Karei – [Sushi|Foodlore]

Description

• Karei – Hirigana: かれい, Katakana:  カレイ, Kanji: 鰈 – “Right facing Flounder”, “Dab”, “Sole”  – Season: April – Oct.

• About this fish: A small Right-facing flat-fish, its eyes typically shift as it ages, growing to the Right side of its face.  Both Karei & Hirame have a particularly tasty tender, chewy, sweet meat found along its left and right dorsal fin muscles known as “Engawa.” – [Fun fact: These muscles are named after the long wooden porches on older Japanese homes!] It should probably also be noted that both types of flatfish are often conflated with ‘halibut’, ‘fluke’, ‘sole’, ‘dab’ and numerous other types of flatfish as well. This naming confusion is very common in English, because we collectively call /all/ of these ‘flatfish’ or ‘Flounders.’ – Japan seems to also have a similar bit of confusion, but perhaps a better grasp on the difference: A handy saying, used to remember the difference between the two types of flounders is: “左鮃 右鰈” [lit. “Left Hirame, Right Karei.”] – In folklore found across Asia,  Flatfish with opposing eyes are considered soulmates; so they’re said to be symbols of inseparable, faithful lovers!

for a bit more about the other flatfish, see also: “Hirame.”

[sticker art by samkalensky part of my nigiri sushi/foodlore collections]