Chef Michael Björklund, who became famous from the Strömsö TV series, encourages you to cook fish.
Pike fried by Michael Björklund. In addition to the fish, you only need salt and butter for the pan. Eeva Paljakka
Restaurateur and chef from Åland by Michael Björklund favorite fish is pike.
He regrets how many people get rid of the pike because of its rust. Absolutely pointless, because the rods can either be removed when filleting the fish, or the fillet can be spun in a blender, in which case the rods no longer hinder eating.
– The pike is really tasty and its meat is firm, says Björklund in the kitchen of his Smakby restaurant in Åland.
He assures that it is almost impossible to spoil pike if it is fried in a pan.
Pike can withstand frying well, so it doesn’t dry out as easily as, for example, salmon.
Removing the pike rods from the fillet takes a bit of practice. Eeva Paljakka
You can test the doneness of the fish just like you do with potatoes, i.e. with a stick. If the stick easily sinks into the flesh of the fish, it is sufficiently cooked.
– The pike always succeeds, Björklund laughs.
At least if you remember two tips: You can’t have too much salt in the fish and use a lot of butter when frying the fish in the pan. The pike doesn’t even need black pepper.
– If you don’t forget these two instructions, you will be happy when you taste pike, promises Björklund, who has won many cooking competitions in both Finland and Sweden.
This time, Björklund rolled the pike pieces in wheat flour to make the baking surface as crispy as possible.
Fried pike is very easy to prepare, but still tastes really delicious.
Fried pike à la Michael Björklund. Eeva Paljakka
Björklund says that he wants to offer food with recognizable ingredients in his restaurants.
As a friend of the pike, there are boiled potatoes, peas and seafood sauce on the plate.
Of course, good and acidic white wine in a glass.
Wine tips for fried pike:
Domaine Laroche Chablis Saint Martin 2021, France (€24.99)
Laroche Réserve & Organic Chardonnay L 2020, France (€15.79)
Salomon Undhof Franciscus Grüner Veltliner 2021, Italy (€15.98)
Portal da Calcada Reserva Vinho Verde 2021, Portugal (€11.49)
Dr.Wehrheim Max Trocken Weissburgunder Organic 2020, Germany (€19.99)