Do people eat rays (skate) ?

[Anau]

Like stingrays and such? I'm just wondering because I was reading about how they gig flounder and they said to make sure you don't accidentally get a ray, but if you do can you eat it? I know they are eaten in some parts of the world so has anyone eaten ray before? What is the flesh like?

[Michael in FtW]

Yep - but you'll probably find it at your fishmongers under the name "skate". It taste something like sweet scallops. The only edible part is the outer pectoral fins (wings).

[CrémeBrulée]

Where I live skate is traditionally eaten
a) fermented (basically it's allowed to putrefy for some weeks)
b) salted.

It's then cooked and served up with potatoes, melted sheep's tallow and pumpernickel bread. It smells like an ammonia factory. Understandably, most of those who do eat it only do so on the traditional day, the 23rd of December. The only good thing (to me) about this food is that it makes you really appreciate Christmas dinner...

I did try fresh skate once, and as I recall, it was quite good.

[Ishbel]

Skate wing is served at posh restaurants in the UK as raie au beurre noire.. skate in black butter sauce.

BUT, it is also sold at regular fish and chip shops in London and surrounding areas where it is a traditional type of fish to be deep fried.

[ironchef]

I love skate. It has a pretty delicate flavor though so you don't want to kill it with a sauce that's too over the top.

[urmaniac13]

Originally Posted by Ishbel

BUT, it is also sold at regular fish and chip shops in London and surrounding areas where it is a traditional type of fish to be deep fried.

Egad, does this mean I could have eaten that stuff inadvertently while I was there?

[buckytom]

Originally Posted by CrémeBrulée

Where I live skate is traditionally eaten
a) fermented (basically it's allowed to putrefy for some weeks)
b) salted.

It's then cooked and served up with potatoes, melted sheep's tallow and pumpernickel bread. It smells like an ammonia factory. Understandably, most of those who do eat it only do so on the traditional day, the 23rd of December. The only good thing (to me) about this food is that it makes you really appreciate Christmas dinner...

I did try fresh skate once, and as I recall, it was quite good.

i just saw an episode on pbs of "globe trekker" when they went to iceland and had rotted, er, i mean, fermented skate. it looked pretty nasty, but i'd give it a go. you only live once, this time around.

ishbel, how do they make the butter black. squid ink, possibly?

skate is often "substituted" when scallops aren't available in less scrupulous places around the ny area.

i've had skate wing kimchi flavor in korean places. it's very good, but a lot of work to eat.

[Constance]

I've heard that shark meat is also sometimes sold as scallops...does anyone know about that?
I've seen skate cooked on the Food Network...I think Mario Batalli prepared it. I'm sure I'd like it...I love anything that swims.

[jennyema]

Yes, supposedly skate and shark are stamped out and sold as scallops.

[Anau]

Thanks so much. I can't believe I haven't seen it for sale around here. If I ever catch one, I will have to try it!