What lutefisk means?

Definition of lutefisk

: dried codfish that has been soaked in a water and lye solution before cooking.

What does lutefisk translate to in English?

'The Norwegian word lutefisk means 'fish washed in lye' and refers to an ancient manufacturing process that involved drying fish and soaking it in lye. ' 'One of the most popular dishes is lutefisk, stockfish softened in a solution of lye.

Why is lutefisk eaten?

Whatever its origins, Scandinavians have eaten lutefisk for centuries. Preserved cod provided protein during the long winter months for generations of families in a part of the world with a strong tradition of fishing. Lye was used for making soap and preserving food.

What is the origin of lutefisk?

Lutefisk is a traditional Scandinavian (read Norwegian) meal. The Norwegians claim to have created the dish, as do the Swedes. In any event it was invented during the Viking era. It started with drying the fish to preserve it.

How does lutefisk fish taste?

Generally speaking, people say lutefisk tastes mildly fishy, with a soapy aftertaste and a hint of ammonia on the palate, though there seems to be a lot of variation of its description based on whether people are fans of the stuff or not.

Lutefisk aka Nasty Norwegian Fish - Why Would You Eat That?

What country eats the most lutefisk?

Far more lutefisk is consumed in the United States than in Scandinavia, much of it by Scandinavian Americans in Lutheran churches and fraternal lodges. Madison, Minnesota has dubbed itself the "lutefisk capital of the world" as well as claiming the largest per capita consumption of lutefisk in Minnesota. St.

Is lutefisk still soaked in lye?

Lutefisk (pronounced LEWD-uh-fisk) is dried cod that has been soaked in a lye solution for several days to rehydrate it. It is rinsed with cold water to remove the lye, then boiled or baked, and then served with butter, salt, and pepper. The finished lutefisk usually is the consistency of Jello.

How is lutefisk not poisonous?

Lutefisk, Norway

By this point it has a caustic pH value of 11 or 12 and is therefore inedible and highly toxic. Adventurous foodies needn't despair though – a few more days of treatment and water soaking renders the fish safe for human consumption – assuming it's undertaken correctly that is.

Why do you soak lutefisk in lye?

The lye breaks down the protein in the fish into amino acids that are easily absorbed by the small intestine. Usually ingested proteins need to be broken into amino acid molecules in the stomach. It's because of this protein breakup that lutefisk acquires its characteristic gelatinous, jelly-like texture.

What kind of food is lutefisk?

Lutefisk is made from dried whitefish — usually cod— which has been rehydrated in baths of lye and cold water. The cook just has to heat and serve. Lutefisk is famous for being terrible, and jokes about it are prevalent among Scandinavian-Americans.

What do you drink with lutefisk?

Lutefisk is traditionally served with boiled potatoes, mashed green peas and fried bacon. A dry white wine with good acidity will work best. Wine is relatively new in Norway, so the traditional, viking drink is beer and Aquavit.

Can you fry lutefisk?

Bake the lutefisk in the oven for approx. 30 minutes. Smaller amounts of lutefisk require shorter time in the oven. Dice bacon and fry on medium heat so the fat melts and the bacon gets crispy.

What is lutefisk and how is it made?

In case you're unfamiliar, lutefisk is white fish (usually cod) that has been dried and soaked in lye and then re-hydrated before being cooked in a boiling pot of water or in the oven, and then served in a hefty bowl of melted butter, with plenty of salt and pepper.

What lutefisk looks like?

The word “lutefisk” translates to “lye fish,” which is the first clue regarding this mystery meal, but it looks unlike any seafood most people have ever seen. It's white, semi-translucent, and, weirdest of all, gelatinous.

What is lye made of?

A lye is a metal hydroxide traditionally obtained by leaching wood ashes, or a strong alkali which is highly soluble in water producing caustic basic solutions. "Lye" most commonly refers to sodium hydroxide NaOH, but historically has been used for potassium hydroxide KOH.

Is lye toxic?

Lye is a caustic substance that can certainly damage your skin if you're exposed to it. It can cause a number of problems, such as burns, blindness, and even death when consumed. But, and this is a big but, soap that is created with lye (which is all real soap) will do absolutely no harm to your skin.

Is lutefisk the same as salt cod?

Salt cod, which is basically codfish cured in salt and then dried, is similar in concept but has a couple key differences. Lutefisk is dried to be preserved because salt simply wasn't in abundance in Scandinavia. Another major difference is that the salt cod is not reconstituted in lye.

Is lye edible?

Lye water (sometimes called 'Lime Water') is a strong (caustic) liquid that is safe to use in very small amounts in cooking, but it can be dangerous if lye water is swallowed undiluted straight from the bottle. It can cause severe corrosive burns to the throat, oesophagus and stomach with permanent damage if swallowed.

What is a traditional Norwegian meal?

What do they eat in Sweden and Norway?

The Swedes eat herring first, followed by other fish dishes. Meats, salads, and hot dishes then follow (in that order), and dessert is eaten last. Dinner usually has several courses, including appetizer, soup, entrée, vegetables, and dessert. Pea soups served with pancakes are popular dinner items in the winter.

What is lutefisk and lefse?

Lefse, with its intricate process and special tools, is the taste of a culture of builders—of great ships and snug homes and large stone hearths. Lutefisk, soaked in lye and smelling of feet (if fish had feet), invokes a vision of very large, very tough men. Lefse started out as an unremarkable flour pastry.

What do they eat in Sweden and Norway on New Years?

People in Sweden and Norway traditionally ring in the new year with a large helping of rice pudding, a sweet, milky dessert dish, customarily served with cinnamon.

How do you pronounce lutefisk in Norway?

The article about Lutefisk claims: "Lutefisk (prounounced loo-te-fisk) is a well-known food of Norway and Sweden (prounounced loo-ta-fisk)which consists of white fish (normally Cod) soaked in lye as a preservative, then dried until it hardens.

Are there bones in lutefisk?

Before it can be eaten, lutefisk is thoroughly soaked and rinsed with water to remove the lye solution, then boiled back to an edible texture. At this point, the bones must be separated from the fish.

What is Norwegian dried fish called?

Stockfish is unsalted fish, especially cod, dried by cold air and wind on wooden racks (which are called "hjell" in Norway) on the foreshore. The drying of food is the world's oldest known preservation method, and dried fish has a storage life of several years.