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Sprats in Season
by Oregano @ 2007-11-16 - 23:40:54

I have bemoaned the lack of a fishmonger in our town. Our only fish counters are Tesco and Waitrose. The former has some reasonable offers but it seems to be based on whatever the delivery lorry is offloading and you cannot order things. Waitrose is a bit more customer friendly in the fish department.

Most people in this country focus on cod, haddock or salmon all of which have some problems of supply. You also end up paying £7-13.00/kg or even more. So in a similar price category to prime cuts of beef.

Some fish are under-appreciated and are more economic. I have always thought mackerel was under-rated though my Dad refuses to eat it as a "scavenger fish". However mackerel is reasonably priced.

 sprats2

A month ago in the Netherlands I really enjoyed the smoked sprats I was offered. Sprats are a smaller cousing of the herring. They are in season now and I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Tesco fish counter sold them at just £2.89/kg. We will have a cost-effective lunch tomorrow.

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tc_howtc_how [Member]
2007-11-17 @ 09:42

Well, I consider myself lucky as we live in a state along the coast, so always comes with choices of fish whenever goes to the wet market. Unless the sea got too rough or during the festive celebration, then we will be lack of supply.

I love sprats too, but it's a bit fussy of cleaning them, as they're smaller size, and you will buy in big quantity. But when come to good food, everything is reasonable :).

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Rich Bates [Visitor]

2007-12-16 @ 09:04

One does not "clean" sprats, one eats them whole just like the sea gulls or cod do. They have been eaten in England in this manner (quick fried) for years and without ill-effect. Indeed the only reason that we humans have ever gutted any fish (unlike the rest of the animal kingdom) is because after a day or so, the guts are a source of rapid deterioration of the flesh. If we ate fish sea fresh like the rest of creation, we would not bother.

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OreganoOregano pro
http://outdoors.blog.co.uk
2007-12-17 @ 09:35

I do not disagree with your sentiment. However, unlike seagulls or cod, I live in an inland town and am not sure how old the fish is when I eat it.

If I am at the coast I do not hesitate to eat fresh fish raw.

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PrincessFionaPrincessFiona [Member]
2007-11-21 @ 22:56

There is this Goan Mackerek recipe its famous in Goa

MACKEREL MASALA RECIPE

Ingredients:

1 cup coconut scraped
5 peppercorns
salt to taste
1 tblsp oil
5 onions sliced
5 cloves
1/2 inch cinnamon
6 big size mackerels (bangda) scaled
8 red chillies whole
1 tblsp coriander seeds
1 small size tamarind
6 cloves garlic
2 tsp turmeric powder

How to make mackerel masala :
Wash and cut each mackerel into 4 pieces.
Apply salt, then wash again after 5 minutes.
Put the mackerels in a pot along with 3 to 4 cup water, a pinch of salt and one tsp of turmeric powder.
Stir fry for 10 minutes.
Drain.
When the mackerels cool, de-bone and cut into small pieces.
Heat up oil and stir-fry garlic, peppercorns, cloves and cinnamon.
Drain.
Stir-fry coriander seeds and red chillies in the same oil and drain.
In the remaining oil stir fry the onions till dark brown.
Grind everything the fried ingredients (except the onions) with coconut and tamarind into a fine paste.
Mix in the ground masala and water to the browned onions and bring to a boil.
Mix in the mackerel pieces and salt and simmer (boil slowly at low temperature) for 2-3 minutes.
Serve hot.

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OreganoOregano pro
http://outdoors.blog.co.uk
2007-11-21 @ 23:27

Thanks for posting the mackerel recipe. I love mackerel and think it is a massively underrated fish (despite what my Dad thinks!)l

O.

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PrincessFionaPrincessFiona [Member]
2007-11-21 @ 23:31

:D goans love Mackerel and eat all seafood has to offer.. I have tried mackerel and It was lovely ,fresh and delicate :)

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