Eating in China
AI-generated editorial illustration of Catfish.

Catfish

鲶鱼Niányú

Freshwater catfish used as fish meat in Chinese cooking. Common Chinese catfish have smooth, scaleless skin and whisker-like barbels around the mouth.

Type
Fish and seafood

A CLOSER LOOK

How to recognize it

Look for a broad mouth, barbels and smooth skin rather than the conspicuous scales of carp. Cut pieces alone may not establish the species.

In the kitchen

Cut into pieces for braising, including Changhong catfish and garlic-braised catfish.

Several freshwater catfish species are sold for cooking. This culinary record does not identify the species in every serving and is distinct from silver carp.

Ask about this ingredient

这道菜里有鲶鱼吗?

Does this dish contain Catfish?

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