January 11, 2013

Eels

Courtesy of the BBC, so you know it’s all right.

An oil-rich, meaty and strongly flavoured fish. Long and snake-like, eels can vary in appearance according to what point in their life cycle they’re caught: for example, very young eels, called elvers, look like tiny, grey worms that resemble bootlaces. A fresh eel caught in salt water will be a dark, silvery colour while one caught in freshwater is likely to be green.

Eels are most often sold live, although they are sometimes available as steaks. A live eel is quite something to manage, so ask your fishmonger for advice. There are serious concerns surrounding the sustainability of eels, both wild and farmed (as even these are raised from wild elvers). The Marine Conservation Society advises to avoid eating eels as no sustainable source is yet available.

There is a recipe for smoked eel, pigs’ trotters, cauliflower, maple and sherry vinegar, if eel and trotters suits you.

posted by in food, recipes, you're welcome | * | 5 comments 

comments

  1. Sheila Ryan on January 11th, 2013 at 9:07 pm

    This is the part where everybody is checking out “eel porn” even though I warned against it.

  2. SC on January 12th, 2013 at 1:18 am

    Finally, we are back to eels.

    I almost said something eel the other day, when google alerts started sending articles about eel smuggling, climate change issues with eel farming, and so on. THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH EELS IN THE EAST. For example: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/01/04/2003551742.

    Also, thanks for the warning. No. Eel. Porn.

  3. SC on January 12th, 2013 at 2:34 am

    Absolutely no eel porn.

  4. Sheila Ryan on January 12th, 2013 at 2:38 am

    Pardon me, I almost said something eel.

  5. Sheila Ryan on January 12th, 2013 at 2:45 am

    It’s pretty safe to Google “eels in Hawaii”.