I tried this last christmas, it was like fish jello. It didn't taste too bad, but the texture was weird. they really use Lye in making it? That can't be healthy.
Is there like a parable about the lutefisk and why them Norsk eat it at christmas time?
2006-10-17 03:23:33 · 4 answers · asked by johnny come - lately, esq. 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
I'm Norwegian-Irish (and with a blood line like this I should love fish but I can't stand it) It really doesn't help when you grew up in the Midwest in the mid 60's and the only fish we used to get either came out of a box or was lutefisk.....ick ick ick....
Yep, the cod is dried and sprinkled with lye to preserve it. It'll last forever...it and the cockroaches will survive a nuclear holocaust. It's eaten by Norskes around the holdiays because that's what their grandparents did. You either like lutefisk or you don't. Thank God the churches also serve meatballs at the same time so all of us don't have to starve. there's also lefse, krumkakke and all the other lovely foods around Christmas. I'm the last one in the Family to continue to make lefse so it's 25-30 dozen every year..
Whew. Don't worry if you don't like lutefisk...most of us don't.
2006-10-17 05:06:56 · answer #1 · answered by Mama Otter 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lutefiske is cod fish that is soaked in Lye. The world we live in now, the US, Western Europe, Scandinavia, they all survived on Cod fish. We wouldn't be here today (settlers in America) if there wasn't cod fish. Salted and dried, soaked in Lye, these all were common staples in many households because they could be kept for long periods of time. Bakalya, Bar Harbor BubbleGum, Lutefiske....they've been here for hundreds of years because they have a long shelf life, and people like them too :-)
2006-10-17 04:33:55 · answer #2 · answered by Christina C 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ulch. I'm from Norwegian heritage, and my grandfather loves the stuff. I can't stand it. Yes, they use lye in making it. I'm honestly not sure why it's traditionally served around the holidays.
But again...blech. I lOVE lefse though, make it myself whenever I have the time (It's a Scandinavian bread....takes forever to make and is gone in about 5 minutes, lol)
2006-10-17 04:40:42 · answer #3 · answered by freyas_kin28 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That sounds a little gross...I love when people say "why come".
2006-10-17 03:31:46 · answer #4 · answered by mutterhals 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋