What is sablefish (black cod)?
Sablefish are known as black cod, sable cod, Pacific cod, Pacific black cod, or butterfish. The meat is pale, like a cod’s, but with a much higher oil content. This gives it a pleasantly moist and buttery texture; hence it is also known in the Pacific Northwest as the butterfish. Sablefish (black cod) weigh anywhere from 10 to 40 pounds each and can live up to 90 years! One of the strengths of this Pacific butterfish (i.e. sable) is that it can handle a strong marinade. With its rich, oily texture, it is very popular in Asian restaurants, where it can be paired with soy, ginger, or citrus seasonings.
