Hi Everyone, people the length and breath of the Caribbean have a serious love for smoked Herring aka red Herring. It’s a taste of home that is only rivalled by salted fish, until now.
The smoked fish (Shark, Snapper, Bangamary) to which I refer is a celebration of food that is local and regional. Guyana makes and sells a smoked fish that if marketed, promoted and properly advertised throughout the region, can push the long-time favourite, imported smoked Herring, to the back of the shelf.
Snapper, Shark and Bangamary are three of the varieties of smoked fish I was introduced to a couple of years ago whilst on a visit to Guyana and Bourda Market.
The Guyana smoked fish smells smoky just like smoked Herring; the colour is a rich dark brown just like smoked Herring; and the flavour is just like smoked Herring. The Guyana smoked fish, however, is meatier and the texture is tender particularly depending on the variety of smoked fish you buy.
I’ve found the smoked fish to be less salty than the well-known smoked Herring and salted fish. An overnight soaking in boiling water is enough to remove the right amount of salt.
The great thing about the locally made smoked fish is that it can be used just as how you would use smoked Herring or salted fish. Buljol – yes. Fried (sautéed) – yes. Accras – yes. Choka – yes. Kedgeree – yes. Fish paste – yes. Cooked in Mettagee – yes. Sautéed with vegetables – yes. Whatever you desire to make using smoked Herring or salted fish, you can create, using smoked fish.
The smoked fish costs a fraction of what salted fish and smoked Herring do and best of all – it’s local!
With the smoked fish, you won’t have the hassle of removing bones like you would do when using smoked Herring (unless you are buying and using the fillets). And, because the local smoked fish is meatier, it yields more. Seriously. Give it a try today! Go the market and look for vendors that sell groceries and salt-cured products and ask for the local smoked fish.
To the New Guyana Marketing Corporation I say, please get into partnership with the producers, and with your expertise in marketing, share with the rest of the region and indeed the world, this wonderful
product.
Cynthia
