Hake has a subtle and delicious flavour similar to and according to the many superior to cod the soft white flesh firms up on cooking resulting in a dense meaty texturerhake are slender deep sea members of the cod family immensely popular in spain and italy they have a long round almost snake like body with grey and silver coloured skin the lateral line is white edged black on either side the large mouth displays sharp pointy teeth giving it a vicious appearance hake is slow growing re