Mopick - Posted - 02/17/2011:  13:07:21

I was watching Guy Fieri on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. He was in New Jersey at a restaurant called Quahogs Seafood Shack. The owner / chef Lucas Manteca fixed barbecued fish ribs. Pacu ribs to be exact, served with orange barbecue sauce and coconut rice.

I've never heard of it before, but it looked like pork ribs. The pacu fish gets big, up to 50-60 pounds. They are native to Brazil, and they have teeth that look similar to human teeth. Has anyone ever had them?

PACU
The Pantanal is also home to the Pacu, with an is oval and flat body. The largest Pacu may measure up to 50 cm and weigh 15 kg, but it usually weighs up to 8 kg. It eats fruit, seeds, roots, insects and small shellfishes found in nature. This fish is very tasty and it can be roasted or broiled; and its head makes for a delicious stew. Charboiled Pacu ribs are a success in restaurants, with its crunchy outside, soft inside and with an irresistible taste.

I'm thinking if you could find them it would make an excellent substitution for people like my friend Mike F. who doesn't eat pork.


barbecued pacu ribs

Quahogs Pacu ribs review: reluctantgourmet.com/blog/ingr...ish-ribs/


Randy

Edited by - Mopick on 02/17/2011 13:27:50

KE - Posted - 02/17/2011:  15:52:22

Never heard of such a thing -- but it sure does look good!

To the Food Forum!

feldspar1333 - Posted - 02/17/2011:  15:53:02

I used to own a large Pacu in a very large aquarium. You are right about the teeth.... they are closely related to (and look like) Piranha. My Pacu (named Paco Moreno) used to demolish feeder goldfish at a wallet-busting pace!
I never did find out how he tasted....

pandjlocke - Posted - 02/17/2011:  15:58:40

There's some meat on that baby!



You're right about the dental work:

Brian T - Posted - 02/17/2011:  20:37:22

I can't do BBQ fish. With out any shadow of a doubt, the very worst dinner party I have ever had to endure.
There isn't enough wine on this planet to get me to try that again. We catch fish, we eat them on the beach/rocks. Done deal.
Go ahead, what ever turns your reel.

KE - Posted - 02/17/2011:  20:44:26

My most memorable meal was BBQ red snapper on the beach in Acapulco, pulled from the water, dressed, barbecued, plated, and down the hatch within the hour.

Mopick - Posted - 02/18/2011:  04:42:50

I wonder how long one cooks Pacu ribs on the grill. I usually smoke spare ribs for around 5 hours at 250, but I imagine fish ribs would take much less time.

I found a company located in North Miami Beach that specializes in fish like Pacu. They don't have prices listed, I'd be afraid to see how much it would cost to have some Pacu shipped.

marcomarusa.com/



Randy

Edited by - Mopick on 02/18/2011 04:50:40