Powered<p>When it comes to ordinary minnows, how far off are they from something like anchovies? I could catch plenty 3-4 inch silvery minnows in a clean, nearby pond that has an unpolluted stream running through it and I have wondered if anyone eats them. I am always interested in exploring alternate food sources and as long as they are clean, I don't really see a problem. I might try them this year.</p>
I know golden shiners are good. I actually think catching minnows for sustenance would be a good emergency survival strategy. And if you look at the Korean grocery store near my house, they can be dried and eaten by the bagful apparently. Anchovies and sardines are very oily, but I don't see why you couldn't eat minnows in a similar fashion. If one was so inclined.
I've never had any of the really small minnows like that, but chubs, fallfish, and larger shiners are pretty good once you get around the bones. If it's any help, I've also seen ice fishermen keep golden shiners of all sizes along with bluegills and crappies and the like for fish cakes.
SomewhereDownstream
Man, Gizzard Shad are the ticket for a good quality minnow meal. I like to eat them out of the St. Croix River where the water is fresh and clean. Sometimes I dont even cook them. Scarf them raw just like sushi right on the river bank. Bonus is catfish like em too. Bait plus snack food.... Mmmmmmmm Mmmm!
It's actually a very popular fish to use in sushi and sashimi. Here's a link -
https://www.thesushigeek.com/the-sushi-geek/2015/11/02/32
I can't bring myself to try it though.
I've made caviar from many kinds of roe; cured & sun-dried many cyprineformes; brine-pickled blueback & alewife, but always ocean-run... F/W fish should be examined for tapeworm, which is tough to do thoroughly, when working w/ dozens of little guys & short pickling time may not kill all the eggs
for Springtime "alternate food sources", I set up my rods in a way that lets me leave them out of my immediate reach & GO PICK NETTLES!!! ...better than spinach in every way & OUTRAGEOUSLY high protein content, for a leafy green
P.E.T.A. sucks!!! Plants are living things, too -- they're just easier to catch!
P.S. you can slow-bake the little stuff, WAY past the mushy stage, to the extra-dry stage... when the body has the texture of jerky & fins are like chips... good for backpacking: light & doesn't spoil for a day or two
P.E.T.A. sucks!!! Plants are living things, too -- they're just easier to catch!
I'm thinking that I will just fry up the minnows and leave the pickling for other fish. Smelt pickle up excellently. I'd just as soon eat pickled smelt as I would any other fish. I pickled a bunch of muskies a few years ago and they turned out great also. I got a great pickling recipe from my sister-in-law and next time I will leave out the sugar and see how it works. I am also on the look out for other recipes. Extra long baking sounds interesting, too.
I've had sashimi from a couple smaller, bony F/W fish (didn't pay attention to the species)
good, but not worth the price -- you're basically paying extra for the sushi chef all hunched over, pulling bones out w/ special pliers
P.E.T.A. sucks!!! Plants are living things, too -- they're just easier to catch!
you can slow-fry them to the extra-crispy stage, too, but they soak up a lot of oil, so you have to use good expensive stuff like peanut or grapeseed... corn oil is NASTY!
******************************
never tried pickled smelt, but small herrings (blueback & alewife) are EXCELLENT!!!
P.E.T.A. sucks!!! Plants are living things, too -- they're just easier to catch!
I'm sure this is something that you already know if you're into this stuff, but young dandelions are excellent pan fried.
SomewhereDownstream
cool... thanks... never tried... sounds like a winner
they grow side-by-side w/ young nettles & can go into the same bag, now
used to keep 'em separate for salad greens, after a long salty/lemony/vinegary soak
does cooking take some of the bitterness out?
wonder if some arugula would be good in the mix
P.E.T.A. sucks!!! Plants are living things, too -- they're just easier to catch!