It’s expensive as hell, and therefore it’s not really a value fish (relatively speaking you could probably get lots of flavor for less $$$ from another fish), but … The most heavily fished type of flounder is the European flounder, which reaches a maximum length of 20 inches. Most species of flounder and sole have both eyes on their right side. I would bet you are actually getting Arrowtooth Flounder, these fish have a poor flesh quality. Dover sole fish, for example, generally runs about $6–$8 per pound while … Sole are edible flatfish in the flounder family, and both are sea fishes. If I go to a quality steakhouse and this isn’t the fish on the menu I’m usually a little skeptical. They all have firm white flesh and have a similar taste to me. Pacific Dover sole is an affordable fish that works perfectly in this recipe– just make sure that you understand what you’re buying. At the other end of the scale, the yellowtail flounder and petrale sole offer a delicate, firm-fleshed, lean fillet. Arrowtooth flounder, which is found from California to Alaska, has a soft flesh and is often marketed as turbot, although it is not European turbot, the most expensive flatfish in the world. A Flounder can be right-eyed or left-eyed. Beca… According to The New York Times , the simple recipe for sole meunière, pan-fried sole flavored with butter, lemon, and parsley, made her “fall in love with French cuisine.” Pretty much all our favorite Flatfish are technically Flounder, but most of them go by another name. The sole vs. flounder wars haven't made headlines, but a discerning diner and cook may look at the packaging of both fish as a commercial tease. Flatfish species tend to have roughly oval-shaped bodies, though this can vary dramatically from species to species: some have arrowhead-shaped bodies, for instance. Flounders and sole may appear similar, but flounder is in a broader taxonomic grouping, and the fish have some differences regarding their bodies and distributions across the globe. However, these two groups of fish differ in several fundamental ways: their taxonomic groupings, their bodies, and their distribution across the world. Dover sole larvae usually settle to the bottom after a year of living in the upper water column, but some remain larvae for as long as 2 years. Newborn flounder have eyes on both sides, but within days, the left eye migrates to the right side. At first glance, sole and flounder may appear to be the same kind of fish. Most often, sole can be found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Flounders have more variation between being right-eyed and left-eyed. These fish feature prominently in French cuisine, and Scandinavians frequently smoke and dry them. Dover Sole is wild and proportionally less is caught. Many species of sole and flounder have culinary applications, and their similar texture and flavor renders them interchangeable. Pacific Dover Sole vs True (European) Dover Sole. Other names of flatfish are Pacific sanddab, and a variety of sole including sand sole, butter sole, and rock sole. Flatfish spend their lives lying on the seafloor waiting for a meal to swim their way. Sole are edible flatfish in the flounder family, and both are sea fishes. Dover sole is thick-bodied, but … The difference between sole and flounder is that the best quality sole come from deep waters around Europe, whereas flounder rarely venture into the depths. They both have flat bodies and similar, though distinct, morphologies – they even taste alike, semisweet and with a light and flaky texture. The sole fish price is also a bit higher than tilapia fish, making it slightly less affordable. Major angling flatfish include dab, turbot, plaice, flounder, brill, and Dover sole. Because of their similarities, many people may consider them the same kind of fish. altrendo images/Altrendo/Getty Images. Doug Johnson is an Edmonton-based writer, editor and journalist. The term "flounder" refers to fish in the families Achiropsettidae, Pleuronectidae, Paralichthyidae and Bothidae. 8) Dover Sole: The steakhouse fish. Flounder is Australia's largest and most profitable seafood export, while European waters also have large flounder populations. The Pacific Dover has soft flesh and is considered a lower-quality fish. Encylopaedia Britannica: Sole Fish Family, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife: Finfish Species. However, most sole tend to be "right-eyed," meaning the right side of their bodies faces upward. Sole and flounder are effective substitutes for turbot, brill, dab and plaice. Sole is a sweet seafood that is delicate in taste. Dover sole eggs are fertilized externally and are found in the upper part of the water column. The fillets should be free of worms, which can be easily seen since flounder fillets are very thin. Sole may have a slightly firmer consistency than Fluke which is a left handed Flounder. Like the flounder, the Dover sole is a pancake-flat fish with both eyes on one side of its head, making it well adapted to living on the ocean bottom. You may not be buying true flounder, although the package might say flounder. “Flatfish” is a catch-all name for more than 700 different species of fish. They both have flat bodies and similar, though distinct, morphologies – they even taste alike, semisweet and with a light and … At first glance, sole and flounder may appear to be the same kind of fish. However, instances of these groups can be found in most places on Earth, and both have species that spend their lives in estuaries, places where rivers meet the ocean. Texture Guide A delicate textured fish will be a smaller flaked meat, the medium texture fish is firm, but tender and the firm textured fish is much like a tender beef steak. Dover sole is a commercially important species. It represents 30 genera and 130 families of fish. The term "sole" refers specifically to fish in the family Soleidae in the order Pleuronectiformes. The wildly popular Dover sole also grows up to 20 inches long, but other species are smaller. While both sole and flounders have flat bodies, each one has some subtle differences that set it apart. Dover sole produces a protective slime that may spread to other fish when it’s caught in a net. Many fishes termed "sole" are actually flounder. Buying Flounder and Sole. Interestingly, flatfish start life with one eye on each side of their bodies, and they spend this early developmental stage swimming. Fluke is a variety of Flounder as is Sole. Dover sole is sold fresh and frozen whole, headed and gutted as well as dressed, and in fillets, however, it is nearly always filleted due to its slimy skin. You can bake, broil, sauté, or fry the flounder. The yellowtail Flounder has a taste that is mild sweet with a texture that is firm. One Italian delicacy, the Dover Sole, is one such dish that requires cooking precision and careful presentation. Flounders, on the other hand, usually make their homes in the cooler waters of the North Atlantic and Pacific oceans. For example, sand soles only grow up to 14 inches, and the maximum length of the ceteau sole is a mere 10 inches. The group includes Flounder, Halibut, Sole, Plaice, Dab, Turbot, and more. The difference between the Dover sole fish and the lemon sole fish is that lemon soles have rounder bodies and lighter coloration on their dark side (the side without the eyes). But flounder and grey sole are so similar that I couldn't resist a little blind taste test. Pacific Dover Sole, a flounder not the same as true English Dover Sole from the North Atlantic, is the most common flounder sold on the West Coast.Yellowfin sole is a small flounder. With beam trawling and also the extremely controversial method of pulse trawling being used to catch sole in the southern North Sea. As with many types of fish, flounder will vary in appearance and taste, depending on its habitat and species. A COVID-19 Prophecy: Did Nostradamus Have a Prediction About This Apocalyptic Year? Other Names: Witch Flounder or Pole Dab. If you’re shopping for Dover sole, keep an eye out for Pacific or West Coast Dover Sole. Fluke is also known as “Summer Flounder” for their tendency to stay inshore during the summer months. What Does The Flounder Taste Like? Now there is a true Dover sole and it is quite a fish -- connoisseurs consider it the king of all flatfish. There are different ways that you can use to cook the Flounder. It can grow to a maximum of 2.5 feet, or 76 cm. but more often are spotted at sizes nearing 2 ft. As they grow, one eye migrates to the fish's dominant side, and they start living on sandy ocean floors. Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. Both fish have evolved flat bodies with both eyes facing upward to protect themselves against predators and to aid them in hunting. What Is the Difference Between Flounder and Sole. Once hatched, larvae settle into deeper water, then travel inshore to find suitable nursery areas. The left side, also called the blind side, is white. If you’ve had Dover sole in America and were disappointed, it’s because they’ve sold you ‘West Coast’ or Pacific Dover sole – not a patch on the real thing. They all have firm white flesh and have a Prediction About this Year... Delicacy, the Dover sole, and they start living on sandy ocean floors side... 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