Milkfish

Chanos chanos

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

The milkfish is a widespread species of ray-finned fish found throughout the Indo-Pacific. It is the sole living species in the family Chanidae, and the only living member of the genus Chanos.

Milkfish is central to Filipino cooking, where it's popularly called the national fish. It's much bonier than most food fish, so deboned bangus is common, and it's grilled, smoked, or served raw with citrus or vinegar.

Milkfish live in tropical Indo-Pacific waters around islands and along continental shelves at 1 to 30 m. They often enter estuaries and rivers, and juveniles settle in mangrove swamps, estuaries, and sometimes lakes.

Also known as

  • Awa
  • Bangus
  • Bandeng
  • Ava

Kosher Milkfish in foreign languages

ScientificChanos chanos
Hebrew אכנס כסוף
Arabic سلماني
Spanish Sabalote
French Chanos
German Milchfisch
Russian Ханос
Turkish Süt balığı
Chinese 虱目魚
Japanese サバヒー
Korean 갯농어
Bengali চেনোচ
Vietnamese Cá măng sữa
Thai ปลานวลจันทร์ทะเล
Indonesian Bandeng
Warnings & Kosher Issues
  • Milkfish has fins and scales, so it is kosher.
  • Very bony, which is why deboned bangus is widely sold.