Posted on 12/07/2023 12:00:46 PM PST by DallasBiff
With a distinctive odor and gelatinous texture, lutefisk is definitely an acquired taste. Unlike salmon and tuna, you can't actually go out fishing for lutefisk, because it's not a specific fish itself; rather, it's a form of whitefish (traditionally cod) that is air dried until hard. Then, the fish is softened by soaking it in water and lye before consuming.
The word lutefisk itself translates roughly to "lye fish," says Smithsonian Magazine. Considered peasant food, this method was used to preserve any leftover fish that wasn't sold or cooked. While it originated in Scandinavia (particularly Sweden and Norway), lutefisk has fallen out of favor there and is not considered especially popular in the "old country." However, some Scandinavian Americans eat lutefisk regularly, and it is now eaten more frequently in the United States than in all of Scandinavia combined.
If you're interested in trying this divisive dish, there are a few things you should know (like how you eat it and where it is even sold) before taking the plunge.
Read More: https://www.mashed.com/197530/what-does-lutefisk-actually-taste-like/
(Excerpt) Read more at mashed.com ...
Nope. There’s not enough Tabasco Sauce in the whole world to get me to eat this.
It’s rotten fermented fish that tastes like fish flavored Jello...............
I’ll pass on the lutefisk, but I’d like to try pickled herring.
Tastes like chicken đ
i will only eat lutefisk if the only other choice is HĂĄkarl
The kitchen smells funny for about a week.
No, it is not soaked in lye before consuming. It soaked in lye water as a preservative before drying. It is then soaked in changes of fresh water to remove lye before cooking. Presumably the practice was adopted because salt was in short supply.
‘Salt cod’ is similar.
Guy calls the county agent and complains there are skunks living under the trailer house. Agent suggests lutefisk will get rid of the skunks.
Guy calls back a week later to report the skunks are gone, but there is another problem: All the neighborhood Norwegians are rooting under his trailer house.
Herring is delicious. Very rich. Best purchased in cream sauce.
My family served lutefisk to a foreign exchange student from Mexico at Christmas. He correctly said “Ewww...it is like jello of fish.”
LUTEFISK DAY On December 9th, Lutefisk Day reminds residents in Norway, Finland, and Sweden to begin preparing their lutefisk for Christmas. The day is also referred to as Annaâs Day. In case youâre not Scandinavian, lutefisk is basically cod that gets soaked in lye. After the cod is caught, itâs dried to the point of becoming firm and leathery. To tenderize the fish and bring it back to its former condition, it gets soaked in lye. Once itâs nice and tender, the lutefisk is skinned and boned. Finally, the fish is boiled until it reaches a gelatinous consistency. Another way to prepare lutefisk is to season it and bake it in the oven. Some say that lutefisk tastes mildly fishy with a soapy aftertaste. Many people would say that lutefisk doesnât smell so good. To make it more edible, some people coat the fish in beer batter and deep fry it. Despite its taste and smell, many die-hard Scandinavians still eat lutefisk. It is a Christmas tradition, after all. Along with those in Norway, Finland, and Sweden, lutefisk is consumed in the U.S by Scandinavian Americans. One place in particular that consumes large amounts of lutefisk is Madison, Minnesota. In fact, this town has been dubbed, âthe âlutefisk capital of the world.â The dish is especially popular among Lutherans. Sons of Norway organizations host annual lutefisk dinners. Lutefisk is also consumed in many parts of Canada. HOW TO OBSERVE #LutefiskDay On this day, many people throughout Scandinavia begin preparing their lutefisk so that itâs ready for dinner on Christmas Eve. Even if youâre not Scandinavian you can still participate in this day by: Reading more about the history and folklore that surrounds lutefisk. Looking for lutefisk recipes online and learning how to make it. Learning about the Scandinavian countries. Attending a lutefisk dinner. Spread awareness for this food day on social media with #LutefiskDay. LUTEFISK DAY HISTORY During the days of the old peasant society in Sweden, it took many days to prepare for Christmas. One of the most popular Christmas dishes was fish. However, due to the icy waters, fresh fish was difficult to catch. Swedes had to make do with dried fish. To make the dried fish edible, they would first bathe it in a solution to soften it. This soaking process usually began on December 9th so that the fish would be the perfect consistency on Christmas Eve. For this reason, December 9th is known as Lutefisk Day. Since Anna is a popular name in Sweden, the day is also referred to as Annaâs Day.
pickled herring I’ll eat, if it’s fresh...............
Thanks. I’ve seen it in the stores.
Cod packed in Draino. Soak it back to a 6.5ph and cook it as you would cod.The soaking part takes days and 50 water changes.
BaccalĂ
Follow it up with escargot and haggis.
When it is cooked up, it is kind of like, well, snot.
That is when my Norwegian friends say it is at its very best.
Go for the lefse every time, and leave the lutefisk alone.
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