Fish and Seafood from A to Z: La Limanda

Today we talk about a fish that, despite not being one of the best known, fulfills a very important function: to teach our children to appreciate fish. We talk about dab and why it is the ideal fish for children.

Dab, the ideal fish for children

Did you know dab? Its scientific name is limanda aspera and it belongs to the pleuronectiform fishes, that is to say, to the flat fishes, such as sole and turbot. It can be found in the FAO67 fishing region that corresponds to the North American coast of the Pacific Ocean from Washington State to the cold lands of Alaska. If we have ever seen dab, we will have done so, above all, in school canteens.

As parents, we have all had to deal with a child’s rejection of certain foods. To initiate them in the education towards some foods, such as fish or meat, we look for milder flavors, which avoid “surprises” in the child. For this purpose, fish such as pangasius, tilapia or dab itself are perfect. The flesh of dab is characterized by a mild flavor that pleases children very much. In addition to this, its fillet has no bones and makes the task of preparing the dish much easier.

The controversy with pangasius

For some time now we have been living with a controversy that has arisen around a fish, the pangasius. This fish has its origin in the Mekong River, which originates in China and crosses Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam). Due to the high pollution of the river, a series of rumors arose about the unhealthiness of consuming pangasius meat. However, this fish has passed, like any other fish, the European Union regulations required for its commercialization.

Dab is one of the fish that emerged as an alternative to pangasius. Since then, both dab and tilapia have replaced pangasius in children’s canteens, where rumors and protests about the quality of pangasius became more intense. The mild flavor of dab makes it a similar tasting substitute for pangasius.

It should be clarified that the different studies have failed to show any harm to health derived from the consumption of pangasius.