Ling Cod Lutefisk experiment

Hei pa deg! 


Between 1999 and 2008 I lived in Budapest, but would frequently travel to Norway with my colleagues when we had a holiday.  During one Christmas in Alsund I was introduced to lutefisk. After a few glasses of aquavit I developed the bravery to sample this culinary oddity against the better judgment of my scenes.  To my surprise, the dish was delicious.  Since that Christmas, I have not missed an opportunity to dine on this stinky gelatinous delicacy. 

Returning from GSIII with too much fish in my freezer, I have decided to make lutefisk from two of the lings (as not to waste any fish).


My lings are now dried and hammered, I have dug a 4ft deep pit in my backyard, made a quick call to Norway and I am ready to start the luting.

I have soaking my dried fish in cold water for about 24 hours (changing the water every 6 hour or so).

I will then make my Lute mixture by adding 25 grams Lye (NaOH) per 3.5 Liters of water. (be very careful when handling lye.. gloves and goggles).

With my lye mix ready I will add the fish and bury the container in the 4ft pits for 2 days (as advised by Erling's mother).  You could get away with shallow pits during the winter.

After 2 days, I will dig up the containers and rinse the fish for another 2 days.  If all turns out well, it will be ready for cooking!


If anyone is interested, I will provide updates on my lutefisk project.

Hell yes!!! I would like to even try it...if it turns out and keeps till Albion....please bring some...maybe freeze it...

did u fish in budapest? and if u did what did u catch???

did u fish in budapest? and if u did what did u catch???

I fish wherever I find myself (Hungary, Korea, Norway, and Cali).

I caught carp in Hungary.  There is one trout stream near the Austrian border that I fished.  Trout fishing is not big for the Magyars, at a tackle shop I inquired about trout gear to which the clerk responded "In Hungary we fish for carp".

My best fishing experiences out of the US have been in Norway and the Sea of Korea (also known as the sea of Japan  )

 sea of Japan  )

can anyone say sushi!!! so no lutefisk @ albion?

Until I get a seaworthy kayak, I will be fishing Sierra lakes only.  Otherwise I would bring you some lutefisk.

Ummmm.... Not to rain on your experiment, but I must share

Coming from a Norwegian family background, that moved to Minnesota in the 30's I have heard many tales of Lutefisk!  There isn't a person left in my family that would dare try it, ever again! 

The elderly family members bring it up EVERY family gathering just to remind people how awful it was growing up eating it...  Apparently my grandfather really liked it.  But how they describe the finished product, boy, I don't think I'll ever try it!

Well...  Maybe just a little if you bring it to Albion, since I haven't tried it myself.   

Now, Lefse, that's a whole different story!  If you can make that, I'd PAY you for some 

You are right, Lutefisk is not for everyone.  I make it for a family event yesterday, only the Korean and Norwegian sides of my family dared to taste it.

It was not as good as the Lutefisk I had in Norway, but it was the real deal.

I can show you how to make Lefse, Risengrynsgrot and kjottkake if you like.  Lefse is pretty easy to make.

oh jeez my grandma (swedish) and grandpa (norwegian) loved it. I guess they got used to it in No. Dakota. You could smell it outside the house when they were eating it!

I know this post is old, but I can't help myself.  My wife's Norwegian grandmother fixed it for us one christmas.  It was enough to make a grown man weep.  She left the table to go to the kitchen so of course I fed it to the dog.  Poor thing, and he had been such a good dog.

 

A thread about lutefisk - I can hardly believe it!

I grew up in a small Swedish and Norwegian farm town in MN of about 2000 people. Lutefisk feeds were put on anually by the local Lions club. We have had a "traditional" Christmas Eve dinner which included lutefisk, finn and haddie (SP?), Swedish Meatballs, lefse, etc.

It sort of grows on you. My dad is a true fan of it. And he immediately fell in love with my Japanese wife  who had no problem gobbling up platefuls of it (when most of the other short-timers were eating thimblefuls).

But I think I'll stick with my cod pan-fried. 

A thread about lutefisk - I can hardly believe it!

I grew up in a small Swedish and Norwegian farm town in MN of about 2000 people. Lutefisk feeds were put on anually by the local Lions club. We have had a "traditional" Christmas Eve dinner which included lutefisk, finn and haddie (SP?), Swedish Meatballs, lefse, etc.

Ever heard of Madison Minnesota? A much smaller town (bout 1sq mi) where my family migrated from Norway to settle down.

A thread about lutefisk - I can hardly believe it!

I grew up in a small Swedish and Norwegian farm town in MN of about 2000 people. Lutefisk feeds were put on anually by the local Lions club. We have had a "traditional" Christmas Eve dinner which included lutefisk, finn and haddie (SP?), Swedish Meatballs, lefse, etc.

Ever heard of Madison Minnesota? A much smaller town (bout 1sq mi) where my family migrated from Norway to settle down.

West of Wilmar (where my brother was born). I grew up in Zumbrota.

But for the Lutefisk discussion, you win - I googled Madison to find it, and the first thing to come up was, "Madison, Minnesota "Lutefisk Capital USA"!!
http://www.ci.madison.mn.us/

....and my family on Mom's side is from Fergus Falls Minnesota.  Pure Norwegian on that side.

.....an unobserved trend here perhaps?

Allen

Well Albion is come and gone with no "lutefisk"    Auberntroutfisherman did not attend...at least i didnt see you, I would love to try these dishes being discribed...one of these days...

Next time theres a Pot Luck one of u guys need to bring it.... because a lot of us would pig... I've got danish and swedish and some irish in by blood...but no recipes from that side...

Well Albion is come and gone with no "lutefisk"    Auberntroutfisherman did not attend...at least i didnt see you, I would love to try these dishes being discribed...one of these days...

Albion was scheduled on my wedding anniversary.