Yagara Sushi Recipe

A Japanese Cornet fish on a Japanese colander.

The cornetfish/cornet fish, also know as Yagara or Red Yagara (赤やがら) is not a traditional fish used in Edomae sushi. They are a luxurious summer fish that resembles a sort of dragon, thin and extremely long, with a very long mouth and a forked tail fin.

Yagara Nigiri Sushi

They are unique from a biological perspective as all cornet fishes make up a single genus- Fistularia. Cornetfishes can grow up to 2 metres in length. Their flesh is fairly tough, making it suitable for soups as it doesn’t easily overcook. It is prepared here as nigiri, though this preparation isn’t extremely common.

Preperation of Yagara for Nigiri:

After washing the fish in cold water, start by cutting the head off. The Yagara does not have scales.

Make a cut down the belly of the fish. The cut runs through the pelvic fins, separating them into right and left pelvic fin. The flesh in between the pelvic fin is tough and will require some force. This is why the sharpness of the knife is important. Be careful not to cut yourself.

Open up the entire fish cavity and pull away the innards.

Rinse the cavity with cold water and clean throughly. Wash the chopping board and wipe dry.

The fish’s air bladder is located at the centre of the cavity where the rib cage meets the backbone. The air bladder is connected to a blood line that needs to be removed. Cut open the bladder by running the knife through it all the way to the blood line underneath. Whilst under a light stream of cold water, wash the cavity and remove the blood from the blood line. Use an old toothbrush the remove and bit and pieces.

Start by cutting the fish into 3 manageable sections.

A section of Yagara fish fillet for sushi.

Turn the fish around and place the knife above the dorsal fin. Use your other hand to support the fish. In long cutting motions, separate the flesh from the spine of the fish, angling your blade downwards so that you can feel your blade running along the spine, minimising waste. if the long cutting motions prevents the flesh from being damaged too much from multiple cuts. Cut as close to the spine as possible to prevent flesh from being left on the bone.

Continue the cutting motion until the entire fillet is separated from the fish.

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Flip your knife so that it is facing upwards and gently separate the rib bones from the flesh just where it meets the pin bones.

Turn your knife back and place the knife under the rib cage, cutting as to gently separate the rib cage from the flesh, angling the knife upwards towards the ribcage to reduce waste. Don’t worry about cutting yourself as the rib cage should be protecting your fingers.

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To remove the pin bones, pull the pin bones using a pair of tweezers in the direction towards the head. Pulling the pin bones towards the tail is easier but will damage the flesh. Dip the tweezers in water to clean them occasionally. Repeating until you can not feel anymore pin bones. Remember to use a firm grip as not to break the pin bones, leaving bone fragments inside the fish. It is better to pull the pin bones slowly and steadily, rather than quickly.

To finish preparing the Yagara, repeat for the other side of the fish to extract another fillet.

Generously salt a colander and place the fillets on a colander. Salt the flesh of the fish as well.

Allow to rest for 20 to 25 minutes depending on the size. During that time, remove the pin bones of the fish. After salting, wash off the salt and place the fillets skin side down on a chopping board.

Remove the skin off the fillets by making a small cut underneath the tail of the fillet between the flesh and skin. Start by cutting into the flesh and stopping just at the skin. When the blade just touches the skin, use a back and forth motion on the skin to gently separate the fresh from the skin whilst angling the blade until it is flat. The blade should remain still whilst you only move the skin.

Removing the skin on a yagara fillet for sushi.

Continue the cutting motion until all the skin has been removed from the flesh. If the skin breaks halfway, don’t worry and start from the other end of the fillet. Using a paper towel to grip the skin of the fish allows you to have a more stable hold on the fillet, making it easier to cut.

2 Comments

  1. As always, this is one of the most INTERESTING blogs, and your pictures/minimalist style are absolutely perfect. Very fun/informative.

  2. I have a question. Will Yagara benefit from 4-5 days of aging? I received a 2kg specimen last Friday and have been aging it in for serving tomorrow and Wednesday.
    Also, how is Yagara as a Shioyaki or cooked in a nabe style? Thanks!!

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