Rakfisk is a fermented fish dish made from fresh trout. No sources are available as to the exact invention year of the rakfisk dish or the autolysis process that produces the raw material for it. It is gelatinous in texture after being rehydrated for days prior to eating. Box 210, NO-1431 Ås, The first step is soaking for five to six days (with the water changed daily). Rakfisk (Norwegian pronunciation: [rɑːkˈfisk]). In Norway, a product of concern is the traditional and popular fermented fish product "rakfisk", which is made from freshwater salmonid fish by mild-salting and brine maturation at low temperatures for several months. Klippfisk. The lutefisk is then ready to be cooked. It is not known when people first started treating dried fish with lye. The average cooking time is 8–10 minutes per whole fish (a package of two fish sides) at high power in a covered glass cooking dish, preferably made of heat-resistant glass. [3][4], Stockfish is very nutrient-rich and was consumed domestically, although it was during the boom in the stockfish trade in the late Middle Ages that the product became accessible throughout Scandinavia, as well as the rest of Europe. [1], The first record of the term rakfisk dates back to 1348, but the history of this food is probably even older. They also host an annual music festival called "Lutefest". Angkak is made from rice inoculated with a species of red mold ( Monascus purpureus ). Lutefisk is sometimes available in specialty stores[20] and supermarkets where there are large Scandinavian populations. Natto is a Japanese dish of slimy, fermented soybeans. Regional variations include a sprinkle of freshly ground allspice or black pepper and the addition of coarsely ground mustard in the white sauce (in Scania). The higher quality stockfish would be soaked in water, then boiled and eaten with melted butter. Lutefisk is a traditional dish of Europe’s Norse countries. Brine samples, collected from six producers during two subsequent years, were used. [11], The taste of well-prepared lutefisk is very mild, and the white sauce is often spiced with pepper or other strong-tasting spices. It’s basically cod fish soaked in … The rakfisk bucket is stored at under 5 degrees Celsius for one to three months. Rakfisk will traditionally be served sliced or as a fillet on flatbrød or lefse and almond potatoes. [5], For it to become edible, lutefisk must again be soaked in cold water. Below is my list of six Norwegian Easter food traditions to take note of and commit to memory before Easter Sunday begins on April 5. Lutefisk 1.75Lbs PackLutefisk is a Scandinavian dish which is made from dried stock fish, also called white fish.Most commonly, the fish of choice is cod, although … Norwegian Fermented Fish Product (Rakfisk) from Six Different Producers during Two Consecutive Seasonal Productions Guro Alette Bjerke 1,2, Knut Rudi 2, Ekaterina Avershina 2, Birgitte Moen 1, Hans Blom 1,† and Lars Axelsson 1,*,† 1 Nofima, Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research, P.O. Rakfisk (fermented fish) is considered one of the most culturally important and iconic Norwegian recipes with some of the best rakfisk coming from Numedal. Rakfisk is char or trout that is salted and fermented for up to a year. An article in Smithsonian magazine quotes some oft-rendered tall tales regarding the origins of the dish:[3]. Eight cases ate rakfisk before they fell ill. Lutefisk (Norwegian, pronounced [ˈlʉ̂ːtfɛsk] in Northern and parts of Central Norway, [ˈlʉ̂ːtəˌfɪsk] in Southern Norway; Swedish: lutfisk [ˈlʉ̂ːtfɪsk]; Finnish: lipeäkala [ˈlipeæˌkɑlɑ]; literally "lye fish") is dried whitefish (normally cod, but ling and burbot are also used). Side dishes vary greatly from family to family and region to region, and can be a source of jovial contention when eaters of different "traditions" of lutefisk dine together. To make the fish edible, a final treatment of yet another four to six days of soaking in cold water (also changed daily) is needed. Pic: CC. [2], Fisk is the Norwegian word for "fish." The remaining fish soaked in a puddle of rainwater and birch ash for months before some hungry Vikings discovered the cod, reconstituted it and had a feast. 1. In parts of Jämtland it is served on flat bread along with whey cheese. Lutefisk may also be cooked in a microwave oven. This will "release" some of the water in the fish meat. A byproduct of the fermentation process is a fish sauce called patis. Held in the mountain town of Fagernes, this celebration of classic Norwegian cuisine is a great combination of food, music, and fun. You’re free to eat fermented fish, vegetables, and dairy when on this diet. Some manufacturers grind the fermented product finely and sell the resulting mixture as fish paste. Rakfisk is very is considered a fish delicacy and is served with lefse (flat bread), sour cream, real butter and onion. [9], Lutefisk is traditionally served with boiled potatoes, mashed green peas, melted butter and small pieces of fried bacon. “Chances are you've heard about the many benefits of fermented foods for gut health. Rakfisk (Norwegian Fermented Fish) November 16, 2016. Before the herring had first been fermented in big barrels and later moved to smaller wooden barrels. [8], Another option is to parboil lutefisk, wrapped in cheesecloth and gently boiled until tender. An alternative is to wrap in aluminium foil and bake at 225 °C (435 °F) for 40–50 minutes. [16], Far more lutefisk is consumed in the United States than in Scandinavia, much of it by Scandinavian Americans in Lutheran churches and fraternal lodges. The introduction of lye in the preparation process might therefore have been incidental. Some also use raw onion, sour cream, mustard-sauce, a mild form of mustard with dill. It is gelatinous in texture after being rehydrated for days prior to eating. In Norway, a product of concern is the traditional and popular fermented fish product “rakfisk”, which is made from freshwater salmonid fish by mild-salting and brine maturation at low temperatures for several months. Centuries ago, a group of fishermen mounted their horses early in the autumn and began their trek deep into the mountains of Norway. Lutefisk, though, is not served at this festival.[18]. Lutefisk does not need additional water for the cooking; it is sufficient to place it in a pan, salt it, seal the lid tightly, and let it steam cook under a very low heat for 20–25 minutes. Norwegian fermented freshwater fish called “ rakfisk ” is regarded as a national specialty food, which is manufactured in a traditional, artisanal, and localized manner. [6][7], After the preparation, the lutefisk is saturated with water and must therefore be cooked extremely carefully so that it does not fall to pieces. [13] A 2005 survey found 20% of Norwegians ate lutefisk during the Christmas holiday season, although only 3% would consider it for their Christmas dinner. The salt must be rinsed off carefully before cooking. A brine is formed as the salt draws moisture from the fish. Please share it to your friends! The fish swells during this soaking, and its protein content decreases by more than 50 percent, producing a jelly-like consistency. Lower grade qualities would be harder and more fuel consuming to boil and it has been suggested that adding ash from beech or birch in the boiling water, would break down the protein chains and speed up the process. Many Lutheran churches across Wisconsin also serve Lutefisk dinners as a Christmas tradition. Norwegian fish dish made from trout or sometimes char, salted and fermented for two to three months, or even up to a year, then eaten without cooking. In Minnesota and Wisconsin, this method (seasoned with allspice) is common among Swedish-Americans, while Norwegian-Americans often prefer to eat it unseasoned with melted butter or cream sauce. This is a traditional seasonal Norwegian fish dish made from trout or char, salted and then fermented for up to a … The saturated lutefisk is then soaked in an unchanged solution of cold water and lye for an additional two days. [19] Organizations such as the Sons of Norway hold annual lutefisk dinners. To create a firm consistency in lutefisk, it is common to spread a layer of salt over the fish about half an hour before it is cooked. Hákarl (an abbreviation of kæstur hákarl Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈcaistʏr ˈhauːˌkʰa(r)tl̥], referred to as The secret to Norway's success could be linked to its appetite for rakfisk - a smelly fermented trout that is a local delicacy - says Kieran Cooke. When some neighboring Vikings attacked, they burned the racks of fish, but a rainstorm blew in from the North Sea, dousing the fire. There’s a special run, a plethora of food stalls (it’s not all fish… A traditional Scandinavian dish made from dried fish fermented in lye, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Scandinavians' Strange Holiday Lutefisk Tradition, "Stockfish empire: The Hanseatic League in Bergen", "Culinary Camrose: Scandinavian delicacies and fresh farm produce", Collapse of the Atlantic northwest cod fishery, Sustainable seafood advisory lists and certification, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lutefisk&oldid=1018195516, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from March 2015, All articles needing additional references, Articles containing Swedish-language text, Articles containing Finnish-language text, Articles containing Norwegian-language text, Articles containing Northern Sami-language text, Articles with Swedish-language sources (sv), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 16 April 2021, at 18:38. It is eaten without any heat treatment, and L. monocytogenes, therefore, poses a … The fish is then placed under pressure with a lid that fits down into the bucket and a weight on top. [3], Rakfisk is made from fresh trout or char. few traditional fermented fish products are still manufactured [12]. Rakfisk is then eaten without cooking and has a strong smell and a pungent salty flavor. [2], Preserved fish provided protein during the long winter months for generations in a part of the world with a strong fishing tradition. Gordon Ramsay travels to Norway to see how the food has been influenced by the Sami people and all the way back to the Vikings. [4], The finished product does not need cooking and is eaten as it is. Lutefisk is also consumed in Canada because of its relatively large Scandinavian population, particularly in the traditionally agricultural, inland provinces of Western Canada. Rakfisk (Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈrɑ̀ːkfɪsk]) is a Norwegian fish dish made from trout or char, salted and autolyzed for two to three months, or even up to a year. Rak derives from the word rakr in Norse language, meaning "moist" or "soaked". Lutefisk. The reason was probably that the lack of major salt deposits in the area favored the drying process for the preservation of whitefish - a process known for millennia. [3][17] St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota serves lutefisk during their Christmas Festival concerts. In the 19th-century food production techniques made canning an option for the surströmming and the herring could now be marketed all over Sweden. A legend has it that Viking fishermen hung their cod to dry on tall birch racks. As of 2016, there are about 463,000 Norwegian Canadians, 350,000 Swedish Canadians, 207,000 Danish Canadians and 143,000 Finnish Canadians. Lutefisk can also be boiled directly in a pan of water. In Norway, Sweden and Finland, lutefisk is a part of the Christmas tradition and is mostly eaten with boiled potatoes, green peas and white sauce. Lutefisk is dried whitefish (normally cod, but ling and burbot are also used). A very traditional Easter supper eaten throughout most of Norway is rakfisk not lamb or ham. It is traditionally part of the Christmas feast; Norwegian julebord and Swedish julbord, as well as the similar Finnish joulupöytä. [13][14][15] The Norwegian Seafood Export Council indicated sales of lutefisk to restaurants and catering companies in Norway increased by 72% between 2005 and 2008. It is sometimes eaten with meatballs, which is not traditional in Scandinavia. [3], Madison, Minnesota has dubbed itself the "lutefisk capital of the world" as well as claiming the largest per capita consumption of lutefisk in Minnesota. Listeria monocytogenes may persist in food production environments and cause listeriosis. Three popular churches are St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Dodge County, Christ Lutheran Church in DeForest, and Northland Lutheran Church in Iola. [10], In the United States, lutefisk is often served with a variety of side dishes—including bacon, peas, pea stew, potatoes, lefse, gravy, mashed rutabaga, white sauce, melted or clarified butter, syrup, and geitost, or "old" cheese (gammelost). It is often eaten for breakfast with or … Rak derives from the word rakr[2] in Norse language, meaning "moist" or "soaked". The cooking time will vary, depending upon the power of the microwave oven. Kingman, Alberta proclaims itself on its greeting sign to be the "Lutefisk capital of Alberta". [1], Lutefisk is prepared as a seafood dish of several Nordic countries. It is made from aged stockfish (air-dried whitefish), or dried and salted cod, pickled in lye. The purpose of this study was to explore the microbiota of Norwegian fermented fish (rakfisk), a traditional product popular in the Norwegian market. Bottarga, poutargue, boutargue, botarga. After gutting and rinsing, the fish is placed in a bucket and salted. Klippfisk -- literally "cliff fish" -- is dried and salted cod, in a tradition dating back to the … Lakes abounding, the fishermen spent their days in much success. Hope you enjoyed my video. Norwegian fermented fish (rakfisk) is a traditional product with an increasing popularity in the Norwegian market (about 400 tons traded per year).Rakfisk is manufactured in a traditional, artisanal, and localized manner and is known for its characteristic taste, odor, and somewhat spreadable texture. Small amounts of sugar may be added to speed up the autolyzation process. [5][6], Norwegian fermented fish dish made from trout or char, Falk and Torp: "Etymologisk ordbok over det norske og det danske sprog", 1906, "Rakfisk, the Norwegian Traditional Food", List of harvested aquatic animals by weight, Fisheries and aquaculture research institutes, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rakfisk&oldid=1021876276, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing Norwegian-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 7 May 2021, at 05:07. Of water the origins of the Christmas feast ; Norwegian julebord and Swedish julbord, as well as Sons! ] in Norse language, meaning `` moist '' or `` soaked '' as a dish. `` lutefisk capital of Alberta '' fish, it became a popular staple for Swedish soldiers at the.! To eating Christmas Festival concerts Swedish julbord, as well as the Sons Norway. Wrap in aluminium foil and bake at 225 °C ( 435 °F ) for 40–50 minutes this! 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