Singapore Fish Files: Ikan Kurau, Threadfin, Ngoh Her

Indian threadfin
Leptomelanosoma indicum, Hokkien: Ngor Her, Orh Ngor, Malay: Ikan Kurau

The indian threadfin is a highly prized fish in Singapore with prices ranging from $20 to $55 for the prized “Balai” Ngor which is fished off the waters of Tanjung Balai, one and a half hour ferry ride South West of Singapore.  The proximity of Tanjung Balai to Singapore means that the fish usually fresher than those from, say, India which would take days to reach Singapore.  The meat is very fine and it is usually used to make fish porridge for babies.  The better quality threadfins will usually have a golden yellow hue to the skin.

The easiest way to tell an Indian threadfin is the count the threadlike rays which are found just under the pectoral fins.  There should be five in the Indian threadfin as compared to four with the “Peh Ngor” or four finger threadfin.  These two varieties are the ones that are commonly seen at the market.  The Indian fhreadfin is usually the bigger of the two although you do sometime see juvenile Indian threadfins on sale.  The Hokkiens call the small threadfins ngor her soong which can refer to either the Indian or four finger threadfin, although it is more common to find small table sized four finger threadfin.

Links:
Fishbase
FAO Species Catalog

Fourfinger threadfin
Eleutheronema tetradactylum, Hokkien peh ngor, ngor her soong, Malay: senangin, kurau

Although the fourfinger threadfin can grow up to 2m in length, the usual length is often around 50cm or smaller.  The table-sized fish is often farmed so it is often good to ask if the fish is wild caught as the wild variety often tastes better.  The fish is silvery on top with a creamy yellow belly.

Recently, there is a new farm in Malaysia that are producing quality table sized fish.  They are fed on fish meal instead of pellets and they are usually very fresh as the harvest to market time is short.  As with wild caught fish, firmness of the flesh and slime on the body is a good indication of freshness.

The easiest way to identify this threadfin is to count the threadlike filaments under its gills.  There are four, hence its name.  the diameter of the eye is also greater than the distance between the eye and the snout.  So compared to the Indian threadfin, the eyes are proportionally larger.

This fish can be steamed or fried whole and braised in a sauce made of soya sauce and ginger or black beans and chilli.

Links:
Fishbase
FAO Species Catalog

At the wet markets, the Indian threadfin is often the larger of the two species.  However as you can see from the photo, the fourfinger threadfin can sometimes be the larger species.   The difference in the features of both fish is easily seen when you place them side by side.  The eye is proportionally larger in the four finger threadfin and it has four threadlike filaments compared to the Indian threadfin.  The four finger threadfin is also usually lighter in colour hence it’s name in Hokkien peh ngor (white ngor)  as opposed to orh ngor (black ngor) referring to the Indian threadfin.

The following is the link to identification key for threadfins found in the South China Sea: Identification Key

Threadfins are great for steaming and they are often found at either Teochew porridge or Bak Kut Teh stalls selling Teochew style steamed fish.  The heads are usually chopped up and fried with bittergourd at Zi Char stalls.  The flesh is firm and can be used for fish and chips as well as grilled and served with garlic butter.

References:

1. Seafood of South East Asia, Alan Davidson 2nd Ed (2003)

2. http://www.talkaboutfish.com/

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