sought-after reef fishes for their impressive appearance and fine eating qualities. Their delicate flavour and fine, white flakes appeal to most. Bake, steam, poach or grill, but avoid handling them too much as their delicate flakes can be easily damaged. Enrich with an abundance of citrus, light butter sauces, parsley and chives. The cheek flesh from coral trouts is very highly regarded and should not be wasted.
Flavour: Mild, Delicate and sweet flavour
Oiliness: Low
Moisture: Moist
Texture: Firm, Fine flakes
Flesh Colour: White
Thickness: Thick fillets
Bones: A few bones (mainly pin bones), which are generally large and easily removed
Price: Coral trout are high-priced finfish.
Suggested Wines
To accentuate the sweet and piquant flavours of these species, it is important to select table wines with subtle varietal characteristics and understated flavours. Cool climate white wines are preferred and varieties such as sauvignon blanc, semillon, or blends of both are suitable.
Caught year round in saltwater near reef areas with peak supply from September until November. The coral trouts (Plectropomus spp) are often separated from the coronation trouts (Variola spp) in the marketplace. They can grow from 40-80cm Coral trout weighing 0.6-1.0 kg are sometimes called ‘plate size’.
Cooking Ideas
| Bake | Deep Fry | |
| Grill/barbecue | Poach | Raw |
| Shallow Fry | Smoke | Steam/microwave |
When Caught
Year round, with peak supply in
When Caught
Year round, with peak supply in eastern Australia from September until NovemberYear round, with peak supply in eastern Australia from September until November
Important Features
Wild/Farmed Wild
Habitat Saltwater, Caught near reef areas. The scarlet or red coloured coral trout are typically taken in deep water (up to 100 m).
Recovery Rate Skinless fillets: 50% from whole coral trout
Common Coral Trout Research
FRDC provides a comprehensive search of the latest research papers and images on Common Coral Trout
Remarks
The coral trouts (Plectropomus spp) are often separated from the coronation trouts (Variola spp) in the marketplace.
Coral trouts often have black parasites on the inside of the belly flap but these are not a food safety issue.
Imports Indonesia and Myanmar: frozen Pacific islands: chilled, whole and gilled and gutted
Common Size 40-80cm
Overseas Names
(GB: blue-dotted coral-trout, leopard coralgrouper; J: nisesujihata, suji-ara; SGP: kerapu bara; T: pla karang
Grading
Grading can vary by supplier and region. An example of a grading system for whole coral trout is presented below.
Coral trout weighing 0.6 1.0 kg are sometimes called plate size.
Nutrition Facts
per 100g of raw product
| Kilojoules | na |
| Cholesterol | 25mg |
| Sodium | na |
| Total fat (oil) | 0.6g |
| Saturated fat | 32% of total fat |
| Monounsaturated fat | 16% of total fat |
| Polyunsaturated fat | 52% of total fat |
| Omega-3, EPA | 9mg |
| Omega-3, DHA | 149mg |
| Omega-6, AA | 27mg |