What Is Barramundi and How Do You Use It?

Barramundi is a white fish that’s taken the culinary world by storm. Chances are you have seen it in your local grocery store, but you may have avoided purchasing it due to not knowing enough about how to cook it or its health benefits.

Conveniently, barramundi is not only easy to cook but also extremely healthy, making it an excellent fish to add to your diet. To learn more about this white fish, keep reading for a complete guide on how to cook, store and enjoy barramundi. 

 Jump to Section

• What Is Barramundi Fish?
• How To Cook Barramundi Fish
• Barramundi Recipes To Try
• How To Store Barramundi
• Is Barramundi Healthy?
• Where To Buy Barramundi
• What Is a Good Barramundi Substitute?

What Is Barramundi Fish?

This gray, large-scaled fish is native to the Pacific Ocean near India and Australia. While the species is only found natively in that region, it is often farmed around the world because of its delicious flavor, health benefits and eco-friendly production process.

What Does a Barramundi Look Like?

Barramundi closely resembles perch, with a pointed head and round tail fin. They are large fish, growing to weigh up to 60 kilograms or around 132 pounds. It has been said that the larger fish have a more flavorful taste when cooked. When looking for it in the store, you may see whole barramundi for sale or filets. If it has been filleted, the fish will be white with a slightly pink or gray hue, resembling more common white fish, such as cod.

What Does Barramundi Taste Like?

The general flavor is very similar to other white-fleshed fish. If you’re familiar with bass, grouper, mahi-mahi or snapper, you’ll have a good sense of what it tastes like. The filet of the fish is quite flaky and has a mild, rich taste that works well in almost any recipe that calls for white fish. If you aren’t a fan of fish that has a strong or overwhelming flavor profile (think tuna or salmon), it could be a perfect, buttery addition to your next seafood dish.

Is Barramundi a Sea Bass?

Believe it or not, “barramundi” has not always been known by this word. The name comes from the Australian Aboriginal language. The fish that goes by that name today is also known by a few other names like giant perch, giant sea perch and Asian sea bass. 

How To Cook Barramundi Fish

One of the best things about this fish is that it is a hard dish to ruin! Because it has a high oil content, you can really cook it any way you choose, from grilling or broiling to baking, steaming or frying it. The two most popular cooking methods are on the stovetop and baking it in the oven. The oil content within the fish makes it more resistant to being overcooked, so this is a great fish to try if you are new to cooking fish.

While it's not too difficult to cook, you may still be interested in learning some tips for cooking barramundi and incorporating the fish into your recipes. To learn from an expert, check out cooking classes near you or online cooking classes that will teach you all the skills you need to cook up delicious seafood dishes with ease.

How To Cook Barramundi in a Pan

To pan-fry your barramundi, be sure that you have a good selection of pans for cooking fish on hand. Next, prepare the fish filets by drying them off with a paper towel. There is no need to remove the skin but you should score the fish gently with a sharp knife. This will help any seasoning you put on the fish to sink into the meat itself, and it will keep the skin from shrinking as the fish cooks. 

Season your fish to your liking — salt and pepper works great or you can get more creative. Then, heat some oil in your pan and place the fish skin side down. Let the fish cook for a few minutes, or until the skin is a nice golden color. Repeat on the other side of the filet. 

How To Cook Barramundi in the Oven

Another way to cook this popular delicacy is in the oven. If you’re still learning how to bake fish, don’t worry! Cooking it in the oven can be an easy, hassle-free way to prepare your dish. In fact, most fish bake incredibly quickly in the oven. Be sure your fish is completely thawed before you bake it.

You can place your fish in an oven-safe dish or wrap it in parchment paper or foil for an easy cleanup. Preheat your oven to  375 degrees Fahrenheit, then pop the fish in and cook for about five minutes per half-inch of thickness. It’s also a good idea to flip the fish halfway through cooking so that it bakes evenly on both sides. 

How To Season Barramundi

Because of its relatively mild flavor, this is the perfect fish for experimenting with flavorful sauces and seasonings. The fish itself will not outshine the sauce or seasonings you use. Try making an Asian-inspired dish with soy sauce and sesame or keep it simple with a lemon and butter sauce. There are endless ways to customize this fish to your liking.

Can You Eat Barramundi Skin?

If you’re new to cooking seafood, it can be normal to have questions about what parts of the fish you can and cannot eat. One of the most common questions with barramundi is whether the skin is edible. The answer is a resounding yes! Like salmon, its skin is both edible and delicious. When cooked, the skin gets nice and crispy. 

Barramundi Recipes To Try

1. Pan-Fried Barramundi With Lemon Butter Sauce

Like many other white fish, barramundi pairs well with the light flavor of lemon. Pan-fry the fish in a bit of olive oil and pair with a light, fresh lemon sauce for a healthy, quick dinner. As mentioned above, you can leave the skin on, allowing it to crisp up, or remove it. Serve with a side of rice pilaf or steamed broccoli for a delicious and healthy dinner option.

2. Baked Parmesan Barramundi

This fish also bakes well, so why not try it with a crunchy Parmesan and breadcrumb coating? Coat the fish in an egg wash, then use a combination of panko crumbs, Parmesan cheese and minced garlic to create a flavorful coating. While you could also pan-fry this dish, baking it is another alternative that makes for slightly easier cleanup. Serve with roasted vegetables and some garlic bread for an entirely oven-baked meal on a busy weeknight. 

3. Crispy Baked Fish Strips

If you have kids at home, you can substitute barramundi for almost any white fish you would normally use to create fish strips. Give your strips a crumb coating and serve with cocktail sauce for a fun, kid-friendly dinner.

How To Store Barramundi

Like most fresh fish, the best way to store barramundi is for as little time as possible. It’s definitely best consumed fresh, so be sure to cook and eat the fish within one or two days of purchasing it. You can freeze or purchase it pre-frozen, but keep in mind that freezing fish often affects the texture and quality of the meat. 

Is Barramundi Healthy?

With a wide range of health benefits, this amazing fish just keeps getting better! If you’re looking for a light, fresh dish, it’s helpful to know that this particular fish is a low-fat food that has plenty of omega-3 fatty acids. It is also a protein-rich food that has been shown to help boost your immune system. 

This popular fish can even be a good source of the minerals your body needs, like zinc, iodine, potassium and more. In fact, like lots of other seafood, it’s so good for you that even the American Heart Association suggests adding it to your diet once or twice a week to maintain your overall health. Of course, we all have different health needs, but adding this particular fish to your meal rotation is an easy, healthy switch that can make a true difference to your overall health.

In addition to personal health benefits, the farming practices used for this fish are some of the most environmentally friendly practices used today. Because the fish are fed mainly plant-based diets, the whole process creates little waste. In the wild, these fish are very adaptable to climate change and have shown resistance to disease and parasites that trouble other species. With health benefits for you and the environment, what’s not to love?

Is Barramundi High in Mercury?

If you’re looking for even more good news about the health benefits of this delicious fish, you’ll be glad to know that it consistently tests below the allowable detectable limits of mercury in seafood. Just keep in mind that the amount of mercury present in your fish might vary depending on where it was sourced. 

Where To Buy Barramundi

Because of its immense popularity, this fish is available at most grocery stores and from a variety of online retailers, so you should be able to find it without much trouble.

What Is a Good Barramundi Substitute?

Because its flavor is similar to most other white fish, you can use it to substitute things like grouper, bass and mahi-mahi. Fish with a more potent flavor profile, like tuna or salmon, are not a good substitute. 

If you've been looking to answer the question: "What is barramundi," this guide should have given you some great information about this healthy white fish and how to include it in your diet. Whether you pan-fry it, add it to fish stew or make tasty battered fish strips, you won't regret incorporating barramundi into your meal rotation!

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