Food Encyclopedia

char

A fish belonging to the genus Salvelinus and related to both the trout and salmon. The Dolly Varden trout and the Mackinaw trout (or lake trout) are actually members of the char family. Char live in the icy waters (both fresh and marine) of North America and Europe. The arctic char, which has become more commercially available in recent years, is now raised on government-sponsored fish farms in Iceland. It has a pink flesh with a flavor and texture that's a cross between trout and salmon. Char can be baked, broiled, fried, grilled, poached or steamed.