What is lefse and lutefisk?

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 does lutefisk taste like?

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.

What lutefisk smells like?

The lutefisk itself, a common Christmastime meal in Minnesota, comes with a fishy aroma, or odor, some would say. “It doesn’t smell too good,” said Don Paugh, 76.

What kind of fish is lutefisk?

cod
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.

Who eats the most lutefisk?

Scandinavian Americans
A 2005 survey found 20% of Norwegians ate lutefisk during the Christmas holiday season, although only 3% would consider it for their Christmas dinner. Far more lutefisk is consumed in the United States than in Scandinavia, much of it by Scandinavian Americans in Lutheran churches and fraternal lodges.

How can I make my lutefisk taste better?

Pieces of lutefisk, ready to be dropped into boiling water. Boiled lutefisk is the traditional way to eat the fish. Seasoned lutefisk before being baked in the oven. Cindy Webster of Deephaven prepares experiments to make lutefisk taste a little better by coating it in beer batter and deep frying it.

How is lutefisk not poisonous?

Lutefisk, Norway Typically made with dried or salted white fish (often cod or ling), the fish is soaked in water and lye for a few days until it swells up and takes on a gelatinous, jelly-like consistency. By this point it has a caustic pH value of 11 or 12 and is therefore inedible and highly toxic.

What do Norwegians put on lefse?

BUTTER, SUGAR, ENJOY, SHARE Spread the butter on, sprinkle it with sugar (brown or white – I prefer brown sugar, but the lefse is definitely edible either way), roll it up, and enjoy!

Can you fry lutefisk?

Stovetop Cooking: Lutefisk does not need any additional water for the cooking. Place the well rinsed cod in a frying pan over low heat, (do not use an aluminum pan as the lye in the fish will discolor the pan). Add salt, cover with a lid, and steam cook approximately 20 to 25 minutes.