Sole

Solea solea (Dover) / various species

Blue sketch illustration of Sole
Kosher
Has fins and scales
Fins Yes
Scales Yes
Description

The common sole, Dover sole, or black sole is a species of flatfish in the family Soleidae. It is one of the largest fish in the Solea genus.

Sole is a mild, buttery flatfish that's easy to fillet, which is why it's a restaurant staple. The classic preparation is sole meuniere, dredged in flour and pan-fried in butter, and small ones are often fried whole.

The common (Dover) sole, Solea solea, is a flatfish of the eastern Atlantic from Norway to Senegal and across the Mediterranean. It lives on sandy or muddy bottoms in fairly shallow water, and it's a major commercial catch in Europe.

Also known as

  • Dover Sole
  • Lemon Sole
  • Petrale Sole
  • English Sole
  • Black sole
  • Slip

Kosher Sole in foreign languages

ScientificSolea solea (Dover) / various species
Hebrew דג סול (מאכל)
Arabic سمكة موسى الشائعة
Spanish Lengua
French Sole
German Seezunge
Russian Европейская солея
Turkish Bayağı dil balığı
Chinese 鰨
Japanese ホンササウシノシタ
Vietnamese Cá bơn thông thường
Warnings & Kosher Issues
  • Kosher. Like other flatfish, sole has small scales, so it has fins and scales.
  • The market name 'Dover sole' is widely borrowed. In the U.S. a different Pacific flatfish is often sold under that name, so the label may not be true Solea solea.