| Pampus argenteus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scombriformes |
| Family: | Stromateidae |
| Genus: | Pampus |
| Species: | P. argenteus |
| Binomial name | |
| Pampus argenteus (Euphrasén, 1788) | |
| Synonyms | |
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Pampus argenteus, thesilver pomfret orwhite pomfret is a species ofbutterfish that lives in theIndo-West Pacific, spanning the coastal waters of theMiddle East,Eastern Africa,South Asia,Southeast Asia, andEast Asia.[2] The species has been reported only twice, one hundred years apart, from the centralMediterranean Sea.[3]
Silver pomfrets are usually silver/white in color, with few smallscales. They can grow up to a range of 4–6 kg (8–13 lb). However, due tooverfishing, specimens weighing less than 1 kg (2 lb) are more commonly seen.
The silver pomfret should not be mistaken for theFlorida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus), which is ajackfish found off the coast ofFlorida in theGulf of Mexico, and neither should be confused with true pomfrets, which are of the familyBramidae orchinese pomfrets which may appear similar.
This fish is prized in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region for its taste. Its flesh is soft and buttery when cooked. It is called "Rupchanda" in Bengali,pamplet inMarathi[4] orMaanji inMumbai,paaplet (Konkani:पापलेट) inGoa,avoli (Malayalam:ആവോലി) in Kerala andvawall (Tamil:வௌவால்) in parts ofSouth India. It is calledzubaidi in Arabic, which is derived from the wordzubdah, meaning 'butter', due to its tender flesh. InIndonesia, it is known asbawal putih.
InKorea, the fish is known asbyeongeo (병어) and is often grilled intogui and eaten as abanchan (side dish). It is also a popular dish inChinese cuisine, where it is calledyínchāng (銀鯧) and is often served steamed or braised.
Pomfret is especially popular in Kuwait, and it is one of the most expensive types of fish in the market,[5][6] with theKuwaiti Pomfret (Gulf Arabic:زبيدي كويتي,romanized: zbēdi kwēti), caught in the waters of Kuwait, being the most sought-after followed by theIranian Pomfret (Gulf Arabic:زبيدي ايراني,romanized: zbēdi īrāni). The Kuwaiti government regularly bans the fishing of the Kuwaiti type to allow the fish to reproduce.[5]Mtabbag Zbedi (Gulf Arabic:مطبق زبيدي,romanized: mṭabbag zbēdi) is a popular Kuwaiti dish made with fried Pomfret, spices, and rice, withdaqqūs, Kuwaiti home-made hot sauce, usually added.
