A lean, firm, white-fleshed, prehistoric looking fish found in the Atlantic and Mediterranean oceans. Gurnards live on the seabed and use their fins to find the crab, fish and shrimps that live in the sediment.
Choose the best
Gurnards are rather bony and lacking in flavour so are usually quite cheap from fishmongers. Ask your fishmonger to remove the spiky fins and the skin and, as with all fish, look for clear eyes and bright orange skin, and try to buy from a sustainable source.
Prepare it
Use the fish head to make a fantastic stock.
Store it
Wrap gurnard in foil in the fridge.
Cook it
Gurnards are rather bland in flavour but are best used in soups and stock or stuffed with herbs and vegetables such as mushroom and onion.
Can't find it
Try red mullet.


