- Carp is a symbol of the Christmas Eve supper, with a long history on Polish tables, from the Jagiellon dynasty to the times of the Polish People’s Republic.
- Traditional carp fried or in jelly is giving way to new, healthier trends – get the recipe for carp from an air fryer.
- Discover how your mother-in-law surprised the family with a unique air fryer carp dish with a modern salad twist.
- Check out how to easily prepare carp so that it does not have a muddy taste and delights everyone in your household!
There is no Christmas Eve supper without carp. This fish is almost a symbol of Christmas dinner. The tradition of eating carp dates back to royal times, although when looking through the Christmas Eve menu of Polish nobility, it is difficult to find it there. Almond soup or crayfish were eaten more often. It is believed that carp appeared on Christmas tables during the Jagiellonian dynasty. The first recipes for carp in gingerbread sauce appear as early as the 17th century. It is said that King Jan Sobieski himself ate carp. Nowadays, carp became extremely popular on the Christmas Eve table during the times of the Polish People’s Republic.
My mother-in-law prepared carp from an air fryer. The whole family was surprised
. It naturally comes from Asia, and it came to Europe already in Roman times. In Poland, carp is bred mainly in large pond areas.
The taste of carp is very characteristic. Some people love him, others not so much. . However, carp sometimes tastes muddy, which makes many people avoid it. Traditionally, on Christmas Eve dinner, fried carp or carp in jelly is prepared. In recent years, when air fryers have become more and more popular, more and more people decide to experiment in the kitchen. This is what my mother-in-law looked like when she served carp from an air fryer last year.
My mother-in-law’s air fryer carp is a simple dish, but with character. The fish should be cleaned, dried and cut into small pieces, then rubbed with salt, pepper, garlic and a bit of marjoram and lemon zest. It is a good idea to sprinkle the prepared carp lightly with rapeseed oil or clarified butter and place it in an air fryer basket heated to 180 degrees. Baking takes about 15-18 minutes, it is a good idea to turn the pieces halfway through so that they brown evenly. An interesting addition is a warm salad of baked apple, red onion and cranberries – the apples are cut into quarters, mixed with onion, honey and a bit of balsamic vinegar, and then briefly baked together with the fish or separately. This sweet and sour accent perfectly breaks the taste of carp and gives the dish a modern character.
How to prevent carp from tasting muddy?
To . The best way is to soak the fish in cold water with milk, onion or lemon juice for at least 2-3 hours, preferably overnight in the refrigerator. Milk neutralizes the unpleasant odor, and citric acid additionally cleanses the meat. It is also important to thoroughly remove the dark membrane from the inside of the fish, as it is often responsible for the muddy taste. The use of aromatic spices such as garlic, marjoram, bay leaf or allspice, as well as short but intense roasting, which locks the flavor in the meat and makes the carp tender rather than heavy, also helps.
