Hollandse Nieuwe (young herring) Every year the herring lives the same cycle. In the months May and June the herring will have fattened enough but not formed any hard or soft roe yet. Herring can acquire plenty of fat in May if the weather is good. Fishermen will watch the weather and temperature closely during this period. Lots of sun will mean lots of food for the herring, so that they will grow nicely. The 'Hollandse Nieuwe' (Dutch New) is the first herring that is caught in season, usually in May. (Selling from june 1st) As soon as the herring has a minimum of 16% fat, it may hit the market as 'Hollandse Nieuwe'. But there are other demands. The herring must be gutted, ripened, salted and filleted in the traditional Dutch way. During gutting, the gills, intestines and throat of the herring are removed. The pancreas remains as it helps the herring ripen. Herring is caught nearly all year long, but not all herring can be called 'Hollandse Nieuwe' or 'maatjesharing' (young herring). During the year, the amount of fat in the herring changes. During these different fat stadia, the uses of the herring changes also. Herring caught in August through October is smoked, marinated or turned into rollmop (rolmops in Dutch). De hard roe of the herring is partly exported to Japan where it is a veritable delicacy. The salting 'cooks' the herring, so it is not truly raw when you eat it, though it looks like it. One can eat chopped raw onion with it, but that's a matter of taste. The traditional manner to eat the herring: with one's head tilted back and mouth gaping open, whereupon the fish is lowered in head-first and swallowed whole. Herring can also be eaten on a bread roll, with or without chopped onions. The vendor will be happy to cut the herring into bite-size pieces for the less daring!
You bet, I had a few for lunch today. Have a nice weekend (well what's left ) as well Gerard your avatar: beauty
Oh, by the looks of the pic the whole fish is being eaten. My ex wife used to make me fish head soup which i kindly declined every time. It was delicacy where she is from(Vietnam) but so is drinking snake blood and eating rats which i also said no too. snowbound
In Germany we'd eat "Rollmops" (as we call them there), and they are beyond delicious !! We would mostly have them ready on a buffet on new-year's eve,(Sylvester), but available all year round. Also common remedy for a hang-over Ohhhh..and my grandma...she would make the most delicious "Matjes-Salat" ! Still trying to figure out, what all she added to it. http://img231.echo.cx/img231/2274/scratchhead5qu.gif Ohhh yes !! Hard roll- (Broetchen)...and herring with onions....yum, yum ! Without the head !
Can't say I've ever fancied eating anything that was looking back at me or smiling....... and how can you say it tastes nice when it's actually by-passed you taste buds..........are there many deaths from choking?... Cochise,
My dear Cochise Let me reassure you; no accidents overhere because it's a skill we Dutchies learn to master from early childhood years on YUM YUM YUM YUMMIE !!! And that skill is actually the only way to swallow those lovely treats! Feel the silky skin slide through your mouth...mmmmm...and then preferably with unions please! Choppin them in pieces is a real no-no! I say, it's not done... Thanks for reminding me Gerard; I'll hop by a herring-stand right away this afternoon! YUM YUM YUM Did someone mention already they specifically mix very well with a nice glass of BEER (or two..three..four... - must be appealing to Bigbuck & Bubba) Enjoy the seafood! Sincerely, slammer
....I think you've all been living near the Sea for too long and turned into Sea-Lions....... Cochise,
