Salmon, Ivory King

Ivory king salmon are highly valued, due in part to their scarcity relative to other Pacific salmon along most of the Pacific coast. Ivory kings make up only about 5 percent of the total king population. Once tossed aside as defective, this delicious fish has recently taken its rightful place at the head of the table and is one of the most sought-after of fine seafood. On the surface, the white kings look exactly like any other king; it’s not until you get them open that you see the difference. Salmon of all types get their pink and red flesh through a pigment called astaxanthin, a member of the carotenoid family. Astaxanthin is found at various levels in most sea critters. It’s what makes lobster shells red, for example. It’s also found in shrimp, krill, and algae, which are good dinner fare for salmon. But some king salmon cannot absorb astaxanthin, leaving their flesh a smooth ivory shade.