Dapa (Flatfish/Flounder/Sole)
Thu 11 Nov 2004
All flatfishes are referred to locally as dapa or palad. Since there are over 7 families of flatfishes with over 540 separate species, according to the book Fishes of the Philippines, by Genevieve Broad, it is hard to pinpoint the correct specimen that one picks up at the markets. 
The dapa depicted here is most likely from the flounder branch. It is a left-eyed flounder, with both eyes on the left side of the head. I kid you not but there are also right eyed flounders… why, I do not know and am not curious enough to find out. Maybe the left hand flounders should only be eaten by those who drive on the left side of the road…
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The fruit (often called a nut but is technically a drupe) is about 5-6 centimeters long and has a think black skin when ripe. Under the skin isa fibrous greenish (and hairy) pulp. The very hard pointed shell houses the oily and yummy nut within. It is the nut within that most Filipinos think of when you say Pili Nut.