Saithe

The Norwegian saithe is a species in the cod family. It has a silvery-grey, strong and muscular body, is a good swimmer and easily recognised by the weak underbite and the straight line along the body. You only find saithe in the North Atlantic and in Norwegian waters, and the population is divided into two - The Northeast Arctic saithe and North Sea saithe.

 

Being a powerful swimmer, the saithe is able to cover vast distances in search of food and spawning grounds. The most common fishing tools are trawls, seines, lines, nets and lures. Every year, Norwegian and international research provides the basis for advice on sustainable fishing in the Northeast Atlantic.

This silvery fish with a darkly-coloured back is quite versatile, and quite simply an excellent fish to cook with. The saithe is a perfect ingredient in traditional cuisine from the Norwegian coastal areas, especially different varieties of ball dishes - dumplings mainly made from grated potatoes, onion and saithe.

 

Even though saithe fillets are a classic of the Norwegian dinner table, your palate will surely thank you for trying more dishes with saithe. Its pearl-grey meat is firmer than the cod’s, which makes the fish equally suited for cooking, pan-frying or barbecuing, and you can use it in casseroles, soups or oven dishes.