Lingcod
Ophiodon elongatus · Fish
Top 10 pairings
Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) is a large, voracious bottom-dwelling predator of the North American Pacific coast — not a true cod at all, but a member of the greenling family. It yields lean, mild, snow-white flesh that flakes into firm, large leaves, though a striking minority of fish carry flesh tinted blue-green that cooks back to white.
Picking a good onedrag
Just landed: clear eyes, clean sea smellOff: dull, soft, smelling sour
Counter freshBuy itCook to 63 C / 145 F at the thickest point. Blue-green flesh is normal in about one lingcod in five and turns snow white as it cooks.
Eyes and gills, whole fishEyes slightly sunken, pupil dull; gills paler, slime clear
Cut flesh of steak or filletStill firm, blood lines dulling, the shine going
Press the fleshLess elastic, still springs back
Smell at the gills or fleshNeutral and mild, the sea note gone