Comments on: Why Lutefisk Still Matters In Modern Norway

By: Bernard Hermanson

Bernard Hermanson — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 00:49:39 +0000

My father came from a steep tradition of Lutefisk. He was the only one that cooked it for our family. When cooked correctly, it is flaky and very tasty with the melted butter. Sometimes some portions had the edges be gelatinous, and that part was not very tasty.

By: Tarjei

Tarjei — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 10:20:39 +0000

One of the joys of a year in Oslo was that all the restaurants served lutefisk close to Christmas. All of them used lutefisk from dried cod. That means yellow colour. Stockfish lutefisk is white.

When I found out that I got two servings I was quite happy.

It is one of the foods that tastes way better than it smells.

As far as mashed peas is concerned, the Norwegian preference is to use dried peas. This tastes different from just frozen peas.

By: Gilbert

Gilbert — Sat, 19 Dec 2020 05:18:52 +0000

I think lutefisk is Ok. It’s tastes fine with white sauce and butter and goes well with mashed potatoes.

By: Elinor Lancour

Elinor Lancour — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 06:03:39 +0000

All my life in Wisconsin ( 80 ) I have eaten lutefisk rolled up in lefsa. I have always loved it. I know no other way to eat it. I won’t eat lefsa without lutefisk. We order our lutefisk from a market and it is usually flaky and delicious because it is wrapped in cheesecloth and put into boiling water. Another Norwegian dish is basically rice cooked in milk and don’t forget sandbakkels and rosettes. I love this time of year.

By: Bernard Hermanson

Bernard Hermanson — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 20:30:22 +0000

Did you realize that a lot of coastal fishermen will use the dried cod as a snack? The take the dried fish and hammer it like crazy until it is in small pieces which can now be eaten. Sort of a “cod jerky” Once in the mouth, chewed, and it becomes hydrated, it has a gentle cod taste. Something to check out. On some docks , you will see an anvil sitting all by its lonesome. It is the place where the fishermen will hammer the dried cod.

By: Marian McGrew

Marian McGrew — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 22:32:00 +0000

Thank you David for this newsletter. I love all the topics you write about, even lutefisk!
I love the taste. My father grew up in Lom, so when he came to Wisconsin, lutefisk & boiled fish soup came with him.
Over the years the earlier orders of fish had a smell that was not pleasant, todays lutefisk does not smell when cooking. The olden days fish was flacky, now it has become jelatinous. I don’t care for it, but I will eat it. This must be the fish the haters are referring to.
Remember, you can’t please everyone with your topics, but this Norwegian is very happy with them.
Waiting for your next newsletter.

By: Fiona

Fiona — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 05:00:01 +0000

Definitely the Marmite of Norwegian Cooking. I’m a Chef and have lived all over the Globe. I’ve tried many unusual foods and recipes including rotten shark in Iceland and live shrimp in Japan. We tried Lutefisk the first winter we arrived to live here. Prepared it as Norwegian friend instructed me to but definitely not a dish I’d eat often. I was expecting it to be like Bacalao. The gelatinous texture and slightly soapy flavour were off putting to say the least. Thinking I may have prepared it incorrectly gave it another go in a restaurant in Trondheim, same result. I ate the bacon bit, potatoes and peas but left most of the fish.

By: David Nikel

David Nikel — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 22:54:33 +0000

In reply to Carl. Thank you for your input, Carl! Perhaps you could expand on your anonymous insult with a little reasoning? :-) FYI, this post was in fact written in 2011 as a "first impression" post, long before I was working as a journalist. Perhaps it's not just me who needs to "do my research"? I would welcome further comments in the form of a guest article if you are interested, but please, no more trolling.

By: Carl

Carl — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 18:47:45 +0000

David; It’s quite obvious you don’t know a damn thing about lutefisk. As a journalist your research is worthless. . Do you have any credibility at all? Go back to the UK . Perhaps your feeble attempt at humor would be appreciated there..

By: B

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:28:03 +0000

Oh no, I LOVE lutefisk! I prefer it homemade, though. Also, you should eat it with mushed peas, bacon, etc.. And I’m not from the west coast 😉