Lutefisk Recipes

LUTEFISK

Steps:

• Saw fish into 3 parts, clean thoroughly and place in a wooden bowl or pail. Add water to cover and set in a cool place for 5 to 6 days. Change water each day. Remove fish and thoroughly clean wooden bowl. Make a solution of water, lime and ashes and allow to stand overnight. Drain off clear liquid and pour over soaked fish. Set in a cool place for 7 days. When fish is soft, remove from solution, scrub bowl well and soak fish for several days in cold clear water. When ready to cook, remove the fish from the bowl and place in boiling salted water. Cook at a simmer for 20 minutes. Drain well and serve immediately. NOTE: The Norwegians serve the fish with melted butter; the Swedes serve it with white or mustard sauce. Allow 1/3 pound per person. MUSTARD SAUCE: Melt the butter in a saucepan. Blend in the flour until smooth. Stir in salt and pepper. Gradually add the fish stock, stirring constantly until thickened. Let cook for 3 more minutes. Stir in the prepared mustard. Serve with boiled fish. NOTE: If fish stock is salty do not add salt listed.

SWEDISH LUTEFISK

Steps:

• Soak the fish in clear water for 3 days.
• Add 2 tbsp lye into a gallon of water.
• Soak for 3 days in this solution.
• Then soak for 4 days in clear water, changing the water every day.
• To cook the lute fish--------.
• Tie the fish loosely in a square of cheese cloth.
• Drop in a large enamel pot of boiling water.
• Cook 10 minutes or until well done.
• Remove cheese cloth put on a platter and debone.
• Serve with a white sauce or a mustard sauce.

NORWEGIAN LUTEFISK

Steps:

• Place the lutefisk in a kettle, and add enough cold salt water to completely cover them(some people like to place the lutefisk in cheesecloth and tie the ends itno a bag, before placing in the kettle.).
• Bring gradually to a boil. (Caution: It will be done when brought to a full boil, and if boiled too long the fish will fall into pieces.).
• Remove from the burner, skim off any foam that appears and the let the lutefisk stand for 5-10 minutes.
• Drain well, and serve steaming hot on warmed plates.

MEATBALLS & LUTEFISK

Steps:

• For the meatballs: Melt the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium low heat. Add the onions and sage and cook, stirring occasionally, until deep golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Remove to a small bowl to cool. Wipe the skillet clean with a paper towel, no need to wash.
• While the onions cool, add the bread cubes to a large bowl. Drizzle the milk over and toss to saturate it. Let sit until the bread is softened, about 5 minutes. Squeeze the bread through your fingers to make a paste. Add the beef, pork, parsley, salt, allspice, ginger, nutmeg, egg, and cooled onions. Mix well with your hands. Roll into meatballs about 1 1/2 inches in diameter (or use a small ice cream scoop - about 2 tablespoons in volume) and rest on a baking sheet or large plate. You should get about 20 to 22 meatballs.
• For the sauce: Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in the over medium heat. When the butter is melted, brown the meatballs all over, in batches, removing them to the plate or baking sheet as they brown, about 4 minutes per batch. (Don't worry if they aren't cooked through at this point, they'll cook more in the sauce.)
• Once all the meatballs are out of the pan, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and melt. Add the sage and cook until sizzling, about 30 seconds. Sprinkle in the flour and stir to make a paste. Cook to lightly toast the flour, 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk in the beef stock and Worcestershire sauce until smooth. Adjust the heat so the sauce is simmering and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Add the meatballs and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened and the meatballs are cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Turn off the heat.
• Scoot a few of the meatballs to the side to make a space in the pan and whisk in the sour cream until smooth. Sprinkle with the parsley and serve over mashed potatoes if desired and the lutefisk on the side. Lefse (optional) too, of course.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Grease a baking dish with 1 tablespoon of oil. Set aside.
• Rinse the thawed fish well with cold water and pat dry. Place in the prepared baking dish, cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes or until the fish flakes when pierced with a fork. (The internal temperature should be at 140 degrees F.)
• Remove the lutefisk from the oven. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with hot melted butter on the side for dressing.

LUTEFISK

Steps:

• Bring water and salt to a rolling boil. Add lutefisk and return to a boil. Remove from the heat, cover, and let sit for 8 minutes. Check with an instant-read thermometer to make sure the internal temperature has reached 140 degrees F (60 degrees C).
• Carefully remove lutefisk from water using a scoop strainer or skimmer spoon. Cover with melted butter and serve immediately.