What makes Astrakhan dried fish from Russia so special that many people are addicted to it?

Astrakhan Dried Fish or also known as Russian Salted Fish is considered to be the best dried fish in the world. So how does it taste and how do you enjoy it? Let’s find out.

1What is Astrakhan Dried Fish?

What is Astrakhan Dried Fish?

Astrakhan is a species living in fresh water of the Volga River. The head of the fish is small, the body is shiny, the flesh is pink and it has a chewy texture when eaten. The dried fish is prepared by the Russian people by salting the fish and then drying it under the sun.

There is a story that in the 16th century in a village near the Volga River of Astrakhan Oblast, the winter weather was extremely harsh, reaching as low as minus 15 degrees. That’s why when the locals caught fish, they would put the fish in deep snow pits, sprinkle salt on it, and ferment it for 3 months. In the summer, they would take the fish to dry and from there, the famous Astrakhan dried fish was made.

2What makes Astrakhan Salted Fish special?

What makes Astrakhan Salted Fish special?

Astrakhan Salted Fish is a very special and delicious fish. The first time you taste the fish, you may not feel the deliciousness, but once you taste it, you will remember this dish forever. When enjoying Astrakhan dried fish, you can eat everything including the bones and the fish skin, which is the special thing about this dish.

3How to choose good Astrakhan Salted Fish

How to choose good Astrakhan Salted Fish

To choose good Astrakhan salted fish, you can refer to the following:

• You should choose fish that has a shiny body and a lot of oil.
• You should not choose fish that are too big, choose fish that weighs about 150g are suitable.
• Choose fish that have eggs, small heads, and pink flesh.

4How to enjoy Astrakhan Salted Fish properly

How to enjoy Astrakhan Salted Fish properly

If it’s your first time enjoying Astrakhan dried fish and you’re unsure about how to eat it, you can follow these steps to enjoy the dried fish properly:

Step 1 You use a knife to cut a vertical line along the backbone from tail to head.

Step 2 You peel off the fish skin (The skin is quite thick so you can easily peel it off).

Step 3 Next, you break the head of the fish and then tear off the two fish fins to easily separate the flesh.

Step 4 After that, you can enjoy the flesh with , ,… right after separating it. As for the fish skin, you can use a lighter to lightly burn it before enjoying. The fish bones and fish bubbles can be fried or grilled.

Note: To enhance the deliciousness of the dish, you can enjoy the fish while sipping vodka, it will be very suitable.

5How much does Astrakhan Dried Fish cost? Where to buy?

How much does Astrakhan Dried Fish cost? Where to buy?

Currently, Astrakhan dried fish is sold on the market for about 580,000 VND/kg. You can buy Astrakhan dried fish at reputable imported food stores or you can buy it on websites, e-commerce platforms, …

This article is our sharing about Astrakhan Dried Fish. Hope through this article, you will understand more and have more useful information about this dried fish!