What is Asian catfish called?

What is Asian catfish called?

Basa (Pangasius bocourti) is a species of catfish in the family Pangasiidae. Basa are native to the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins in Mainland Southeast Asia. These fish are important food fish with an international market.

Does Asia have catfish?

Catfish (Siluriformes) of Asia — a diverse group of ray-finned primarily freshwater fish of Asia.

What are other names swai?

Swai’s other names include Vietnamese catfish (though swai is not actually catfish), iridescent shark (it’s not shark, either), and basa (which is deceptive, since basa is actually a different species). It’s also marketed as tra, sutchi, and pangasius hypophthalmus.

Is swai the same as catfish?

Swai fish is a type of south Asian catfish commonly found in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. It is also called Vietnamese catfish (though swai is actually not a catfish), iridescent shark (though it’s not the shark), and basa (which is deceptive, because basa is a different species).

Is catfish a cheap fish?

Catfish has always had the reputation of being a cheap option for fish fry, but it’s also an incredibly sustainable option, especially if it’s a wild invasive variety, like the Wild Blue variety from the Chesapeake Bay.

Why is SWAI fish so cheap?

There’s also the fact that swai sold in the U.S. is almost exclusively from factory farms. Instead of opting for inexpensive swai, stick to fish low in contaminants and high in omega-3 fatty acids, like wild-caught salmon and Pacific sardines.

Is catfish a healthy fish to eat?

Catfish is low in calories and packed with lean protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. It’s particularly rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fats and vitamin B12. If you’re looking to eat more seafood, catfish is well worth incorporating into your routine.

Is catfish for poor people?

Although many myths surround it, U.S. farm-raised catfish is sustainable, plentiful, high quality and delicious. Catfish is no longer the “poor man’s fish,” but a nutrient-dense superfood that can be cooked and eaten in a variety of ways.

What kind of catfish is in Vietnamese catfish?

Vietnamese Catfish: photos, description information and details for culinary usage. Swai / Basa / Tra – Vietnamese Catfish – Shark Catfish

When did SWAI fish start to be called Catfish?

Previously, swai imported into the US was called Asian catfish. In 2003, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) passed a law that only fish in the Ictaluridae family, which includes American catfish but not swai, can be labeled or advertised as catfish ( 4 ).

Is it possible to eat Asian catfish without knowing it?

You’re Probably Eating Asian Catfish without Knowing It. Should You Be Worried? Pangasius compete over food in an aquaculture pond. This relative of catfish is the most common culprit in cases of seafood fraud.

How big do catfish grow in the Mekong River?

In the Mekong these fish can grow to over 3 feet long, but farmed fish are harvested much smaller. The photo specimen, P. bocourti, was 17-1/4 inches long and weighed 2 pounds 6 ounces. Two varieties are widely farmed, Basa(P. pangasius) and Swai / Tra(P. hypophthalmus), but what is shipped to the U.S. is mostly Swai.