Many Australians are feeling the pinch of the increasing cost of living at the moment. The prices of vegetables, meat, and household necessities have risen, forcing many of us to choose cheaper options to stay within budget.
Seafood is often viewed as a luxury, but many people don't know that there are plenty of seafood species available in Australia that are cheaper than a kilo of mince! Here are five fish that cost between $2 and $10 per kilo to try, if you want to get a seafood fix without breaking the bank.
Leatherjacket 
Price range at Sydney Fish Market: $5-12/kg
So named for their leathery, tough skin (which is removed before sale), Leatherjacket are a cheap and delicious white fish, that - thanks to their evenly distributed fat and decent oil levels – suit a wide variety of cooking methods. This fish is also sold as trunks, meaning you don't have to discard much of its total weight, improving value further.
Try these fish braised in sauce, encrusted with nuts and pan-fried, in burnt butter, in a curry… you name it!
Australian Salmon
Price range at Sydney Fish Market: $5-10/kg
Not to be confused with Atlantic Salmon, Australian Salmon (Arripis trutta) is actually in a scientific family all its own. This species is not only often confused with other fish of similar names, but it also represents one of the strongest examples of the gulf between reputation and actual eating quality.
This is a fish that responds particularly well to proper handling methods, such as brain spiking, bleeding, and a speedy placement into ice slurry. Good handling methods make for a clean, firm, meaty fillet that is excellent as crumbed fish pieces, minced in fish cakes, barbequed, smoked, or even as sashimi.
Especially strong supply of this species comes up to Sydney Fish Market from South Australia, Tasmania, and Southern Victoria.
Sardines
Price range at Sydney Fish Market: $5-12/kg
In Australia, Sardines have a reputation of being slimy and coming from a tin, but fresh Sardines are a different thing entirely! These small, strongly-flavoured fish are abundant (making them consistently low in price) and provide some of the strongest health benefits of any fish on the market – think protein, omega-3, calcium, iron, zinc, and a tonne more important vitamins and minerals.
Sydney Seafood School recommends pairing them with punchy Italian flavours such as tomato, sage, olives, and parmesan. They even have a video recipe for you to try; watch here.
Blue Mackerel
Price range at Sydney Fish Market: $5-12/kg
Similar to Sardines in terms of oil level and flavour profile, Blue Mackerel is another abundant species that is easy to cook at home. Overseas, it is often pickled and served cold, but it also does beautifully wrapped in foil and cooked on the BBQ, or baked.
As the weather gets warmer, another delicious recipe option is this Mediterranean salad, which Blue Mackerel would work beautifully in.
Mullet
Price range at Sydney Fish Market: $2-10/kg
Your favourite fish’s favourite fish, Mullet have been loved by those in the know for tens of thousands of years in Australia, everywhere on the east coast. At the peak of the autumn Mullet run on the NSW coast, the price can get as low at $2/kg, though they usually retail for closer to $5 to $8/kg for whole fish.
All Mullet share uncommonly high levels of omega-3 in their generously distributed fat, and it is the flavour in this fat that is the secret to their appeal. To get the most out of this fish, try barbecuing, roasting, or grilling.