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Mojarra

Fish · Cichlidae
Mojarra — Cichlidae fish

Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Also called
🇺🇸🇬🇧🇦🇷🇫🇷🇪🇸🇮🇹🇩🇪Tilapia🇵🇹🇧🇷Tilápia

Tilapia is the world's most farmed fish and one of the most widely consumed, particularly in Latin America and the US. In Mexico it is known as mojarra and is eaten fried whole, in ceviches, and in soups. Its white flesh is mild, boneless, and versatile. It is inexpensive and adapts well to a wide range of flavors, making it a staple in everyday cooking across the Americas.

Names by country

CountryNameNotes
🇺🇸United StatesTilapia
🇬🇧United KingdomTilapia
🇲🇽MexicoMojarraprimaryMojarra frita (fried whole) is a coastal staple across Mexico
🇦🇷ArgentinaTilapia
🇫🇷FranceTilapia
🇪🇸SpainTilapia
🇵🇹PortugalTilápia
🇧🇷BrazilTilápiaWidely farmed in Brazil — popular in nordestino cuisine
🇮🇹ItalyTilapiaImported farmed fish; the Latin American 'mojarra' encompasses several Cichlidae species.
🇩🇪GermanyTilapiaSometimes labelled 'Buntbarsch' (the German for cichlid).

Culinary substitutes

Dorada
Dorada

Both are mild, white, versatile farmed fish — tilapia is softer and more neutral in flavor, sea bream has more character and is better suited to whole cooking.

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