Cod as a Treat

My culture professor keeps surprising us with the snacks she brings for us to try. This week she brought in a specialty from Norway, dried cod. Cod has been and still is an important part of Norway’s economy. Although many things can be done with cod, the cod we tried had been salted and dried. This type of cod is considered a treat in Norway.

Dried and salted cod

When our teacher opened the containers with the dried cod the room immediately began to smell like fish. The smell was very strong and I felt like I was at the harbor when a fresh stock of fish came in. I like fish, but the smell was too strong.

After grabbing a piece of cod I tried to rip off a small section. The cod was very hard and dry making it difficult to rip off a piece. Finally I had a small enough piece to eat. The dried cod was very dry at first, but after a few seconds it became softer and I could chew it. It tasted very good and I plan on bringing some home for family and friends to try. The dried cod is rich in Omega-3 and is a healthy snack.