Hamachi Kama Recipe (Yellowtail Collar) - Cooked 2 Ways

Deliciously sweet and juicy Hamachi Kama served with a side of tangy ponzu sauce. Two different cooking methods, both produce amazing results.

What is Hamachi Kama?

Hamachi kama is the collar portion of the yellowtail fish. Often confused with yellowfin tuna, yellowtail is in fact part of the jack family of fish, called Japanese amberjack.

If you've had cooked hamachi fish, you'll know that the fish is firm and meaty.  You would never guess that yellow collars comes from the same fish. 

The hamachi kama is the area between the gills and the pectoral fins.  This portion is quite possibly the most rich and succulent part of this fish and any fish.

From the appearance of fish collars, it may seem like there isn't much there, but there is a surprising amount of meat in this area.

Hamachi kama is incredibly juicy, flaky, tender and sweet.  The high-fat content in the collar portion of Hamachi is credited for its distinguished texture and flavor that sets it apart from the rest of the fish.

Is it Easy to Make Hamachi Kama at Home?

This Hamachi Kama recipe is as easy and fool-proof as it gets.  The flesh of fish collars is encased in bones and cartilage, which means it can handle a little overcooking without drying out. 

Add in the fact that this area is rather fatty, it provides even more flexibility with cook time.  No more dry fish!  In fact, it is so easy to cook at home, you'll second guess ever ordering it at a restaurant again. 

There are two different cooking methods for hamachi kama I view as the easiest to achieve in a home kitchen - using an air fryer or a skillet.  One method has a slight advantage over the other. Continue reading for my preferred cooking method.

How to Cook Yellowtail Collar

No matter which cooking method you use, preparing hamachi kama are the same.  If they are frozen, defrost them in the fridge overnight or in a water bath until they are fully defrosted. 

Rinse each piece and pat dry with a paper towel.  Lightly season both sides with salt.

What is the Best Way to Cook Hamachi Kama?

Air frying and pan frying both produce great results.  I pan fried hamachi kama for many years until I bought my first air fryer. 

On weekends, I would treat family and friends to grilled hamachi kama for a special gathering. No doubt grilled yellowtail collars have a special roasted flavor that can't be replicated.

However, air frying has proven its superiority and it's my primary way of cooking yellowtail collars.  Aside from how effortless it is, air frying produces more browning. The surface and the skin are crispier, and the meat is juicier. An added bonus are crispy fins.

If you don’t own an air fryer, pan frying also gives you a great dish.  A benefit of pan frying is that you can cook much larger batches, especially if you get a couple of large skillets cooking at one time. 

Can you tell which one of these hamachi kama was pan-fried in the image below?  (Hint: It’s the one on the left.)

Notice how the hamachi kama on the left is only browned on the parts that made contact with the skillet. The two on the right (which have been air fried) have even browning on all surfaces. It may be a small difference, but you can taste the difference.