JC3

A friend newly arrived in Penang has asked me “Can I buy smoked haddock here”?

As a result I now have a new craving. Kedgeree. Remember kedgeree? Yummy. It used to be a common Eurasian dish, but I’ve not seen it here. It's lucky my Norwegian Blue cravings are almost sated.

So the search is on for smoked haddock. Anyone know a source in Penang? Or know a good substitute?

This week I was at the ‘Jala’ – an excellent fish restaurant at Datai Bay in Langkawi. Food, service, vibe – all terrific. Loved it. So much so that we went back the following night. Here’s a tip – get 35% off the food bill with an HSBC Premier credit card until July 2016. You’ll find Jala at the Andaman hotel, next to the beach. Many thanks to fambam1970 for the recommendation.

I still have a tin box fish smoker from my fly-fishing days so whilst at the Jala I asked the Head Chef to recommend Malaysian saltwater fish I could try hot-smoking as an alternative to haddock.

He recommended Red Snapper, Sea Bass, Mackerel and Mullet. Any cooks here? Any comments?

The next step is to buy some fish to test. This led me to a very handy guide to local fish names in English, Malay, Hokkien and Cantonese, together with photos, on Penang's ‘No Eyed Deer’ restaurant website. Excellent – thanks NED.

See: Fish Species Identification Guide in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, etc.

JC3

meinkl

"Lovely plumage; the Norwegian Blue...."

Have you tried getting Barramundi - they dont seem to use it much here so cheaper than Grouper.
A Brown or Orange Grouper might smoke well... nice white cod like flesh.
I have never seen smoked fish on sale here, so if you are succesful then open a stall!!!

JC3

Hi meinkl,

Thanks for the tips. I've got Barramundi marked down as 'Asian' Sea Bass so will certainly look out for it - and the Grouper.

JC3

bakedbean

Yeh, smoked haddock....bring it on.

For some time, until about a year ago, you could get packs of smoked haddock in Tesco for RM 29 or thereabouts. It was loverly. They hid it from time to time, then it totally disappeared. I thought I had cracked it with Tesco home delivery as it was on the list but, no, they substituted something appalling. So, it's gone.

Strangely, a friend mentioned smoked haddock the other day and she was going to check at Straits Mini market though I think it may be in vain . I'll check with her and report back.

Another on the Wish List....for me anyway. Trout

bakedbean

Just very slightly deviating off topic, but Sam's at Straits Quay has some interesting fish and seafood sometimes. I got some quite nice tuna in their freezer section recently. Also have what is described as LaLa meat. It's kind of a nice clam meat. Great in chowders with a few prawns.

Hovite

I have searched long and hard for these in Japan but had to resort to smoked salmon, which I think was the original ingredient. I have seen there is a online store which will deliver Arbroath Smokies overseas from UK but I have not ordered them yet as they may not pass customs. I ordered some chilli seeds from USA and they never arrived.
Arbroath Smokie Smokies Hot Smoked Salmon Trout

ex reg

I once worked with an Australian who was also a fisherman.
He always said that Baramundi was the best fighting fish to catch and best eating fish.
Well me and the missus aren't keen on it and don't eat it anymore.
And consequently we don't eat Sea Bass in the UK although shape of the sea bass in the UK is very different from the asian sea bass (baramundi )

Anyway we were in Lisbon a few months ago and in a sea food restaurant.
The waiter there recommended the Sea bass but we demurred.
We explained that we didn't like the sea bass in Asia and would rather the sea bream, dorada ( which was fabulous ) and the waiter de-boned it for me at the table.

We got into chatting to the waiter and he said that the two sea basses were totally different the asian one living in warm water and the european one living in cold water which gives it a totally different taste because of what the fish eat.
It was our last night in Lisbon so couldn't return to the restaurant and try it out.

But next time we're in UK we'll go for the sea bass.

Anyway back to the thread on smoking fish.

meinkl

If you want a really creamy chunky white meat have you tried Monkfish tail? Texture is like the old north atlantic Cod. Great baked wrapped in foil.
If you want cold water fish then best to get the New Zealand imports.

bakedbean

Monkfish Wow, didn't know Monkfish was available here. Where can you get it from?

meinkl

I get mine from a wholesale place in KL that imports salmon etc, but sure there must be somewhere in Penang. Ask at the Fish&Chips place next to Healy Macs where they get theirs.

InVinoVeritas

Fish and chips shops in the UK used to cut up monkfish tails to make their "scampi" as it has a similar texture. Never seen monkfish at Uncle Albert's though.

bakedbean

I'm looking at the Uncle Albert's main dishes here:
Uncle Albert's Traditional English Fish and Chips

I can only see cod, haddock, and halibut. I think you're pulling my leg.

JC3

Thanks for the tip BB. I bought some Barramundi (Sea Bass) (Ikan Siakap)there yesterday from their Catch of the Day counter. It was on offer at RM11 per fish. Each one about 400g.

Hot-smoked it this morning (see photos), and looking forward to my first ‘Barrundi kedgeree’ tonight. Cook’s privilege suggests it’ll be different, but good!

JC3

bakedbean

I'm just drooling over that second picture.

InVinoVeritas

I like the matches and lighter fluid in the first pic!