Pondy Taste

In a recent post JoeDubC mentioned that Berryessa salmon had a pondy taste. In my experience the food I have eaten with a pondy taste are: Delta caught catfish, crayfish, turtle, and bullfrogs. Bullfrogs are the worst, and we counter with lots of garlic.

Any other pondy taste experiences, and if so how do you mask that flavor/smell?

Soak the fish in milk to remove the smell and sweeten the fish. whole milk works best. discard milk after!

Soak the fish in milk to remove the smell and sweeten the fish. whole milk works best. discard milk after!

+1

Maybe we're onto something here.  Don't discard the milk.  Dehydrate it and make a "Pondy Taste" seasoning for those that want to add that extra umami to any dish...

"Hey mom, this Mac and cheese tastes great!  It reminds me of Monkey faced eel.  What's your secret?"
" Well son, there was a deal on "Pondy Taste" seasoning so I bought a case.  Your father is lactose intolerant and I'm so happy that they make this version."

Get your "Pondy Taste" seasoning while supplies last.  It's a great stocking stuffer...dont' forget to put one in your Kittycat's stocking as well.

  

Uh oh...Winter thread warning...

I soak overnight for shark, ray, and Humboldt squid too and it helps remove the ammonia smell.

Thanks, Eddie for reminding me about the monkey faced eel as it should definitely be on the list. Any others?

Thanks, Eddie for reminding me about the monkey faced eel as it should definitely be on the list. Any others?

Honestly if you ikijime, bleed and gut a MFE right away, the algae stomach content flavor profile is vastly lessoned.  Learning to run the wire on this beast is a lesson in itself.  They kinda hate it...
Dare I add Large Mouth Bass?  I find Chinese steamed style with hot oil finish to mask pondelicious essence.  Load em up with herbs and sizzle it through.
I thought crayfish, if you have the time, demand a couple day freshwater purge to clean out that poop shoot...
 

Let me be clear - the salmon was well-bled and not very pondy at all. Just a hint.
I didn't drown it in syrupy Teriyaki - my soy based sauce is subtle. And although it wasn't "Give me more of that!" great like a saltwater salmon, it was "yeah, I'll have a little more" pretty decent.

I haven't had Monkey Face eel in years, but I never remember it being pondy or fishy at all. I just didn't like the killing and cleaning of those guys.
The first time I went Poke Poling as a teen in Pacifica, I pulled up a rockfish and said "Look at that!"
An old Italian fisherman said with a bit of disdain, "Yeah, if you like fish!" - indicating that eels were the intended target.

Any others?

I associate pondy with carp.

I caught and ate MFE before and it tastes ok.  Makes good "Unagi".

Ok, I'll be the one to say it. Delta stripers. Always pondy tasting to me. Everytime, regardless of how much care went into prep. Spiked, bled, immediately on ice; still pondy. Regardless of how I cook and season it. Always a bit off for me.  Bummer, because they are certainly the closest and most abundant fish for me to catch, and pound for pound they are excellent fighters.

I've caught a couple in SF Bay in summertime, and those were better. Haven't caught a true saltwater or true freshwater striper yet, so can't compare those yet. But delta stripers are always pondy for me.

You guys eat fish? 

Maybe we're onto something here.  Don't discard the milk.  Dehydrate it and make a "Pondy Taste" seasoning for those that want to add that extra umami to any dish...

"Hey mom, this Mac and cheese tastes great!  It reminds me of Monkey faced eel.  What's your secret?"
" Well son, there was a deal on "Pondy Taste" seasoning so I bought a case.  Your father is lactose intolerant and I'm so happy that they make this version."

Get your "Pondy Taste" seasoning while supplies last.  It's a great stocking stuffer...dont' forget to put one in your Kittycat's stocking as well.

 

Don't let that good meat go to waste, Get Pondy Taste!"

Thanks, Eddie for reminding me about the monkey faced eel as it should definitely be on the list. Any others?

sturgeon?