It is a centuries-old tradition that chowder, including fish fillets, eggs and milk, should be on the Christmas table. Even if fish is a less common choice in everyday life in this country, there is always a drastic increase in fish consumption at the end of the year. Tradition, habit, lifestyle? Whatever the motive, high quality carp and catfish are bound to end up in the pot or in the pan for stir-frying.
Fish situation
According to the Fishermen's Association, no increase in carp prices is expected, at least before Christmas. Regardless of the fact that this is the period when 30-40% of carp are bought in our country - 13-15 thousand tonnes of fish - it is an unheard of popular food. However, we are still far behind the European average, where the average price of fish is considerably higher. fish consumption. In Hungary, fish consumption is only 6.7 kg per year, compared to an average European consumption of around 20 kg per person. Not least, the most popular fish carp is a favourite among Hungarian customers, because tradition is tradition. But fish is a healthy diet! In addition to carp, catfish, carp and bream are the next most popular species, followed by frozen prepared fish take the lead. These include African catfish, a perch and the trout, which are the most popular in Hungary.
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Fish-bring the fish
Early on started is the season for fishing fish and all „producers' strive to meet market demand. During the fish hunt, which starts at dawn, fish are weighed into baskets by species, with carp, bream, bream and roach weighed and then placed in oxygenated water tanks. As the current autumn harvest has just begun, it turns out that there will be no shortage of carp this year, which everyone is cultivating. Fish farmers will certainly be able to supply the domestic market Christmas fish consumption despite the fact that this year's fish harvest is lower than in previous years. But it is already safe to say that carp will not go for less than a thousand forints a kilo this Christmas. According to a survey by the Central Statistical Office, the average price of sliced carp or carp fillets per kilo is around 2280 forints.
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Fish the hit
Thinking along the lines of domestic customs, fish should not be left off the festive table. Like chicken and pork during the year, the consumption of aquatic creatures is a characteristic of our culture. Most families' Christmas tables are filled with fried carp, a basic dish of fish soup. It is no wonder that most of our annual fish consumption is packed into our stomachs. Carp is the most abundant fish, but African catfish is on the rise. Typically, thanks to the culinary development of our country, the Christmas table is becoming more and more developed and seafood, the outstanding ingredients of Mediterranean cuisine, is also coming to the fore.
Advice when buying fish
A frozen fish are well documented in terms of origin, quality and benefits of use. This gives us enough time and opportunity to think through all the information and decide which product we want to buy before we buy. If you buy live carp, you should pay attention to how it behaves. It's not a good sign if it swims sideways, especially if it swims belly down, and you need to check for any damage. It is therefore preferable to buy products that are already prepared, because then we do not have to pay attention to these factors.
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If you get a larger carp, it is likely to be fattier and therefore tastier, but if smaller, it will be easier to cook but less flavoursome. This is a matter for each person to decide according to their own taste.
First of all, care should be taken to ensure that the fish you buy is not significantly damaged. This is why it is important to obtain it from a reliable source and an expert dealer. In many cases, retailers are not concerned with quality but with quantity, which is why if you really want to put quality fish on the table, check where it comes from.
The gills of good carp are rainbow red and healthy, so it's best to go for semi-finished or chilled mirelit products. For fish fillets, the colour of the surface of the meat is important. If it has a light, bright shade, it's fine, but if it's anything else, a sort of tired, weak colour, it's best to ignore it.
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The easiest and safest way to buy processed fish
Obviously, the simplest solution is to use fish that has already been pre-selected and properly processed by professionals. Nowadays, both in shops and wholesalers, whether for catering or domestic use, such pure products are available. The range is now so wide that everyone's needs can be met. Frozen carp horseshoes, fillets and fish heads for chowders are also available. This can be the safest and most efficient solution.
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Halas recipe
Nutritionists say we should eat fish at least twice a week. Seafood is one of the most popular. Unfortunately, fish consumption in our diets is quite limited, so at least with the coming of the holidays, we should eat plenty of it. Hungarian fish is a good quality and nutritious staple, so it is worth choosing it for the holidays.
PONTYLEVES free
Cut two handfuls of bacon into cubes and melt the fat in a saucepan. Then add the chopped onions (two heads) and stir fry until the bacon is nicely browned and the onions are translucent. Then thoroughly add good quality (say Kajszi) paprika. Then add diced potatoes and place in a baking pan. Spread it out and pour a little water underneath. Then put it in a preheated oven.
Prepare and cook a batch of pasta, and when it's ready, place it in the oven next to the half-baked potatoes, but not for long, so it doesn't dry out.
The carp fillets are also pre-boiled in salt and pepper until they are tender. Care must be taken not to overcook it, or it will fall apart! Once the other ingredients have been cooked, add them to the carp fillet enriched stock. It comes together very quickly! Then add spices to taste. To accompany the soup, we add fresh bread and a little pointed starch, but we add that afterwards - who likes it how we like it. #
Author: Tamás Budafoki
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