A fillet or filet (UK: //, US: //; from the French word filet, pronounced [filɛ]) is a boneless cut or slice of meat or fish. The fillet is often a prime ingredient in many cuisines, and many dishes call for a specific type of fillet as one of the ingredients.
In the case of beef, the term most often refers to beef tenderloin in the United States, especially filet mignon.
Chicken filets, sometimes called inner filets, are a specific cut of meat from the chicken or ostrich steaks. There are two filets in a chicken, and they are each a few inches long and about 1 inch or less wide. They lie under the main portion of the breast just above the ribcage around the center of the sternum. They are separated from the main breast by filament.
Chicken filets are very popular in supermarkets in many countries. They can come attached to the main breast itself or separated from the breast in packages of generally four or more filets.
Main article: Fish fillet
In preparation for filleting, the scales on the fish should be removed. The contents of the abdominal cavity (guts and other organs) also need careful detaching from the fillet.
Fish fillets are generally obtained by slicing parallel to the spine, rather than perpendicular to the spine. Cuts of fish performed perpendicular to the spine are known as steaks or cutlets, and often include bone. The remaining bones with the attached flesh is called the "frame", and is often used to make fish stock. As opposed to whole fish or fish steaks, fillets do not contain the fish's backbone; they yield less flesh, but are easier to eat.
Special cut fillets are taken from solid large blocks; these include a "natural" cut fillet, wedge, rhombus or tail shape. Fillets may be skinless or have skin on; pinbones may or may not be removed.
A fletch is a large boneless fillet of halibut, swordfish or tuna.
There are several ways to cut a fish fillet: