Anyone ever eaten Conger?

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Anyone ever eaten Conger?
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Northern Boy

Joined: 04 Oct 2010
Posts: 976

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 11 7:43 am Post subject: Anyone ever eaten Conger?
It has a bad reputation, but I am not able to work out why, is it just a bad taste? If so what is the taste? Or is it texture? Or is it bony? A pain to skin? What? The only two recipes I have seen involve (1) stuffing it with sausage meat and wrapping it in bacon or (2) liquidizing it with pernod, suggesting that there wouldn't be much conger flavour left.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 11 8:07 am Post subject:
All of the above IMHO. And it's on the do not eat list, I think.

toggle

Joined: 30 Dec 2006
Posts: 11622
Location: truro

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 11 8:29 am Post subject: Re: Anyone ever eaten Conger?

Northern Boy wrote:

It has a bad reputation, but I am not able to work out why, is it just a bad taste? If so what is the taste? Or is it texture? Or is it bony? A pain to skin? What?

The only two recipes I have seen involve (1) stuffing it with sausage meat and wrapping it in bacon or (2) liquidizing it with pernod, suggesting that there wouldn't be much conger flavour left.

the texture is odd, the flavour isnt all that great from what i can remember.

Mrs R

Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 7202

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 11 10:14 am Post subject:
oh good I thought it was just how I cooked it - it was chewy and didn't taste very nice.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46211
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 11 11:35 am Post subject:
not the best of fish to eat but meaty best effort i have had was cut into lumps ,soak in fresh water for 12 hrs ,boil until soft ,flour /batter and fry still fairly horrid but nutricious ps they struggle a bit and can recover from some quite severe blows to the head in a rather angry bitey mood

Went

Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 6968

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 11 11:35 am Post subject:

Having just consulted with Greenfoot (who eats it fresh from time to time) he assures me that it can be lovely and tasty if you get the best bits and it is cooked correctly.

The most succulent and juicy cuts are near the belly - less bones and more flavour (perhaps you got the tail end?). Cooked slowly in a pan with a stock (onion, pepper, white wine, salt, pepper, stock) will result in tender, flavoursome, melt in the mouth pieces of Congor.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 11 11:58 am Post subject:
I eat it once in France & it was OK. Mind the smells coming from the kitchen where off putting, but I can't say that was the conger or something else.

LynneA

Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Posts: 4893
Location: London N21

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 11 12:34 pm Post subject:
As a child, I was paddling not far from shore in Bognor Regis when I put my foot in the open mouth of a Conger. Fortunately the head was one that had been cut off by a fisherman, but not fun all the same.

Went

Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 6968

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 11 12:51 pm Post subject:

LynneA wrote:

As a child, I was paddling not far from shore in Bognor Regis when I put my foot in the open mouth of a Conger. Fortunately the head was one that had been cut off by a fisherman, but not fun all the same.

That's enough to scar you for life....Do you remember the Richard Wilson sketch where he put his foot in a dead hedgehog (one foot in the grave)...classic.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46211
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 11 12:53 pm Post subject:

LynneA wrote:

a big one on a pier taught me respect

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 11 2:31 pm Post subject:
For an area so far removed from the sea, in the old days conger eel was once much loved by the people of Stoke-on-Trent. There are different cuts on a conger, some sweet and other not so. Therefore it depends on which piece of the conger that you get but don't ask me which bits the best bit, after all I did say that it was in the old days.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 11 8:28 pm Post subject:
https://www.fishonline.org/search/simple/?fish_id=175 Avoid.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46211
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 11 8:35 pm Post subject:
not a critter i would target for dinner if you want a fight perfect where there are conger under the rocks there are tasty fish in the water above

Northern Boy

Joined: 04 Oct 2010
Posts: 976

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 11 8:01 am Post subject:
So the general consensus is it's a bit grim!

kirstyfern

Joined: 03 Jan 2010
Posts: 1574
Location: Great Dunmow, Essex

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 11 9:52 am Post subject:

Quote "Due to its abundance in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the conger eel is one of the most well known fish in Argentina, and above all because its meat has a great flavor. It tastes very good even in the simplest preparation on the grill, with a little salt, lemon and a few drops of olive oil; in the oven with lemon, olive oil, chopped parsley, and a chive. Also, rosemary makes an excellent match with the flavor of this white, tasty and abundant fish."

I think it says 'avoid' on the fish site due to ethical reasons rather than taste...

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