Fiske Pudding.

Fiske Pudding., originally uploaded by razzieswirl.

I posted on flickr that I would be posting about Fiske Pudding, so before I delve into Cinco De Mayo I figured I would post this first.

Fiske Pudding is one of those things I've been eating since, well, probably since I was in the womb *ick* but true. Generally I find that if you're not a fan of Fiske Pudding (if you're lucky enough for me to offer you some) I'm not a fan of you. Now this isn't always the case. Fiske pudding isn't the make or break in my relationships with people, that'd be silly. But I might like you just a tad more if you're willing to try it, and like it! If you don't like fish to begin with (shame on you, but ok) you get a little more slack, because hey, you don't like fish to begin with.

Fiske Pudding is just that, Fish Pudding. It is Norwegian (as am I) and probably one of my most favorite of Norwegian dinners, I think I equally adore Fiske Boller (not the kind in the white sauce, that falls in 3rd or 4th on my list), which is basically just Fiske pudding formed into patties, boiled and fried, but served the same way. In Norway we ate this both the way I grew up eating it pictured above with tatoes, peas and generally to my dismay boiled carrots, grilled onions and plenty of tartar sauce, (which is not norwegian, by the way. Or, fried on a slice of sweet dark bread (with my own tartar sauce, which I had to make with what was in the fridge since in Norway they didn't know what the hell I was talking about when I asked "for the tartar sauce, please").

I do not make this myself currently, though I should. I pick it up at the Scandanavian Deli near Ballard. My grandmother always, always, always made all of her fiske dishes from scratch. And only when the fish was just right. Both my grandmother and grandfather (and most of my Norwegian family even to this day) worked on a fishing boat in Alaska. She knew good fish. Although my grandmother spent her time in Alaska cooking on the boats for the fishermen, she and my grandfather both had extensive knowledge about quality fish.

Norwegians are big fish eaters, which only makes sense, if it weren't for Sweden Norway would be completely surrounded by water. And because of it's shape, most places are either on or very near water. I grew up with a general love for everything seafood. I think some people dislike seafood only because they've never actually had quality seafood. I simply adore it, in whatever form, as long as it's wild and fresh I'm there.

Okay, so I veered a bit from my original topic haven't I? I spent a lot of time with my grandmother growing up, after school and in the summers. I was raised in a very norwegian household, my heritage was something that was exteremely important to me at a very young age. And Fiske Pudding, or Fiske Boller were on the menu generally at least once a week. I love the stuff, I wish I could eat it more often, but even at the deli it's about $16 for a loaf pan of it. You buy that and a few Solo's and you're looking at a $60 bill. But once the purchase or making of the fiske pudding is out of the way it's fairly simple. You just grill some onions (which I hated as a child, but love as an adult), whip up some mashed potatoes, steam some peas and voila! Dinner is served! Oh, and don't forget the tartar sauce. I suggest you seek out a recipe or a Deli and try some.

Or, check out some Norwegian recipes. Explore, have fun, trust me, you might not think Norway = amazing food, but you'd be wrong. You're really missing out.
And while you're at it, pick up some Brunost!