Re: Fresh Mackerel

On Jun 29, 10:23 am, "Glenallan" <robt.bl...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
"The Highlander" <mich...@xxxxxxx> wrote

I think I am right in saying that according to HM government you
should not eat more than two portions of Scottish West Coast
farmed salmon per month. I much prefer the bonnie pink Canadian
stuff oot o' the tin masel'.

G
--

Because fresh salmon is part of the way of life here on the Canadian
west coast - we have a choice of
five types of Pacific salmon:,
Spring (aka Chinook - mild flavour),
Cohoe (aka Silver - mild flavour),
Pink (aka Humpy - bland - used to be fed to dogs in the old days),
Chum (aka Dog - comparatively bland),
Sockeye (the best tasting of them all.)

As a result,  farmed fish is not popular locally and few people will
buy it, so most goes to areas where salmon don't exist, such as the
Prairies. However a crisis is beginning to bite, as the west Coast is
so throughly fished that some of the annual runs upriver of each type
are getting smaller.

The very finest fish is the Alaskan sockeye, two of which currently
live in my freezer. The colder the water, the better tasting the fish
and Alaska has the purest and coldest water of them all.

The second crisis is that large numbers of Atlantic salmon were
imported to be farmed in the Pacific. The Atlantic salmon is an
aggressive animal and those which have escaped from fish farms will
attack and eat Pacific salmon. The difference between the two coasts
is that the Atlantic salmon move into rivers to breed, lay their eggs
and then return to the ocean. Pacific salmon return to the gravel
patch in the river they were born on, lay their eggs and then die. At
this point they change in texture and most non-natives will not eat
them. Each run is managed by the Department of Fisheries and this year
it is believed that the runs will be small and so days when they can
be fished commercially have been severely limited.

Now, for Glenallen, here is my favourite breakfast dish made with
canned salmon. It's from India and is called Kedgeree.
and any Brit who served in India will recognize it instantly as it was
a favourite.
4 tablespoons butter
2 cups (1 litre) cooked rice
1 tin salmon
3 tablespoons raisins
3/4 cup of heavy cream
1 teaspoon curry powder
salt to taste
4-hard-cooked eggs, chopped
3  tablespoons finely chopped parsley

Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed pan (or wok)
Stir in the rice, fish, raisins, cream, curry powder and salt.
Mix well and cook only until heated through.
Serve garnished with chopped egg and parsley.

The raisins, heavy cream and parsley garnish can be omitted if the
dish seems too rich.
The cold chopped egg on top is particularly delicious set against the
curry taste.
The dish can be reheated without problems if there are leftovers.
Kedgeree is also good as a supper dish.

While I'm at it, here is my latest version of Lassi - the most popular
drink from the middle East to India after tea and coffee.
Lassi is an antiodote to a hot, peppery curry and the taste is that of
a delicious milk shake.

In a blender, place:
I cup milk
1 cup plain yogurt
2 heaping tablespoons of strawberry jam.
I tin of coconut milk.
Blend for one minute and pour into glasses.
I've made this with other jams, and fruits such as mango but
strawberry is by far my favourite. It has a rich taste and in my case
is somewhat addictive! It goes well with any curry.

The very best coconut milk, if you can get it, is from Thailand and is
called AROY-D.
It is delicious, with lots of heavy cream as well as liquid.Shake well
before opening to ensure you get it all.
If you're feeling really adventurous, you could substitute it for the
cream in the Kedgeree above to mute the curry taste.

---------
I may, very well try these recipes, which, on the face
of it should not overstretch my culinary skills.
I rather fancy the "Lassi a La Highlander".

Incidentally, Scottish West Coast farmed salmon lies right
in the current stream containing the used cooling waters of the
Nuclear Station at Sellafield. That is the reason for the
Government's Health caution. If that is no longer the case,
I will of course apologise to all SWC farmed salmon.
Until then, it's Canadian Tins for me.!

Thur will be nae Radio Active Farmed Kedgeree in my hoose.!!

G
--
Nor mine!
.

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