Fish and seafood · IFCT 2017
Black snapper: nutrition per 100 g
Per 100 g, black snapper gives 90 kcal, 19.5 g protein and 1.2 g fat, according to the Indian Food Composition Tables 2017. It is a lean, firm white fish with a useful 165 mg of DHA and 41 mg of EPA. Its 2.89 mg of niacin meets 16 per cent of a sedentary man's daily requirement, and its potassium ranks 12th of 41 fish and seafood.
About black snapper
The black snapper, Macolor niger, is a reef fish of warm seas, caught around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and the rocky stretches of the south-west and south-east coasts. Young fish are boldly black and white; adults turn a dark, sooty grey. IFCT 2017 records no regional names for it, and in most markets it is simply sold as a snapper alongside its red cousins.
Like other snappers, it has firm, white, sweet flesh that holds together in a curry and does not fall apart on the griddle. In Kerala and Karnataka it is cooked like chembali or kalava, in a red coconut curry or as a masala fry; in the Andamans, where reef fish are everyday food, it is grilled whole or cooked in a light tomato curry.
What black snapper brings to a meal
- 01
Lean protein
Black snapper supplies 19.5 g of protein per 100 g with 1.2 g fat, meeting about 36 per cent of a man's daily protein requirement and 43 per cent of a woman's, for 90 kcal.
- 02
Useful omega-3 for a lean fish
It carries 165 mg of DHA and 41 mg of EPA per 100 g. That is less than oily fish such as sardine but well above many other lean white fish in the tables.
- 03
Potassium and niacin
Its 341 mg of potassium ranks 12th of 41 fish and seafood, and its 2.89 mg of niacin covers 16 per cent of a man's daily requirement and 21 per cent of a woman's.
- 04
Low sodium and cholesterol
Black snapper has 41 mg of sodium and 30 mg of cholesterol per 100 g, both modest for a sea fish.
Black snapper nutrition facts per 100 g
Every value IFCT 2017 reports for the edible portion, with the share of an adult's daily need that 100 g covers where ICMR-NIN sets a requirement.
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | Adult man | Adult woman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy and macronutrients | |||
| Energy | 90 kcal | 4% | 5% |
| Protein | 19.5 g | 36% | 43% |
| Carbohydrate (available) | 0 g | ||
| Dietary fibre | 0 g | ||
| Total fat | 1.2 g | ||
| Water | 78.1 g | ||
| Fats | |||
| Saturated fat | 0.47 g | ||
| Monounsaturated fat | 0.25 g | ||
| Polyunsaturated fat | 0.29 g | ||
| Omega-3 (EPA) | 41 mg | ||
| Omega-3 (DHA) | 165 mg | ||
| Cholesterol | 30 mg | ||
| Minerals | |||
| Calcium | 10 mg | 1% | 1% |
| Iron | 0.56 mg | 3% | 2% |
| Zinc | 0.4 mg | 2% | 3% |
| Magnesium | 27 mg | 6% | 7% |
| Phosphorus | 195 mg | ||
| Potassium | 341 mg | ||
| Sodium | 41 mg | ||
| Copper | 0.02 mg | ||
| Selenium | 14.4 µg | ||
| Vitamins | |||
| Retinol | 15 µg | ||
| Thiamine (B1) | 0.02 mg | 1% | 1% |
| Niacin (B3) | 2.89 mg | 16% | 21% |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.11 mg | 4% | 6% |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.51 mg | ||
Values per 100 g of the edible portion. Source: Longvah T, Ananthan R, Bhaskarachary K, Venkaiah K. Indian Food Composition Tables 2017. National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Hyderabad. Daily-need shares use the ICMR-NIN 2020 recommended dietary allowances for a 65 kg man and a 55 kg woman doing sedentary work (ICMR-NIN brief note). Nutrients IFCT did not analyse for this food are left out rather than shown as zero.
Cite this page
NNWA Nutrition and Wellness Academy. Black snapper: nutrition per 100 g. Data: Indian Food Composition Tables 2017, ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition. https://nnwa.in/foods/fish-and-seafood/black-snapper/
Where black snapper sits among Indian foods
Ranked per 100 g against the other 40 fish and seafood and every food in the tables.
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | In fish and seafood | Among all foods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 19.5 g | 21st of 41 | 49th of 243 |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.51 mg | 30th of 41 | 84th of 242 |
| Potassium | 341 mg | 12th of 41 | 110th of 243 |
| Energy | 90 kcal | 25th of 41 | 124th of 257 |
| Magnesium | 27 mg | 29th of 41 | 148th of 242 |
How black snapper is eaten
- Kerala red fish curry with kudampuli, coconut oil and curry leaves; firm snapper holds its shape in the gravy.
- Masala fry: thick steaks rubbed with chilli, turmeric and ginger-garlic paste, then pan-fried.
- Whole grilled snapper, scored and stuffed with a green coriander and chilli paste, Andaman style.
- Fish moilee: a mild coconut milk curry that suits a delicate white fish.
Before you plan around it
Large reef predators can occasionally carry ciguatera, a toxin from reef algae that cooking does not destroy, so buy reef fish from established sellers who know where it was caught. Black snapper's iron and calcium are low, 0.56 mg and 10 mg per 100 g, so pair it with greens and dal. Its spines and scales are sharp; ask the fishmonger to clean it.
Food composition is general information, not a diet plan. Anyone managing a medical condition should plan their diet with a doctor or a registered dietitian.
What people ask about black snapper
Is black snapper a good fish to eat?
Yes. IFCT 2017 gives it 19.5 g protein, 1.2 g fat and 165 mg DHA per 100 g, for 90 kcal. It is a lean, firm fish that suits curries, fries and grilling.
What is the difference between black snapper and red snapper?
They are related snappers with similar firm white flesh. Black snapper, Macolor niger, is a reef fish; red snapper is a different species. Both are lean, and each has its own entry in IFCT 2017.
Is black snapper high in mercury?
IFCT 2017 does not measure mercury. As a general rule, large, long-lived predatory fish carry more, so pregnant women can favour smaller fish and vary the types they eat.
Related foods and tables
Red snapper
Nutrition per 100 g, from IFCT 2017.
Chembali
Nutrition per 100 g, from IFCT 2017.
Kalava
Nutrition per 100 g, from IFCT 2017.
Parrot fish
Nutrition per 100 g, from IFCT 2017.
Seer fish (vanjaram)
Nutrition per 100 g, from IFCT 2017.
Protein content of Indian foods
Every food in the tables, ranked by protein per 100 g.
Vitamin E content of Indian foods
Every food in the tables, ranked by vitamin e per 100 g.
Potassium content of Indian foods
Every food in the tables, ranked by potassium per 100 g.
All fish and seafood
41 foods in this group, compared.
Learn to use this data
Certification in Nutrition
Reading food composition tables and turning them into meal plans is taught in this NNWA course.