Is Muttonfish kosher?

Muttonfish is kosher according to Jewish dietary law.

Does Muttonfish have fins and scales?

Yes. Muttonfish has both fins and removable scales, which is the requirement set in Leviticus 11:9-12 and Deuteronomy 14:9-10 for a fish to be considered kosher.

Can I eat Muttonfish sushi or sashimi?

If Muttonfish is prepared in a kosher kitchen with kosher utensils and ingredients, Muttonfish sushi or sashimi can be kosher. Always verify the kosher certification of the restaurant or preparation source.

Where can I find more information about whether Muttonfish is kosher?

KosherFish.co references the Orthodox Union (OU) and Chabad lists of kosher and non-kosher fish. For specific halachic questions, consult your local Orthodox rabbi.

Muttonfish

Kosher

Has fins and scales

Fins Yes

Scales Yes

Description

The mutton snapper is considered very high quality and commands high prices. The cheek and throat meat of larger snappers is prized.

The mutton snapper lives in warm western Atlantic water from Massachusetts south to Brazil, and is most common around Florida, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico. Adults hold near offshore reefs and rocky rubble at about 25 to 95 m, while juveniles use mangrove creeks, canals, and turtle grass beds.

Also known as

Mutton Snapper

Warnings & Kosher Issues

As a kosher fish, muttonfish means the mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis), which has fins and scales, so it is kosher.
Watch the name. Muttonfish is also an Australian name for abalone, a mollusk that is not kosher.
Muttonfish is also used for the ocean pout, a different fish.
Buy by species (Lutjanus analis) to be sure you're getting the kosher snapper and not abalone.