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By User:Lerdsuwa (Own photo (400D + 50/1.4)) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
Swai
Alternative Names: Shark catfish, striped catfish, striper(not to be confused with striped bass) and Basa (incorrectly)
Monterey Bay Recommendation: Best choice except those from Net pens and ponds in China and Vietnam.
Uses in Cooking: Can be baked, broiled, deep fried, sauteed, or steamed.
Similar Fish: Catfish, speckled trout, tilapia
Description: The flavor of this fish is mild, but can be off -putting for some. Quality varies widely and flavor is inconsistent. Texture is medium firm and flaky and it fries well.
Fun Facts: This fish is an incredible marketing success story. Despite a poor reputation for quality and some stories of contaminated fish (which were unfounded) the sales for swai have skyrocketed in the last 15 years. Before that, Americans would likely only know them from the pet trade where they were a favored fish tank specimen.