Did You Know – Surströmming The Worlds Smelliest Food
In Sweden, fermented herring, known as surströmming, is a traditional delicacy, particularly in the northern regions. It involves Baltic Sea herring that’s been salted and fermented in a weak brine for several months, resulting in a strong odor and distinct taste. Surströmming is typically eaten with flatbread, potatoes, onions, and sour cream.
FERMENTATION PROCESS
Surströmming is made by lightly salting Baltic Sea herring and then allowing it to ferment for at least six months. The fermentation process continues in the can.
FLAVOR AND AROMA
The fermentation results in a pungent, sour, and fishy flavor and a strong, distinctive odor.
TRADITIONAL SERVING
Surströmming is traditionally served with tunnbröd (thin, crisp bread), almond potatoes, red onion, and sour cream.
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
It’s a part of Swedish cuisine, particularly in the north, with a long history, dating back to at least the 16th century.
OPENING THE CAN
Due to the fermentation, the can can be under pressure. It’s recommended to open it outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
POPULARITY:
While not widely available outside of Sweden, it’s a traditional dish that some Swedes enjoy.
TASTE CHALLENGES
Many find the smell and taste challenging, with some describing it as one of the world’s smelliest foods.
Source: AI
http://www.InDianesKitchen.com
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Categories: Did You Know, Fish
Intriguing
Thank you!
I have tried it – it really smells awful, but at least I can say I have eaten is – once!
Wow I didn’t think anyone would have said they tried it! You are braver than me. Lol
But to those who enjoy this delicacy, they probably don’t mind the smell…Now getting curious to smell it in real life. I wonder how I’d respond.
I don’t care for fish I could never even try this one! I like your open mind though but you may want a bucket near! 🤣
I grew up eating pickled herring, my Nana started me young on that with rye thin crackers and cheese. One of my favorite snacks. My husband and kids can’t stand the smell, so I try to eat it when they aren’t in the kitchen.
That is nice of you to eat it when they are gone. Whenever I eat sardines, smoked squid or smoked oysters, I thoroughly wrap the cans up to stop the smell. I don’t think I could eat Surstromming though.
I would have to pass on this.🤢
Yes me too! I don’t really care for fish but this is a definite no!
I can smell your post all way over here. 😂 I do have a fondness for cured fish and this sounds delicious, despite the strong odor. I had a chuckle at the recommendation to open this in an outdoor and well ventilated area!
No way! You could actually eat this? I guess it is an acquired taste. Lol
Don’t worry “open it outdoors or in a well-ventilated area”
It would be a fun conversation piece at a party, for somebody else to open! Lol
Definitely
I’d love to visit Sweden. But I think I’ll avoid the shops that sell surströmming!
Same here!
I don’t think I could eat that but still very interesting to learn about it😊
I agree, I don’t think I could taste it either.
I can’t get past the smell of sardines so I can’t imagine tasting or enjoying this “delicacy.” Have you ever tried it, Diane?
No I can barely eat fish unless it is covered in tartar sauce. But get this, I do like sardines, anything smoked but I would never try this one! Haha
Wow, that doesn’t sound very appealing Diane. My father was German and he liked pickled herring. We would buy it at the grocery store in the refrigerated foods section, a jar of it. He would open it and have it on toast, so similar to the Swedes having it on crispy flatbread, which guess is like the WASA crispbread or Ryecrisp?
That’s hilarious about your dad Linda. My dad is of German decent and he ate the pickled herring too. He got me hook on smoked fish.
I never tried it … sardines, whether smoked or in olive oil or lemon are good for you. He liked sardines on toast and had that sometimes. My mother was not a fish eater to begin with – either was he except for the pickled herring and sardines which were his treats.
I’m the same way, I don’t like fish but I don’t care to try pickled, smoked I love but not trying pickled. Haha
I am not a big fan of pickled anything to begin with. My mom used to love pickled beets and we’d get them in a jar already pickled. She also liked sweet pickles – I’m not a fan, but I don’t mind dill pickles but never buy them.
(You may get this comment twice as my internet went out just as I pressed “send” but I looked and the comment isn’t there despite having the arrow that I replied.)
I am not a fan of pickled anything. My mom loved sweet pickles, not me, except when she put them in her tuna salad, that was okay. I like dill pickles but never buy them. My mom used to like pickled beets which we bought in a jar. I like beets, but not pickled.
I love pickled beets, dill pickles and sweet pickles. I make pickled watermelon rind too. My mom always put sweet pickle relish in her ground bologna.
We used to buy that sweet pickle mix by Red Rose pickles every time we went to Toronto to visit my grandmother. It had pickled cauliflower bits in the mix … my mom’s favorite. I have never had pickled watermelon rind. I have not had bologna salad in a long time. My mom would get pieces to have with cold salads on hot days and make what was leftover into bologna salad for sandwiches. I have not thought of that in years.
We ate that a lot for lunch as kids. I haven’t made it in a long time. The last time I used my old grinder that tightens on the counter and was a pain in the behind. Now I have one that connects to my Kitchen-aide mixer and never made it. Lol I will have to do that one of these days.
Yes, do it for old-time’s sake! I went through a phase of eating bologna and Cheez-Whiz every day. I really liked that. Yes, now you could mince it up in minutes instead of standing chopping everything up for a long time.
OK that doesn’t sound good at all. haha I love cheez-whiz but after growing up with bologna and Miracle Whip, my brain would not understand what I was eating! 🤣
That’s funny! I have never had bologna and Miracle Whip – I think I only had Miracle Whip in egg salad or on a BLT.
It’s all I had growing up.
Well I may have told you the story of always having butter on my sandwich, even with PB&J. I told a blogger that once and she was horrified. “Who does that?” she said. So then another blogger wrote about peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and I mentioned how I ate them/eat them and how horrified the other blogger was and he said “that’s how the Brits eat ’em and you’re Canadian – that’s why.” Oh. Who knew?
I don’t see why they were shocked, after all there is butter in peanut butter. I never heard of the Brits eating them that way either, but then I don’t know any Brits. 🤣
I never understood it either Diane, but we always put butter on all sandwiches, including PB&J sandwiches. I don’t know any Brits either, but someone said that was the reason.
I think you can probably keep my share…
No wait! I was going to give you mine! 🤣
Well, we will eat at my house. I have two goldens who are always under the table when we eat…
Sounds good to me!
Fermented fish is also very popular in Finland. You can buy it in any food shop.
I find it interesting what is eaten in other parts of the world. Have a great day!
That makes me think of Lutefisk that my Norwegian friends used to eat when I lived in Seattle. I did not like the smell!
I never heard of Lutefisk but I won’t eat anything that stinks. 🤣 I just Googled it and it says it is a whitefish, usually cod. It is hung outside to dry. It said it is cured in lye!!!! Thank you for telling me about Lutefisk!
Now you can avoid it too, ha! Like I do!
Definitely!
I have heard of surströmming (and seen YouTube clips where people try to eat it). I am not picky when it comes to food, but I might just leave this can aside …
I will try anything too but I can’t get over bad smell!