Hákarl
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Kæstur hákarl (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈhauːkʰardl̥]) (Icelandic for "treated shark") is a national dish of Iceland consisting of a Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) or other sleeper shark which has been cured with a particular fermentation process and hung to dry for four to five months. Kæstur hákarl is usually an acquired taste;[1] it has a very particular ammonia-rich smell and fishy taste.
Kæstur hákarl is served as part of a þorramatur, a selection of traditional Icelandic food served at þorrablót in midwinter. It is readily available in Icelandic stores and is eaten year round.
Consumption
Fermented shark is chosen instead of fresh shark meat because the meat of the Greenland shark is poisonous when fresh,[2] due to a high content of urea and trimethylamine oxide, but may be consumed after being processed (see below). Allowing the shark to fully decay and cure removes the toxins from the flesh, making it edible.[3] Kæstur hákarl contains a large amount of ammonia and has a strong smell, similar to many cleaning products. It is often served in cubes on toothpicks. Those new to it may gag involuntarily on the first attempt to eat it because of the high ammonia content.[1] First-timers are sometimes advised to pinch their nose while taking the first bite, as the smell is much stronger than the taste. It is often eaten with a shot of the local spirit, a type of akvavit called brennivín. Eating kæstan hákarl is often associated with hardiness and strength.[4]
It comes in two varieties; chewy and reddish glerhákarl (lit. "glassy shark") from the belly, and white and soft skyrhákarl (lit. "skyr shark") from the body.
Preparation
Kæstur hákarl is traditionally prepared by gutting and beheading a Greenland or sleeper shark and placing it in a shallow hole dug in gravelly sand, with the now cleaned cavity resting on a small mound of sand. The shark is then covered with sand and gravel, and stones are placed on top of the sand in order to press the shark. In this way the fluids are pressed out of the body. The shark ferments in this fashion for 6–12 weeks depending on the season.
Following this curing period, the shark is then cut into strips and hung to dry for several months. During this drying period a brown crust will develop, which is removed prior to cutting the shark into small pieces and serving. The modern method is just to press the shark's meat in a large drained plastic container.[5]
It is possible to witness the traditional preparation process at Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum[6] on Snæfellsnes.
Reactions
Chef Anthony Bourdain described kæstan hákarl as "the single worst, most disgusting and terrible tasting thing" he has ever eaten.[1]
Chef Gordon Ramsay challenged James May to sample three "delicacies" (Laotian snake whiskey, bull penis, and kæstan hákarl) on The F Word; after eating kæstan hákarl, Ramsay spat it out, although May kept his down. May reacted with, "You disappoint me, Ramsay" and offered to do it again.[7]
On season 2's Iceland episode of Travel Channel's Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, Andrew Zimmern described the smell as reminding him of "some of the most horrific things I've ever breathed in my life," but said it tasted much better than it smelled. He described the taste as "sweet, nutty and only faintly fishy." Nonetheless, he did note of kæstan hákarl: "That's hardcore. That's serious food. You don't want to mess with that. That's not for beginners."
Archaeologist Neil Oliver tasted it in the BBC documentary Vikings as part of examining the Viking diet. He described it as reminiscent of "blue cheese but a hundred times stronger".
See also
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Florida Natural History Museum - Greenland Shark
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.comp.rgu.ac.uk/docs/gh/fish.html
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Bjarnarhöfn Shark Museum.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
- Kæstur hákarl prepared by an Icelandic cook
- Jo's Icelandic Recipes: How to prepare "Rotten" Shark: How to Prepare Rotten Shark, Retrieved Sept. 14, 2006.
- ″Nordics Like Fish″ cartoon, from Scandinavian and the World comics. Describes the differences between odd fish cuisine of the Nordic countries in a humorous way.
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