Fresh Whole Golden Yellow Croaker

Whole yellow croaker, two to a pack, their flanks a burnished gold that fades to silver along the belly. The fins and tail carry the same warm yellow, and the eyes are bright and clear — the first thing to look for in a truly fresh fish.

The flesh is fine-grained, delicate and famously sweet, with a gentle oiliness that keeps it moist through steaming. It is the fish Chinese kitchens reach for when they want something that needs almost nothing done to it: ginger, scallion, a splash of hot oil, and it is done.

• Whole fish, uniformly sized, bright clear eyes
• Burnished gold flanks fading to silver
• Fine-grained, delicate and naturally sweet
• Superb steamed whole, pan-fried or braised

Origin: coastal waters. Keep frozen at -18°C or below. Cook thoroughly before eating.