What Fish Is Used for Masgouf?

Masgouf is traditionally made with fatty freshwater fish from the Tigris and Euphrates — members of the carp family that Iraqis call shabbout, bunni and gattan, and today mostly common carp. The fat keeps the flesh moist as it cooks slowly beside the fire. In Dubai, Kabab Erbil uses locally sourced fish, chosen fresh, and cooks it the Iraqi way.

Which fish is used for masgouf in Iraq?

River fish of the carp family. The prized traditional species are shabbout, bunni and gattan — large barbels native to the Tigris and Euphrates. Today much of the masgouf eaten in Iraq is common carp, much of it farmed. Wikipedia describes masgouf simply as seasoned, grilled carp, and TasteAtlas as a freshwater fish dish.

Why does masgouf need a fatty, freshwater fish?

Because of how it is cooked. The fish is split, stood upright and cooked by radiant heat from a wood fire beside it for about an hour. A lean fish would dry out long before it took on the smoke; a fatty river fish bastes itself and stays tender. The mild, soft flesh of freshwater fish also carries smoke better than the firmer flesh of sea fish.

What fish does Kabab Erbil use?

Locally sourced fish, bought fresh. We cook it exactly as it is cooked on the banks of the Tigris: split, upright, beside wood, never over gas. A whole fish is 4.5kg (AED 396) and serves four to eight; a half is 2.5kg (AED 220) and serves two to four — how much masgouf to order has the full table.

Can masgouf be made with sea fish?

A sea fish can be grilled the same way, but it will not be masgouf as Iraqis know it — the texture and the flavour are different. Our sea bass (AED 100) and zubaidi (AED 100) are separate dishes, grilled or fried, not masgouf.

Why is river fish scarce in Iraq?

Drought and falling river levels have hit Iraq's fisheries hard, and masgouf has become a barometer of the country's water crisis. The method, though, has not changed — and it is the method, more than the species, that makes masgouf. Six signs of real masgouf explains what to look for.

Common questions

Is masgouf carp?

Traditionally, yes — carp-family river fish. Today it is most often common carp.

Is masgouf bony?

River fish have more fine bones than most sea fish; eat it slowly, by hand, with bread.

Where can I eat masgouf in Dubai or Sharjah?

At both our branches, Al Muraqqabat in Deira and Al Taawun in Sharjah — see our masgouf, or order the whole fish online.