Lutefisk?

[Gordon]

Does anybody know where they are serving lutefisk in the st. cloud area anytime soon?

[BobT]

Why? You planning on some sabotage?

I never knew there were people that actually wanted that stuff.

Bob

[Gissert]

It works good for removing wallpaper.

[Jethro80]

It works good for removing wallpaper.

Its also a great product to remove rust and paint.

[BrianLucky13]

What does that stuff taste like anyways??

[CANOPY SAM]

What does it taste like? When properly prepared it tastes like a little slice of heaven!!!

Remove rust, paint and wallpaper! For shame...

I typically only see Lutefisk suppers around the holidays. Post Christmas they're pretty rare. I attended 4 different Lutefisk suppers in northen MN this year, and likely ate a couple pounds on Christmas Eve as well.

I suppose Eelpout is much better eating?

[TiNK3R]

I've heard so much about this. So many people swear up and down it's the best, and then others who gag just thinking about it.

I wanna try it, but I'm afraid to let the wife cook it

[jigginjim]

You really have to cook it carefully, you under / over cook it, you left with a poor tasting fish. Same cooking calamare, if under cooked clean has a poor flavor, over cooked it's like eat rubberbands. Forget the rings, eat calamare steaks, much better.

[brianh]

Just gotta' wait until ice out, there will be some floating.

[Hafnutz]

I heard it's been banned by the EPA in several States....

[BrianLucky13]

A little slice of heaven!!LOL

So what does heaven taste like??? What other food does it compair to?? I wanna try it but always chicken out!!

[BobT]

Gordon, it doesn't look like you're getting much help here. Keep checkin'. Somebody may actually provide an answer.

Bob

[Gissert]

It's hard to find lutefisk anywhere this time of year. Check out Olson Seafood (I think) and they can probably let you know where to get some.

There used to be Mike's Lutefisk in Glenwood, but I think Olsons bought them out. They even had lutefisk TV dinners for a time.

As others have stated, preperation is key, and lind of an art. Note done properly, its awful. When done correctly, it really is pretty good stuff. The only problem is there is usually a turkey or some nice ham on the table at the same time, and that wins out over lutefisk for me.

[CANOPY SAM]

Allright. Here's the key. Just don't overcook it. Those that cringe at the thought of Lutefisk, or say they've tried it and it's awful, usually have had the overcooked stuff.

If it gets even slightly overcooked it turns to wallpaper paste in seconds. Gooey, sticky, gelatenous fish. Not good.

There's a couple ways to cook it properly. 1) Take about 1/2 pound pieces (one at a time), put in microwave dish (covered)and cook on high for one minute at a time, checking for flakiness between each 1-minute session. When the fish is flaky and firm it's done - maybe 4-5 minutes. Don't overcook it!

The old world way to cook Lutefisk is the boil it in cheese-cloth. Take one of those old white, thin dish drying towels your Mom or Grandma uses, rinse it out really well and plop a couple pounds of chunked up Lutefisk in the towel, or cheese-cloth. Tie up the ends so the fish can't get out. Bring a large, deep pot of water to a rolling boil and gently drop in the fish wrapped in towel. When the water comes back to a boil the fish is done.

Many times people try to bake or broil Lutefisk. You really have to watch it when doing this, cause it continues to cook after taking it out of the oven, and that's when it overcooks and gets mushy or runny.

The fish should be firm and flaky when finished.

Add a little salt and pepper, perhaps some AllSpice if your into that. Swedes seem to prefer having Lutefisk with boiled potatoes and white gravy. Norwegians like it with drawn butter.

I'm Greek so I love it either way! Just don't OVERCOOK it!

Lutefisk doesn't really taste like any other fish. When done correctly it has a firm, flaky, just slightly rubbery texture. The flavor grows on you. When done right it's really good, when done wrong it's not so good.

Don't let people steer you away from it. Give it a try. You might just fall in love. The only problem now is availability and price. I think it's more expensive than walleye in the supermarket..

[minndonn]

CanopySam you have brought home (TRF) to me here down south. You know it wouldn't stink at the lutefisk suppers if they didn't cook that dang ham. My grandmother worked the lutefisk suppers at Trinity church for many years (pre 1980) and I ate the fish of gods for many years. It is hard to eat others when you are spoiled on good cooking, Great lefsa is also hard to find.

[sjc]

check with moms cafe in south haven, they serve lutefisk regularly

[Bottle Fish]

I wanna try it, but I'm afraid to let the wife cook it

Just make sure you cook it outside or somewhere you won't smell it later.

[CANOPY SAM]

MinnDonn. My folks and I attended Trinity for many years. Doc Sam was my father. He passed away last September, but he was a life-long lover of Lutefisk, and handed on to me the same passion. I probably know your Mom, and maybe you?

I'm so glad to be back in hard-core Lutefisk country. Throughout my travels it was difficult to find good Lutefisk dinners, but I did always manage one or two here or there.

Yes, Lutefisk has a distinct smell, like no other fish really, but once you've had good fish, done right, the sweet odor of Lutefisk cooking along with Swedish meatballs, boiled potatos & gravy, peas & carrots, warm rolls, fresh lefsa all steaming in the kitchen ellicits an almost Pavlovian response.

There are hidden bonuses with good Lutefisk as well. It helps you live longer, leaves you with a well preserved corpse when your time comes up, and you get to enjoy the flavor for several days after the meal!!!

[Dan Anderson]

I buy an extra amount at Christmas time and put it in vacuum bags. It will last for a year. Tthat way you can have a special treat anytime.

[Gordon]

Wow. Thanks for the responses!!! I have a buddy that is turning 50 and he would be shocked if we prepared it for his birthday that is coming up in April. I saw a place that sells it in the cities and will probably try to surprise him. Thanks again.