What Does Triggerfish Taste Like? Everything You Need to Know!

Have you heard about triggerfish and are tempted to try it for yourself? Triggerfish is a highly versatile type of fish that comes in over 40 varieties.

As well as this, triggerfish can also be cooked in many different ways including baked, grilled, fried and even eaten raw. But, what does it taste like?

What Does Triggerfish Taste Like? Everything You Need to Know!

This is where we come in to lend a helping hand! If you would like to learn more about what triggerfish tastes like, you have come to the right place.

Below, we are going to be taking a closer look at what this unique type of fish tastes like (see also ‘What Flavor Does Alligator Gar Produce? Is It Delicious?‘), as well as how you can cook it. 

You know what to do, just  read on!

What Is Triggerfish?

Before we get any further in this guide, we first think that it would be a good idea to talk you through what triggerfish is.

To cut a long story short, triggerfish is a type of fish that is native waters, although it can quite often be found living in subtropical waters, too.

In some extra rare instances, triggerfish can also be found living in coastal waters – so, it should come as no surprise to hear that there are well over 40 different types of variations of this fish.

Despite the vast variety of the triggerfish, they can all typically be identified by a dorsal fin spine that they are able to use to protect themselves from predators. 

Along with a distinctive dorsal fin, triggerfish also have an extremely vibrant appearance that is composed of a variety of different colors.

Thanks to this, along with being a fish that is commonly used in many different varieties of dish, triggerfish are also a highly popular decorative fishes, too. They are commonly kept with koi fish!

Due to the fact that triggerfish are so visually striking, it wasn’t until recently that people started to use triggerfish as an edible species of fish.

For this reason alone, many people don’t know what this type of fish tastes like (see also our article on Amberjack) – which brings us to our next section. 

Fun fact: The distinctive dorsal fin that all triggerfish have is where their name comes from!

What Does Triggerfish Taste Like?

What Does Triggerfish Taste Like? Everything You Need to Know!

Now that you have a much better understanding of what triggerfish is, we’re sure that you might currently be wondering what this colorful fish tastes like!

Before we get into the taste, it is worth keeping in mind that triggerfish is highly versatile, so much so that you have the option of choosing between grilling, frying and baking! 

As well as that, many people also consider triggerfish to be one of the best types of dishes to eat raw, although this might not be something that appeals to everyone.

Along with being super versatile, triggerfish are also known for making thin filets that are usually only around 1 inch in thickness. 

Thanks to this, it means that triggerfish are also the perfect option for dishes that require white fish such as cod (see also our article on Opah fish).

Regardless of which type of way that you chose to eat your triggerfish, it is worth noting that this particular fish does not exude a “fishy” odor, so you won’t have to worry about covering up the scent while you are preparing it in your chosen cooking method.

As for the flavor? Triggerfish has a flavor profile that is composed of sweet and creamy notes that can almost be likened to that of crab.

It is one of the sweetest tasting fishes that you can get your hands on, and has a strong flavor profile that is consistent across a variety of cooking methods including baking, frying and, of course, leaving it to be eaten raw.

Along with its natural sweet flavor with a hint of creaminess, you might also be interested to learn that you can easily elevate the flavor with a variety of sauces and seasonings – it’s entirely up to you!

How Can You Cook Triggerfish?

If you are interested in trying triggerfish, the good news is that this fish can be eaten both cooked and raw.

It can be enjoyed as part of many different delicious dishes, although triggerfish is most commonly included in Japanese cuisine.

Despite the fact that triggerfish is a popular type of fish used in Japanese cuisine, it is also important to keep in mind that this fish can also be enjoyed by itself or as part of dishes belonging to other cuisines.

As well as this, triggerfish also pairs exceptionally well with white fish.

If you plan on eating it raw, then you won’t need to do too much to it apart from cutting it into portions. However, if you would like to cook your triggerfish prior to eating it, the simplest way that you can do this is by opting to grill it.

Grilling is the best way to cook triggerfish because it can help to bring out the flavor profile of the triggerfish, all while lending the triggerfish a slight hint of smoliness that we’re sure you won’t be able to get enough of.

If you would like to cook your triggerfish in this way, you should carefully cut your triggerfish into filets and ensure they are around one inch in thickness.

After you have done this, you can then go ahead and season them with seasoning of your choice and then begin to grill them.

In order to grill your triggerfish correctly, you will need to put your saucepan on a medium heat and add a cooking oil of your choice.

The Bottom Line

You’ve made it to the end! If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to try triggerfish, we strongly recommend that you give it a try at least once.

Triggerfish, despite being one of the lesser known varieties of fish out there, is known for being extremely versatile and flavorful. 

In particular, triggerfish is extremely well-suited to Japanese cuisine (see also ‘What Is Narutomaki And How Does It Taste?‘), but you can enjoy this fish in a variety of different dishes thanks to its extreme versatility and ability to complement many different types of flavors and foods.

All that being said, if you’re feeling extra brave, you can even enjoy this fish raw! 

If you would like to try out this fish, we highly recommend that you try and pick some up at your local farmer’s market for the best flavor and quality. Thank you for taking the time to read through this guide, and goodbye for now.

Jenna
Follow Me
Latest posts by Jenna (see all)