Pan-Fried Hairtail (Belt Fish)

Why people make this dish

Many people think hairtail (belt fish) is scaleless, but that silvery-white film is in fact its reduced scales — and it is rich in oils and unsaturated fatty acids traditionally associated with keeping skin supple and bright. In the Jiangsu-Zhejiang region people often leave the silvery skin on, as it carries lecithin said to support the memory of older adults. Nourilo’s pan-fried hairtail is a Shanghai home-style dish, usually cooked with plenty of garlic and shredded ginger — good for both skin and memory.