This text is part of the special Plaisirs booklet
Recognizable by their flesh which ranges from pink to bright red, the fish of the salmonid family that spawn in the lakes, rivers and saline waters of Quebec are very popular with fishermen. Less known to consumers than salmon, some species are found in the wild while others are raised on fish farms. Here are a few to discover, ask the fishmonger and cook.
Brook trout
Also known as speckled trout or salmon trout, brook trout is the star species of recreational fly fishermen in Quebec. It is distinguished by a dark color, pale flanks and small red spots surrounded by a bluish halo. It is found in the wild in fresh fresh waters as well as in those of estuaries, but it is also raised by some fish farms across Quebec.
Very appreciated for the delicacy of its orange-pink flesh, brook trout has no equal when grilled at low temperature, to avoid overcooking and drying it out, its flesh being much less fatty than that of Salmon.
Char
Appreciated by experienced bottom anglers, the one also nicknamed arctic char or Quebec red trout is the trophy par excellence for fishermen in the Far North. Larger than brook trout, it is grayish and silvery in color, with several large round pink or red spots on the sides. This animal exists in an anadromous form (it stays at sea and winters in freshwater) in northern Quebec, and it lives in freshwater in the south of the province. It is also raised in Gaspésie by the Raymer Aquaculture farm, specializing in char.
To say that this fish is the king of the big tables in Quebec would be an understatement. It is indeed very popular with chefs for its delicacy, for its little nutty taste and for the fact that it lends itself to many preparations. “It can be eaten raw as sushi and tartare, grilled, poached, stuffed, hot and cold smoked. It is very versatile! »Explains Sabrina Mercier, administrative and commercial director of Raymer.
Rainbow trout
Introduced in Quebec at the end of the 19th centurye century – it came from the west of the continent – this paunchy version of speckled trout is widely stocked, fished and raised in Quebec. She has an elongated body of 30 to 45 cm and weighs up to 9 kg. It has a resplendent coloring that varies greatly depending on its habitat, ranging from dark blue to olive green, and a large pink or red band runs along its sides. It is found in lakes and rivers.
It is one of the most popular species of trout on tables in Quebec. “It is also affordable and has the advantage of being very fresh, since it is delivered in less than 24 hours on the shelves, compared to the six to eight days of transport that the delivery of foreign fish can take” , says Clément Roy. The latter is at the head of the Bobines fish farm with his parents, who founded it in 1980 and made it a model of responsible aquaculture.
And how can you taste this beautiful trout with its flesh that varies from rosé to bright red? ” Sky is the limit, answers the expert, since its delicate flesh resembles that of salmon. “