Burbot, cusk, freshwater cod, lota lota (if you want to get technical)...this fish is known by many names. But seemingly, not by many people.
I'm no expert, trust me, but I've eaten enough freshly caught freshwater fish to have a well-rounded understanding of their taste. Believe me when I tell you, burbot is the best of them! They're nocturnal, bottom-dwelling, slimy, downright ugly fish. I tend to think if they were less ugly, more people would be eagerly scarfing them down. The other big factor- they're no easy catch. You either have to be out fishing in the middle of the night or set traps for them over the ice to be retrieved early in the morning. It takes a bit of work and dedication, but the juice is worth the squeeze.
It's some of the lightest, flakiest fish meat I've ever tasted. And the liver! If you love liver as much as I do for the unbelievable nutritional benefits, you'll want to get your hands on some of these fish. Their liver makes up 10% of their body weight - in other words, it's huge! And my goodness, is it tasty. Buttery, soft, rich - it's divine.
If you do any fishing in burbot territory, I highly recommend reeling some of these slippery, slimy guys in and getting them plated asap! You won't regret it!
I never knew I would be reading about eating Lota Lota liver today. Thank you. 😋