We talk about panga, a fish of Asian origin that has entered with great force in the Spanish fish markets. Knowing the types of fish is the best way to evaluate the different types of meat.
Pangasius hypophthalmus, what is it?
The scientific name pangasius hypophthalmus is a siluriform omnivorous fish (catfish). It feeds on crustaceans, algae and other river fish.
Panga, as it is popularly known in Spain, is a species from Southeast Asia. Its name comes from the Vietnamese language and means “catfish” because it has two large whiskers, like catfish.
In English it is also known as “iridescent shark”. This is because it has a very pronounced fin on its dorsal fin, but it has little to do with any kind of shark beyond this.
Something else we can know about it is that it is a freshwater fish found in rivers such as the Mekong.
Pangasius in the kitchen
The distribution of this fish outside Asia has been very large due to its two key attributes: its tasty meat and its low price.
In fact, Spain is one of the best markets for pangasius. Here we consume it as a way of obtaining the benefits of the fish at a low cost.
Among our products you can find panga in 1 kg bags. Try it to get to know it better.
The controversy with pangasius meat
As we have already mentioned, pangasius has been distributed at a very low price. This has made that its competition in the market has fired its alarms. In recent years a rumor was spread about the negative effects of this species for consumption because it came from the Mekong River, where there are high levels of contamination. However, studies have not revealed that the consumption of its meat is harmful to health.
