Fish

Thornback Ray

A tier

Thornback ray is the fishmonger name for Raja clavata wings—often simply “skate” on older tickets. Expect sweet, gelatinous-leaning meat that loves nut-brown butter, parsley, and lemon. Cartilage softens in gentle poaching and is edible when tender. Buy firm, smelling-of-tide wings. Overcook and they toughen then fall apart. Thornback is the default good answer when you want classic skate cookery with a named species.