Whaler's Beef

[grisell]

My own recipe. One can use beef instead, but then it's more a 'hunter's beef'.

Ingredients: Butter, potatoes, onion, whale beef (I had to use some lard too since I ran out of butter)



In a greased pot, peeled and sliced but not rinsed potatoes. On top of that, fried onion, beef boullion powder, 1 tsp flour, bay leaf, thyme and juniper.


The meat is quickly seared on high heat, sliced and put on top. Quite a lot of salt and pepper too.


Another layer of potato slices and half a litre of beer is added. Some butter on top, brought to a boil on the stove and everything is baked, uncovered, in a 225 C oven for 45 minutes until some of the liquid has evaporated and the potatoes are browned. Served with chopped chives on top. Worcestershire sauce on the table.

[johnfb]

That's REAL whale meat ?

[grisell]

Of course.

[Ryan C]

Wow, I've never seen whale meat before ( well, none that wasn't attached to a whale anyway). Much darker than I thought. Looks bloomin' delicious though! ......Sorry Greenpeace!

[johnfb]

Well I am sure the scientific testing was necessary.

[Vindii]

Never seen whale here either. I looks good though. Id give it a try.

I was looking through some of your cooks last night. Very impressive.

[mitchamus]

mmmmmm Sea Cow!

what does it taste like?


(don't say chicken )

[NCPaul]

It's organic and free-range.

[grisell]

Whale tastes a lot like beef. It's very lean and tender. I have led several of my friends to think that it's actually fillet of beef when I served it grilled like a tournedos with red wine sauce or garlic butter. It has a hint of shellfish in the taste. Some say it tastes like liver, but I don't agree. As with beef, it must not be overcooked since it gets hard. The dark colour is because of the whale's muscles' extremely high myoglobin content that allows him to hold his breath for half an hour and dive a thousand meters deep.

It's a pity they don't sell it here in Sweden. In Norway it's inexpensive and available in any supermarket.

And for you environmentally active: It's not from a species under threat of extinction.

[grisell]

One can't make sausage from it though. I've tried. It's very sensitive to oxidation and can't be minced.

[crustyo44]

Hi Andre,
If you lived in Australia and showed this whale meat you would be publicly hung, drawn and quartered.
Regards,
Jan.
Brisbane.

[grisell]

I know. Public opinion here is similar but maybe not that extreme.

Personally, I don't see the difference between hunting whales and other mammals such as deer and venison. As long as the whales aren't of a threatened species, I don't see the problem. After all, a whale is tens of tons of meat, so it's quite efficient.

[Frank]

Personally, I don't see the difference between hunting whales and other mammals such as deer and venison. As long as the whales aren't of a threatened species, I don't see the problem. After all, a whale is tens of tons of meat, so it's quite efficient.

Andre, you may not see the difference....but surely you can see the connection?

[grisell]

Whaling is controlled by international agreements. The species mostly hunted in Norway is the minke whale. I quote from Wikipedia: "...[Norway] resumed a commercial hunt in 1993. The quota for 2006 was set at 1,052 animals, but only 546 was taken." The minke whale has a population of over 700,000. Their real enemy is the killer whale, not man.

[Frank]

Whaling is controlled by international agreements. The species mostly hunted in Norway is the minke whale. I quote from Wikipedia: "...[Norway] resumed a commercial hunt in 1993. The quota for 2006 was set at 1,052 animals, but only 546 was taken." The minke whale has a population of over 700,000. Their real enemy is the killer whale, not man.

Oh, so that must be ok then