Where is the red mullet found? Black Sea red mullet: description and benefits of fish. Reflection in culture

“I fry Odessa and Crimean mullet - that is, the Black Sea one. The most delicious is the one that measures from 9 to 11 centimeters. There are red mullet that are very small, five centimeters, but I don’t like this one: not because it is difficult to clean, but because it is slightly bitter.

The most ideal option is to fry the red mullet so that it retains its taste and has a beautiful blooming appearance and crust. For breading, you need to mix wheat and corn flour (corn flour should be very finely ground) - the proportions may be different, but personally I like it to be 60% wheat flour and 40% corn flour. Naturally, you need to add salt and pepper to the mixture. The cleaned mullet (with its head!) is rolled in flour and placed on a hot frying pan with vegetable oil - just before frying, you will need to shake off the excess breading from the fish, you don’t need a lot of flour here. There should be enough oil in the frying pan so that the fish is covered exactly halfway. You can turn the mullet over only once, because it is a fragile fish. After frying, place it on a plate with a paper towel to remove excess fat. And that’s it, eat for your health.

The best way to eat red mullet is with fresh or lightly salted cucumber. Good - with vegetable salad. And without everything, believe me, she is also perfect.

One girl recently came to us here, apparently confused Kitay-Gorod with Patricks - she asked to make steamed red mullet. I explained to her everything about this fish very correctly and dispelled her illusions. Sometimes red mullet is also baked, but I have never done this. You know, there are sacred things: mincemeat, stuffed fish, bulls. Red mullet too. You don't have to do anything with them other than the classics they're used to. It’s like the opera La Traviata doesn’t need ballerinas.

Well, that's my opinion."

Andrey Lazarev, chef of the Magellan restaurant (Sochi):

“Mullet is notable for its sweetish taste. We cooks love red mullet for its tenderness and lack of extra bones.

You should not steam red mullet. It’s difficult to explain in detail why: it just turns out wrong, too lean and tasteless. There is almost no fat in red mullet, so it needs to be pulled out and emphasized. Two methods have proven to be the best: you can fry this fish so that it is crispy and can be eaten right with the bones, or you can simply color it with breading, but do not fry it, and then the meat remains a little juicier. Here, who likes it: crunch or juiciness? We fry red mullet in corn flour because it burns less than wheat flour, and the color of the finished fish is more beautiful.

But an elegant method is to bake fish on a bed of tomatoes, basil and garlic: add salt to the fish, pepper it, put it on the tomatoes, put it in the oven. The mullet is then saturated with all these fragrant aromas, and its taste remains pure, without any admixture of flour.”

Andrey Zhdanov, chef of AQ Kitchen and Adri BBQ restaurants (Moscow):

“I work with Mediterranean mullet: it is larger and somewhat saltier in taste compared to the Black Sea one. I would even say that its taste is cleaner, without foreign impurities, marine and fresh.

Why I love large barubelka: you can make a real gastronomic dish out of it. Small Black Sea fish are usually fried in flour - and that’s all, the range of its uses is more laconic, it is already a self-sufficient dish. And the Mediterranean can be combined with various products, baked with different sauces.

Mediterranean mullet has a sweeter taste than sea bass or sea bream. It is not available in our market in a chilled form, only frozen or defrosted and put on ice. How to choose: thawed fish should not be soft, but firm, the belly should not be yellow-brown, this color indicates that it has been thawed and frozen several times, and its gall bladder may have burst. The mullet has a very thin skin, and if it is not elastic and falls under your fingers, do not take the fish, it will be dry.

For example, I make confit red mullet, that is, I simmer it for a long time in vegetable oil at 50 degrees. It turns out to be very elastic, elastic, but at the same time soft. The oil can be additionally saturated with aromas using garlic, bay leaves, olives, and thyme. The fish absorbs fat, becomes soft, remains beautiful in color - and at the same time exhibits its sweet taste.

Red mullet is a universal fish. Whatever you serve with it, everything will be fine (although I wouldn’t put it in pies). Try making risotto with fish broth with it. Cook a broth from the heads and bones of red mullet with the addition of fennel, olives, tomatoes, boil in this broth rice, add saffron, a little seafood bisque, red mullet fillet. Tone the sweetish taste of fish with herbs - for example, spinach and sour tartare made from olives, sun-dried tomatoes and capers. It turns out well both in color (pink fish, yellow risotto, green herbs) and in taste. Bomb!

And you can also smoke red mullet. Cold smoking at a temperature within 50 degrees is suitable, but hot smoking is not - you will get boiled fish.”

Abdessattar Zitouni, brand chef of La Marée restaurant (Moscow):

“There are several ways to cook my favorite red mullet.

If the fish is small, then you can mix salt, pepper, cumin, chopped garlic and chili paste, roll the fish in this mixture, then lightly roll it also in flour - and fry it in olive oil until very crispy so that you can eat it with the bones both with a head and a tail. By the way, remember: to make the crust crispy, beautiful and dense, the fish must be dried very well before frying; not just red mullet - any fish in general.

If the fish is larger, 10-15 centimeters, then it can be cooked with sauce. You need to take a little salt, pepper, Tunisian (I'm from Tunisia) spices, roll the fish in them and lightly fry. Then take tomatoes, capers, garlic, olives, olive oil, mix it all into a sauce, pour it over the fish and put it in the oven for just a couple of minutes so that the red mullet is soaked with it all. You can do without an oven: put it in a heated frying pan with oil and cover with a lid. This method is about how to make red mullet very tender.

You can also make a cold appetizer from red mullet. Steam the fish, fillet it, place it on a plate, pour lemon juice on top, sprinkle with salt and pepper, add some finely chopped red onion and parsley, and drizzle with olive oil. And let it rest and cool at room temperature.

I like to eat mullet with tomatoes and ratatouille, and shakshuka also goes very well with mullet.”

There are many different varieties of fish in the Black Sea. Tourists from all over Russia willingly go to Crimea or to the resort towns of the Krasnodar Territory, located on the Black Sea coast. Here you can bask on the beach, take great photos or have a great time sea fishing, it depends on what the traveler likes best. In the Black Sea you can catch not only large fish, but also smaller specimens, for example, red mullet.

Red mullet is easy to catch. It is especially tasty smoked or fried. Photos can be found on the Internet or in a reference book intended for amateur fisherman. This small fish somewhat resembles a goby. For those who love sea fishing, but doubt whether or not to go to the Black Sea, experienced fishing tourists give a clear answer: Black Sea fishing is not only a wonderful vacation, but also a whole ton of delicious fish. And it doesn’t matter what gets hooked: a large sea fish or cat tears. In any case, a charge of vigor and energy is provided for the whole year.

Who is a red mullet

This is a type of small fish, which lives in the Black Sea. Outwardly, it resembles small sprat or herring. It is quite easy to catch with a regular fishing rod or spinning rod at any time of the year, so even an inexperienced fisherman can cope with fishing. Local residents mainly catch it for themselves. Also in the resort towns of the Krasnodar Territory and in the Crimea there are fisheries and artels that specially catch this tasty fish for supply to markets and stores. Due to its pleasant taste and ease of preparation, this fish is in great demand.

An experienced fisherman can easily distinguish this fish from other small fish. according to the following characteristics:

Black Sea red mullet: cooking methods

Smoked- a traditional Crimean delicacy. But is it really eaten only in Crimea and on the Black Sea coast? No. Frozen or chilled fish can often be found in large hypermarkets throughout Russia. Which mullet to choose, large or small? It depends on how the cook wants to prepare such fish. Of course, the most delicious is the small smoked red mullet, or other varieties of this fish. The main thing is to smoke it fresh and follow all the rules for smoking fish. However, there are other ways to prepare this wonderful fish. In addition to hot and cold smoking, you can prepare it in the following ways:

Most often it is smoked, fried and dried. Fish soup is often prepared from it by amateur fishermen. However, due to the small size of this fish, during the preparation of fish soup it is often not cleaned, but thrown whole into the cauldron. Then they throw out the small fish so as not to choke on small bones. But the broth turns out to be unusually rich and tasty, especially if you add fish and other varieties to the fish soup, in addition to red mullet.

Dried and dried, it is good primarily because it can be stored for a long time at room temperature. No refrigerator is required to store it. However, if stored properly, dried fish does not spoil for a long time and does not lose its taste. Many residents of the Black Sea coast, who have autoclaves for home canning, are actively preparing red mullet for future use. This appetizer will always decorate the holiday table.

Useful qualities of this fish

Despite the small size , it is an unusually healthy and nutritious fish. This Black Sea fish has high nutritional value and contains the following beneficial substances:

Phosphorus;
Essential fatty amino acids;
Natural antioxidants;
A large amount of vitamins and minerals.

In order to preserve the maximum amount of nutrients, it is recommended to consume red mullet fresh - boiled or fried. Regular consumption of this fish replenishes iodine deficiency in the body, because red mullet, like other types of sea fish, contains a high concentration of iodine.

Those who monitor their health and try to eat right are recommended to eat Black Sea mullet two - three times a week. However, you need to keep in mind that freshly caught fish has the greatest nutritional value. Frozen fish, which is brought from the Black Sea to large stores in other Russian regions, loses most of its vitamins and nutrients as a result of freezing. The best way to preserve the beneficial properties of caught red mullet is to put the catch in a cooler bag, take it home and cook it immediately. Proper preservation also allows you to preserve most of the beneficial substances contained in the Black Sea mullet.

Red mullet dishes have long become the “calling card” of many Black Sea cafes and restaurants. This small fish can rightfully be considered one of the symbols of the Black Sea coast for its interesting appearance and bright, rich taste. Some breeds of red mullet are more bony, others less bony, but this fish always has ardent admirers. Some people like its taste, and some like the ease with which it can be caught on a fishing rod. Red mullet, cooked in any form, is an excellent appetizer for the holiday and daily table.

Those who love sea fishing and regularly go fishing in the Black Sea have probably caught red mullet and other varieties of this small fish many times. Even a novice angler can easily cope with catching it. However, despite the rather simple and inconspicuous appearance, this fish has great nutritional value and is a “tidbit” for many lovers of fish dishes. Catching and preparing this small Black Sea fish is an exciting activity that will not leave anyone indifferent. Anyone who has tried red mullet at least once in their life will remember its bright taste for a long time.

Red mullet is a genus of fish in the red mullet family. Its second name is ordinary sultana. It belongs to the order Perciformes and has 4 species. The length of such fish can reach 45 cm, but on average it is small in size (10-20 cm). Most often it can be found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, as well as in the Azov, Mediterranean and Black Seas. The red mullet prefers to live where there is muddy or soft sandy soil, less often on the bottom covered with stones. It is almost always found at the very bottom of the sea or ocean, but not at great depths (up to 30 m), although it can be found at depths of up to 300 m.

Properties of red mullet

The mullet's body is elongated, compressed and unequally colored red on the sides. The head is large, and there are two antennae on the chin, which serve as assistants in finding food.

This fish is revered for its tender meat, and the red mullet itself is considered a delicacy. Even in ancient times, it was sold for huge sums of money, but many people did not spare it and gave away what they had accumulated in order to feast on the sultana. At the same time, it was not just if, but a whole ritual was performed, which is associated with its color. Before death, the fish begins to become covered with bright red spots, and then turns pale again. It is believed that eating this fish promotes accelerated recovery of strength.

Benefits of red mullet

It contains a lot of easily digestible, but at the same time high-calorie protein. Red mullet meat also contains a lot of phosphorus (as in the meat of almost all fish), magnesium, and B vitamins. When consumed by pregnant women and older people, their metabolism is normalized.

In general, this fish is useful in almost the same way as other edible fish. It has a beneficial effect on the heart and circulatory system, cleanses the blood of “bad” cholesterol, and normalizes hemoglobin levels. Antioxidants contained in fish meat strengthen the circulatory system, maintain its elasticity, and restore blood vessels. Frequent consumption of fish is useful for preventing health, protecting against diseases, infections and restoring immunity. It also has a positive effect on the condition of the skin, fighting various diseases caused by a lack of nutrients. Fish contains iodine content necessary to maintain a healthy thyroid gland. There are almost no carbohydrates in red mullet.

Red mullet is also useful for children, as it improves the still weak immune system and prevents skin diseases.

Application of red mullet

Sultanka is prepared in different ways: it is often used to make fish soup, and when dried it tastes like ram. It can also be fried in a frying pan, mixed with spices (optional), grilled, or baked. Unlike many other fish, red mullet does not need to be gutted, since it does not have bile, and its taste is difficult to spoil even by inept processing. Many people love the liver of the sultana for its delicate, delicious taste.

In many countries, red mullet is considered one of the most expensive varieties, and red mullet dishes are considered the most popular dishes in Russian and Ukrainian resorts and cafes. Often this fish is gutted there, but the head is not cut off.

Cooks prefer to stew this fish in white wine, with grape leaves and spices, or fry it in melted butter in breadcrumbs, right with the head. Sultana is also sold in stores, in the form of canned food in oil.

Harm of red mullet

This fish has individual intolerance. It is not recommended to consume red mullet for people who have an excess of iodine in the body, since red mullet also contains a lot of it. For everyone else, this fish will only be infinitely useful.

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edim.guru > Seafood > What is Black Sea mullet and how to cook this fish profitably

Who is a red mullet
Useful qualities of this fish

Red mullet is easy to catch. It is especially tasty smoked or fried. Photos can be found on the Internet or in a reference book intended for amateur fisherman. This small fish somewhat resembles a goby. For those who love sea fishing, but doubt whether or not to go to the Black Sea, experienced fishing tourists give a clear answer: Black Sea fishing is not only a wonderful vacation, but also a whole ton of delicious fish. And it doesn’t matter what gets hooked: a large sea fish or cat tears. In any case, a charge of vigor and energy is provided for the whole year.

Who is a red mullet

This is a type of small fish that lives in the Black Sea. Outwardly, it resembles small sprat or herring. It is quite easy to catch with a regular fishing rod or spinning rod at any time of the year, so even an inexperienced fisherman can cope with fishing. Local residents mainly catch it for themselves. Also in the resort towns of the Krasnodar Territory and in the Crimea there are fisheries and artels that specially catch this tasty fish for supply to markets and stores. Due to its pleasant taste and ease of preparation, this fish is in great demand.

An experienced fisherman can easily distinguish this fish from other small fish by the following characteristics:

Black Sea red mullet: cooking methods

Smoked is a traditional Crimean delicacy. But is it really eaten only in Crimea and on the Black Sea coast? No. Frozen or chilled fish can often be found in large hypermarkets throughout Russia. Which mullet to choose, large or small? It depends on how the cook wants to prepare such fish. Of course, the most delicious is the small smoked red mullet, or other varieties of this fish. The main thing is to smoke it fresh and follow all the rules for smoking fish. However, there are other ways to prepare this wonderful fish. In addition to hot and cold smoking, you can prepare it in the following ways:

Sun-dried sultana is an excellent snack for beer;
Fried is one of the signature dishes of Black Sea cuisine;
Its fish soup, especially cooked over a fire, is an excellent first course;
Red mullet in tomato sauce or in its own juice is an excellent canned option.

Most often it is smoked, fried and dried. Fish soup is often prepared from it by amateur fishermen. However, due to the small size of this fish, during the preparation of fish soup it is often not cleaned, but thrown whole into the cauldron. Then they throw out the small fish so as not to choke on small bones. But the broth turns out to be unusually rich and tasty, especially if you add fish and other varieties to the fish soup, in addition to red mullet.

Useful qualities of this fish

Despite its small size, it is an incredibly healthy and nutritious fish. This Black Sea fish has high nutritional value and contains the following beneficial substances:

Phosphorus;
Essential fatty amino acids;
Natural antioxidants;
A large amount of vitamins and minerals.

Those who monitor their health and try to eat healthy are recommended to eat Black Sea mullet two to three times a week. However, you need to keep in mind that freshly caught fish has the greatest nutritional value. Frozen fish, which is brought from the Black Sea to large stores in other Russian regions, loses most of its vitamins and nutrients as a result of freezing. The best way to preserve the beneficial properties of caught red mullet is to put the catch in a cooler bag, take it home and cook it immediately. Proper preservation also allows you to preserve most of the beneficial substances contained in the Black Sea mullet.

Those who love sea fishing and regularly go fishing in the Black Sea have probably caught red mullet and other varieties of this small fish many times. Even a novice angler can easily cope with catching it. However, despite its rather simple and inconspicuous appearance, this fish has great nutritional value and is a “tidbit” for many lovers of fish dishes. Catching and preparing this small Black Sea fish is an exciting activity that will not leave anyone indifferent. Anyone who has tried red mullet at least once in their life will remember its bright taste for a long time.

Red mullet fish

edim.guru

Black Sea red mullet: appearance, habitats, benefits and harm of fish

The Black Sea mullet belongs to the red mullet family. Its name is translated from Italian as “beard”. This unusual name is associated with the appearance of the fish. She has two long mustaches. In Turkey, this species is called sultana. The fish is of interest to fishermen, divers and gourmets. Many tourists, coming to the Black Sea, go to a restaurant to eat red mullet.

This species lives in many seas of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. In Russia it can be found on the Black and Azov Seas. The Turks fish in the Mediterranean Sea. Schools of fish prefer to be at a depth of 15 to 30 meters. They choose muddy or sandy areas of the bottom, but sometimes they can also be found on rocks.

The fish is not considered very valuable due to its small size. The length of an adult varies from 20 to 30 centimeters. Some lucky fishermen managed to catch specimens measuring 45 centimeters in length. The red mullet's body is oblong and slightly laterally compressed. The caudal fin is considered to be quite long, but the anal and dorsal fins are very short. Individuals have a very large head with high-set eyes. The mouth is located at the bottom of the head. It has small bristle teeth. Many fishermen identify the species by the presence of long whiskers. They are needed to agitate sand or silt.

The species can be easily recognized by its characteristic color. The belly of the fish is painted in light yellow tones, but the sides and back are covered with pink scales. A peculiarity of the species is that after catching the fish turns bright red on all sides. Its color fades only 4 hours after catching.

Lifestyle and spawning

Most often, fishermen meet the plum at a depth of 15-30 meters, but there have been cases when schools of fish were discovered using an echo sounder 300 meters from the surface. As a rule, the fish moves to such great depths with the onset of cold weather. She spends most of her time at the bottom. This is due to the need to search for food. Individuals feed on small invertebrates. They stir up the soil with their antennae and take out food. The average life expectancy of individuals does not exceed 12 years.

Some divers spend a lot of time trying to attract fish. They find her by following the whisker marks on the bottom. The fish is not shy, so it does not swim away from scuba diving enthusiasts. Many of them lure the sultana with pieces of a worm. She never refuses such a treat.

The black mullet is considered very prolific. Individuals are ready to have offspring at the age of 2 years. Spawning occurs from March to June. Usually the sultana chooses sandy areas of the bottom at a depth of 10-40 meters. The female can lay more than 10 thousand eggs. Males fertilize the entire supply of eggs. After this, the eggs rise to the surface of the water. Larvae begin to appear on the third day after fertilization. After 2 months, the length of the fry averages 5 centimeters. The fry often swim to the shore to look for food at the bottom. Their color is the same as that of adults.

The benefits and harms of red mullet

This type of fish is loved for its excellent taste. However, red mullet is considered very useful. It contains about 20 grams of protein per 100 grams of weight. But the fat content is low. There is no more than 4 grams of fat per 100 grams of product. The calorie content of fish is low, so it can be included in their diet for people planning to lose weight.

The benefits of fish are due to the beneficial substances it contains. The meat contains the following extractive substances:

carnosine;
inositol;
glycogen;
lactic acid;
creatine;
choline

Meat also contains pantothenic acid and minerals. It has been proven that red mullet is a source of magnesium, iron, sulfur, phosphorus, fluorine and sodium. Some doctors recommend that their patients eat fish bones. Of course, they must first be dried and crushed.

This fish is recommended for adults due to the presence of healthy fatty acids in it. They are needed for the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system. Many athletes include it in their diet, as it allows them to restore strength after heavy exercise. For the same reason, it is recommended for pregnant and nursing mothers. However, they need to monitor their health, since any fish can cause allergies.

It is believed that only people who suffer from fish intolerance should give up this fish. It won't do them any good. People with diseases of the cardiovascular and genitourinary systems need to pay attention to the preparation method. It is better for them to eat boiled or steamed fish.

Selection, storage and preparation

You need to choose fish very carefully, as some sellers often deceive inexperienced tourists. They pass off other types of fish as red mullet. The main feature is the presence of a mustache. You need to carefully examine the carcasses and smell them. In the first minutes after catching, the fish smells like fresh cucumbers. Then he disappears. Buyers should be wary of the smell being too strong. He says that the sultana was caught quite a long time ago. You also need to pay attention to the gills. If they are bright brown, then it is better to refuse the purchase.

It is best to store fresh fish in ice for no more than two days. Under the influence of freezing, the structure changes. But if necessary, you can store the carcasses in the freezer for about 3 months. They need to be wrapped in several plastic bags to prevent the meat from drying out.

Most often you can find fresh red mullet on sale. It can be fried and salted. When dried, it resembles a roach. Some people prefer smoked red mullet. It is considered the best snack for beer on the Black Sea coast.

sudak.guru

red mullet

Medical reference / Food / B

Red mullet is a genus of fish of the red mullet family. Its second name is ordinary sultana. It belongs to the order Perciformes and has 4 species. The length of such fish can reach 45 cm, but on average it is small in size (10-20 cm). Most often it can be found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, as well as in the Azov, Mediterranean and Black Seas. The red mullet prefers to live where there is muddy or soft sandy soil, less often on the bottom covered with stones. It is almost always found at the very bottom of the sea or ocean, but not at great depths (up to 30 m), although it can be found at depths of up to 300 m.

Properties of red mullet

The mullet's body is elongated, compressed and unequally colored red on the sides. The head is large, and there are two antennae on the chin, which serve as assistants in finding food.

Benefits of red mullet

Red mullet is also useful for children, as it improves the still weak immune system and prevents skin diseases.

Application of red mullet

Harm of red mullet

The second name for the striped mullet is “Mediterranean plumes”, they are representatives of the red mullet family, the genus red mullet.

Habitat of the striped mullet

These fish live in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, ranging from southern Norway to the British Isles. In addition, mullet are common in the Black and Mediterranean Seas, and sometimes swim into the Skagerrak Strait and the North Sea.

Striped mullet live near the bottom, staying at a depth of 5-90 meters, but in the eastern Ionian Sea they are recorded at a depth of 300-400 meters. Red mullet prefer rocky bottoms, but can also live on muddy or sandy bottoms.

Description of striped mullet

The body length of an adult red mullet is 20-25 centimeters, but some individuals grow up to 40 centimeters and have a body weight of 1 kilogram.

Moreover, females are slightly larger than males. The body shape is elongated, the torso is compressed at the sides. The dorsal and anal fins are short, and the caudal fin is forked.

The head of the striped mullet is large, large eyes sit high. The snout drops steeply downwards. The mouth is small. Externally, red mullets are very similar to their closest relatives - common plumes, but the difference is observed in color.

On the sides of the striped mullet's body there are yellow-brown and reddish longitudinal stripes, and in the lower part of the body there are transverse stripes. The belly color is silvery-white. The first dorsal fin is decorated with silvery-white stripes.

The striped mullet has very long mustaches, which is how the fish got its name, since the Latin word for “antennae” is “barbus.” The whiskers are longer than the pectoral fins.

Lifestyle of striped mullet

The mullet live in small groups, sometimes found alone, and the fry unite in fairly large flocks.

Striped mullet feed on mollusks, worms, crustaceans and small fish.

As noted, the mullet searches for food with the help of long whiskers; after finding prey, the predator vigorously stirs up the silt or sand so that the prey floats up.

This is also used by other fish, for example, sea bream and wrasses, which can often be found in the company of mullet.

Reproduction of red mullet

Spawning for striped mullet takes place from March to April and from July to August. Females lay eggs, the diameter of which is approximately 0.9 millimeters. After 3 days, pelagic larvae emerge from the eggs, the length of which reaches 2 millimeters. The sea current carries the larvae far from their birthplaces. The fry, born in the English Channel, enter the North Sea through the Skagerrak Strait.

The fry are greenish-blue in color and live in the surface layers of water. Their diet consists of plankton. Growing up, mullet fry descend to depth. With a body length of 3-6 centimeters, the fry already obtain food for themselves at the bottom. And their children's colors change to adult colors.

Puberty in the striped mullet occurs at 1-3 years with a body length of 14 centimeters.

Staggering demand for red mullet

Mullet have tasty meat. This fish has been eaten for a long time. Red mullet was especially highly valued in Ancient Rome, where for a large specimen they would give the same amount of silver as the fish weighed.

People valued not only the meat of the mullet, but also their ability to change the color of their scales as they grew.

Historians believe that the popularity of red mullet was due to the fact that their coloring included purple, which was a sign of higher origin and luxury.

The Romans staged real performances during feasts; guests saw how the color of dying fish changed. And only after these spectacles were the fish given to the cooks. For example, Seneca wrote that he had never seen anything more beautiful than a dying mullet. Among the Roman nobility, red mullets lived in ponds; they were tamed, swimming up to the sound of a bell and taking food from their hands. There was a huge excitement around red mullet, which was repeated centuries later with Dutch tulips: there was a time when estates were given away for one bulb.

In Rome, a medium-sized mullet could be exchanged for a slave. Pliny wrote that in the time of Caligula, 8 thousand sesterces were given for a very large red mullet. When the price of burubul was 30 thousand sesterces, the emperor gave a decree to regulate the price of the fish.

In fact, red mullet, and especially large specimens, do not have very excellent taste. In addition, her appearance is not so amazing that she wouldn’t pay that kind of money for it. It's all about fashion and the desire to show off, which is why the rich Romans were so extravagant. By the 4th century, red mullet was no longer so popular.

Modern aquarists do not subject fish to cruel tests to see how they change color when they die, but they keep them in aquariums with great pleasure. These are cute fish that are fun to watch. In addition, they are useful for aquariums, as they mix the substrate at the bottom, so that toxic gases do not accumulate in it.

Today, red mullet is commercially fished; its meat is popular among gourmets, especially since the cost of this fish is many times less than in Ancient Rome.

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