When we were itty bitty, Mama would put something on your plate and you knew not to gripe or pout and stomp. You ate it or you didn’t eat. An array of ruby colored salads would be paraded before us but really, as a kid, it all kind of bled together into one heap and this salad was just another I gnawed on, not appreciating it for what it was. Today, it sits high on the shelf labeled “delicious delicacy” though, many would disagree. One could say it has a distinct smell. We eat it cartilage and all (its entire skeletal structure is comprised of it) with not a single complaint.
What in the world is Skate?
It belongs to the shark family and resembles a sting ray (sort of). We consume the “wing” portion and often serve the “mottled skate” variety.
I’ve actually never had it prepared any other way but raw.
Here’s mama’s recipe for fermented Skate fish salad.
- 2 chopped skate wings
- 2 ts salt
- 3 tb apple cider vinegar
- 2 tb minced garlic
- 1 ts finely minced ginger
- 2 ts sesame seed
- 3 tb sugar
- ½ chopped Korean pear
- ½ c julienned Korean radish
- ½ c chopped cucumber
- 3 tb red pepper flakes (Gochugaru)
- 2 chopped green onions
- Optional: watercress
- In your first bowl, combine your wings and vinegar. Set aside for 30 minutes.
- After this time has elapsed, squeeze out all the excess moisture.
- In a second bowl, sprinkle the salt on your radish and cucumber. Let this sit for about 15 minutes and squeeze out the excess moisture from them as well.
- In your third bowl, combine the rest of your ingredients and add in your first and second bowl as well. Mix and toss to combine.
- Garnish with green onions.
My hope is that you’ll at least give this a try once in your life but then again, your Squishy friend also adores durian so it’s all up to how brave you are.
Are you up for the challenge?
Love,
Your (loves stinky foods) Squishy Monster ^.~
I always order skate at one of my favorite French bistros here in Boston, and I would like to try it prepared this way!
PS – I love weird food too
I’d loooove to try a French preparation!
What a precious memory of this authentic dish from Mama.
I think I’ve tried it in a Korean restaurant before….if it’s not exactly the same, I think it’s something really similar to this. And I love it! Don’t think I’ve tried any Korean food that I didn’t like yet…and I also adore Durian. Hahaha…so, I guess that kind of explains why I love this too.
Yay for trying new things
Hi Angela….and it’s such an adventure when I visit you! I’ve never tried skate in any form (but have seen it appear in the baskets on Chopped!) I would absolutely LOVE to give this a try. Not sure I am brave enough for durian, though! : )
Ooh I’ll have to catch up with those episodes
Looks great! I wish I could appreciate more, but I dont eat meat nor fish so just enjoy it by looking at the pictures
Fair enough!
I would love to try this!
I highly recommend it!
Looks like an interesting dish!
Lol, seems to be the word
OMG wont it bite??? I think I have it to try this naughtily yummy recipe…..thanks Angie!!!
Rebecca
http://www.redtagchiclosangeles.com
That’s part of the fun, I think
I’m up for the taste experience
Love to hear that, Tandy!
I grew up being told that I have to eat at least one bite (and swallow haha) of food that’s been served. I had never tried this before but I’m happy to give it a try (and I have a feeling that I’ll enjoy this!).
This is how I’ll raise my little ones
Dear Squishy Monster,
I love skate but I have never tried it in a sashimi salad since most of the skate we get at the fish markets are not sashimi grade.
The best way to eat skate is to grill or BBQ it ikan bakar style. I couldn’t get enough of it during my recent trip to Singapore and Malaysia.
http://chopinandmysaucepan.com/food-safari-singapore
I will def give my next skate that treatment
I’m someone who likes to try anything once – even the weird foods! That said, I don’t think I will ever like durian. Had it once, didn’t like it. Ate it again only recently, still didn’t like it. BAHHHH!
Lol, my friends agree
Woo hoo! Stinky durian!
Lol!
Hi my squishy friend, very interesting recipe, I’ve not eaten this skate fish but anything with stinky smell… sorry I pass.
By the way most Malaysian love durian but I’m one of the odd citizen who don’t eat durian.LOL
Have a nice week ahead,regards.
I hear it’s banned from a lot of places too… Hope you’re having a beautiful week, Amelia!
having watched andrew zimmern (on bizarre foods with..) trying skate, i could really feel his agony over this very “flavor-ful” dish.. but i think i should fare better since i like durians ^^
I was surprised he of all people couldn’t stomach it though, it did make me chuckle
I too am of a generation where something was put in front of you and you ate it or didn’t but then you got nothing else. I’ve never had skate wing, although I think I would enjoy the texture. I’m going to pass along this post to a friend in Switzerland who particularly enjoys this type of thing.
Yaaaay!
I’ve never heard or tried this before…but as always, you make everything look and sound good! Thank you for sharing!
Hope baby is doing well!!
A distinct smell…that reminds me of stinky tofu. I would love to try this!
I’ve never had it but I bet I would enjoy that as well
I grew up never questioning what my mother put in front of me as well. But my mother never cooked skate. This looks really interesting xx
Interesting to say the least, lol
Hi Angela! I loved durian! Does that mean I would have no problem wth this skate fish?
Perhaps, I’m always advocating for new things
I would try it if I found it offered in a restauant, but I don’t think I would try making it myself because I’m scared of any skate I might find in Wichita. We are no known for our fresh fish! LOL!
That’s a good point, V
I’ve never had skate, but it sounds like a popular item from all the comments above! The topping sounds wonderfully crunchy and flavorful!
I love salads with tons of texture
if skate tastes like Durian..sorry..i may have to pass. hahahaha but the recipe base sounds tasty tho! ^^
They’re definitely different tastes but both are a bit on the stinky side, lol.
but i like durian in something like the moon cakes..just not by itself when i tried.but i have had ‘stinky tofu’+”winter melon soup” in Taiwan a couple years back + was good. ^^
You are so creative!
Gotta give props to Mama =)
Skate fish is so awesome!
I’ve never eatin one but they look cool.
I don’t think I’d eat it raw cause
I’m sure it would bite me.
Zombie style, fosho =)
ha ha those are two hard limits for me in exotic foods lol. But I have tried this dish once in a restaurant and it was not for me. The waitress even asked me if I was sure I wanted to order that dish.
I can appreciate that. I’m just a weirdo all across the board, lol
I love skate but not able to find it locally. It is usually cooked not fermented like your mother’s.
After all the comments about how lovely it is cooked, I will definitely be looking into that next time.
Oohh!! I’ve actually had this before! But never knew it was called skate! Lol I loove skate! I’d usually have to describe it as that red spicy korean dish, which encompasses pretty much everything else haha
Right? That’s what I used to refer to most of the food stuffs Mama would set out before us, lol.
It’s also great sauteed. All the ridges get golden and crisp, giving it great texture.
Oooh, that sounds great!!
I like skate and have had them seared and in curries. Never this way though, so I am curious!
Ooh, I bet a curry would be so nice!
Angie. I have tried skate a few times It is very delicious!! I have never seen it in stores in my area.It was baked with a lovely spicy sauce. Another times It was in a stir fry. Love your recipe! Thanks for sharing.
Love.
Les.
I dig how much of an adventurous eater you are, Les!
Thank you Angie. God created so many wonderful foods. I feel we should not be afraid to try them. I find it amazing how many will try negative things like , tobacco, drugs, kinky ,ocult things , However be so frightened to try a new food or dish. For that matter feel Oh THEY ONLY want to talk to people that look sand act like them. I feel we only grow when we are willing to open up and try new Positive things. I love the term Itty bitty too Angie,hee hee, Have a lovely day .God bless you.
xoxoxoxo.
Les.
I actually love skate–it tastes so delicate! Your recipe looks wonderful.
Yay! So glad you’re on the bandwagon with me
I love durian!
We should have a stinky durian party, lol