Opah

Opah Flavor Scale

Flavor
Oil
Texture

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Fresh Opah, also called Moonfish, has transluscent pinkish flesh and beautiful multi-colored skin.  Chefs-Resources' Opah page shows when fresh Opah is available, what it’s flavor profile and taste is like, the butchering yield % so you can determine your yield percentage for plate costing purposes.  You’ll also find a Opah nutrition table, the Flavor Scale, and links for further research.

Opah Flavor Profile

 The tender top loin of Opah is a light salmon-orange or pink-rose color and is often used for sashimi.  The flavor of the top loin is sweet & lean with a texture somewhat like tuna. 

The side and lower flesh of Opah is the same light salmon-orange color at the top but fades to a paler color at the bottom and is too fibrous to be used for sashimi but still becomes very tender after cooking.  It is higher in fat than the top loin and also has a flavor similar to tuna or swordfish.

The cheek meat is dark red.  And the breastplate flesh is bright red.  All the flesh turns white after cooking except for the breastplate which turns brown.

Opah Alternate Names

 Moonfish, Havaiian Moonfish, Sunfish, Kingfish, Redfin Ocean Pan, Jerusalem Haddock

Description

 Opah have large disc shaped bodies with blue and a deep red-orange upper body fading to a rosy color on the belly, with white spots covering the sides and bright redish-orange fins.  Opah can weigh 150 pounds.

Range & Habitat

 Opah are often thought of as being a Hawiian fish.  But they are also found from southern California to the Gulf of Alaska, eastern Australia and New Zealand.

Typical Wholesale Products

 Whole, Fillets, Loins.  The top loin is used for sashimi.

Fresh Availability

Fresh seafood availability chart: green areas show peak availability, light green show limited availability, gray indicates not available fresh.

 

Yield Factors

Item	To Skn/On Fillets	To Skn/Off Fillets	Notes
Whole Head/On gutted	40%
Whole Head/Off gutted
Skin/On Fillets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Opah Nutritional Information based upon a 6 oz (171 grams) raw edible serving. * Calories/Calories from fat 192 * Protein grams 40.5 * Fat grams 3.3 * Saturated fat grams n/a * Sodium milligrams n/a * Cholesterol milligrams n/a * Omega-3 grams .69

 

Additional Resources:

	Seafood Watch