Hekk: Hungary’s Favorite Saltwater Fish

One of the surest signs of summer in Budapest is when locals head for the promenade on Római Part and enjoy a bite of hekk, or hake, in the outdoor weather, sunning themselves on deck chairs and sipping beer on the banks of the Danube in northern Buda. Though this one-time workers’ getaway is being slowly dismantled and developed for more profitable use, it is still the best place to eat hekk, unless you want to beat a path all the way to the shores of Lake Balaton, which also has a strong summer hekk eating tradition.

Hekk is a curious fish to find in Hungary, as it is a sea fish, and Hungary is a landlocked country. How hekk became so popular locally is still a bit murky. Some hold that its import is due to the diminishing quantity of fogas (pike-perch) in Lake Balaton, while other maintain the nostalgic love of hekk extends back to when Hungary had its borders on the sea. No matter what the reason, Hungarians eat a lot of hekk in the summer, and while it is not as popular in the winter, it is certainly available at fish restaurants and lunch canteens around Budapest.

Eaten on paper or plastic, with a few csemege uborka (gherkins), a slice of white bread, mayo or tartar sauce, and usually with a side of fries, it’s tempting to call hekk the Hungarian version of fish and chips. This isn’t quite accurate though, as hekk is somewhat spicier, because the fish is rubbed with paprika before battered and put in the deep frier.

Lots of people will swear there is a ‘best’ place to eat hekk. But in truth, there is a sameness to much of the local hekk. It’s all frozen fish, deep fried, and basically of unknown origin. What a plate of hekk benefits from is the environment in which it is eaten. True, you can lunch on hekk in winter but hekk is really a summer food. Ideally, it is eaten next to a body of water, giving you the illusion that it is a Hungarian fish, despite the fact that it is shipped hundreds, if not thousands, of kilometers from its source. And, for the record, its original source is Argentina, according to hazipatika.com, though the fish are caught in places from the Mediterranean to the north Atlantic.

In the cod family, hekk is a flakey white fish with a very subtle taste. The steel gray skin is left on when served, and adds texture and flavor to the otherwise blank canvas that is most white fish. According to the BBC, “In France, hake is called ‘saumon blanc’ (which translates as ‘white salmon’) while in the United States it’s known as ling or whiting (what is known as whiting in Europe is a different, less tasty fish).” In other words, it’s not a delicate fish, but rather food for the masses.

One of the endearing aspects of eating hekk is that it is frequently served without utensils. The thick chunks of meat are easily plucked from the bone, leaving the diner to go through a pile of napkins or discreetly lick their fingers.

So, in the end, we have a fish that is not from Hungary, but the Hungarian way to eat it is next a body of Hungarian water. Don’t let that contradiction keep you from enjoying this summer tradition, best achieved at Római Part, while it lasts.

source (article; video and picture): Taste Hungary; Sült hekk recept, Cookpad receptek, Youtube

A cikk elolvasása után válaszolj a következő kérdésekre.

1. What sign summer in Budapest?
2. What is the difference between Hungarian fried hekk and fish and chips?
3. What is common in local hekk in Hungary?
4. Why is it important to leave the skin on when hekk is served?
5. Why is it enjoyable to eat hekk?

keys/megoldások:
1. Locals when they head for the promenade on Római Part and enjoy a bite of hekk, or hake, sun themselves on deck chairs and sip beer on the banks of the Danube in northern Buda.;
2. Hekk is spicier, because the fish is rubbed with paprika before battered and put in the deep frier.;
3. It’s all frozen fish, deep fried, and basically of unknown origin.;
4. It adds texture and flavor to the white fish.;
5. Because you can eat it without utensils when they are not served, using your fingers and loads of/ a pile of napkins. you can also discreetly lick your fingers as well.

serves: 4

difficulty: easy

total time: 1hr 20mins

– 60ml olive oil

– 1 onion, chopped

– 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

– 4 tomatoes, chopped

– 125ml white wine

– 1kg fish, cleaned

– juice of 1 lemon

– salt and black pepper

– 10 kalamata olives, pitted

– 30ml chopped fresh parsley

Heat half the oil in a pan and fry the onion until soft. Add the garlic, tomatoes and wine, stir and cook for about 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Place the fish in a baking tray, drizzle with the lemon juice and season. Pour the tomato mixture over the fish and top with the olives. Sprinkle with the parsley and remaining oil and bake uncover for about 30 minutes (fish should flake easily). Serve hot with a salad.

This little fish had no signs of hesitation as it swum up to divers and photobombed their picture. Despite its tiny size, the 15cm long Trunkfish was far from camera-shy and pouted at divers in the Red Sea off Israel.

The Thornback Trunkfish, who was swimming on his own, took a liking to the divers and playfully interacted with them. Fascinated by the cameras, the tiny fish swum up to them and checked out its reflection in the lens. With its lips firmly sticking out, it looked like it was about to give its new friends and their cameras a smooch.

Ilan Ben Tov, 48, got up close and personal with the playful Trunkfish and was able to capture the encounter just 7m below the surface. He said: “This specific Trunkfish is in love with divers, especially underwater photographers that pass through its territory. He likes to view its reflection in the camera lens and is generally attracted to cameras so it is very easy to interact with him. It is always a great experience when underwater creatures are not intimidated by you and are interacting with you.”

Ilan, who lives in Israel and works as a software engineer, travelled to Israel’s most southern city, Eilat, with friends so they could go diving in the red sea. 

to have bigger/other fish to fry
definition: to have more important and other things to do
magyarul: fontosabb vagy más dolgai is akadnak annál, hogy…
example: I don’t have time to wait around for you all day. I have bigger fish to fry. – Nincs időm egész nap várni rád. Vannak fontosabb dolgaim is.

like a fish out of water
definition: appearing totally out of place/strange to the rest
magyarul: úgy érzi magát, mint egy partra vetett hal /furan érzi magát
example: I was the only one who was wearing elegant clothes at the dinner party, so I really felt like a fish out of water. – Én voltam az egyetlen, aki elegánsan volt felöltözve a vacsorapartin, így teljesen kilógtam a sorból.

fish for a compliment
definition: try to get somebody to give you a compliment
magyarul: bókokra vadászni
example: When she told us how many people she had already helped I knew she was fishing for a compliment. – Amikor elmesélte, hogy már mennyi embernek segített, tudtam, hogy bókokra/elismerő szavakra vár.

to drink like a fish
definition: to drink large amounts of alcohol
magyarul: iszik, mint a gödény
example: He said he drinks a little wine sometimes but now I know he drinks more like a fish. – Azt mondta, hogy néha megiszik egy kis bort, de most már tudom, hogy úgy iszik, mint egy gödény.

there are plenty of fish in the sea
definition: there are other choices
magyarul: van más is a világon, “van még hal a vízben”
example: I know you’re heartbroken now about Emily leaving you, but there are plenty of fish in the sea. – Tudom, hogy most nagyon magad alatt vagy amiért Emily elhagyott, de van más is a világon.

like a fish in muddy/troubled waters
definition: in a dangerous or difficult situation
magyarul: veszélyes vagy nehéz helyzetben lenni, “zavarosban halászni”
example: George is fishing in troubled waters by buying more shares of the company. – George a zavarosban halászik azzal, hogy még több részvényt vásárol a cégben.

an odd fish
definition: somebody who stands out/ an eccentric
magyarul: valaki aki kitűnik/ különös
example: Not many people accept my friend because he is really an odd fish. – Nem sokan fogadják el a barátomat, mert tényleg nagyon fura ember.

like shooting fish in a barrel
definition: very easy to do
magyarul: könnyű, mint az egyszeregy
example: She’s so proud of herself for passing that exam, but it was so easy, like shooting fish in a barrel. – Olyan büszke magára, hogy átment azon a vizsgán, pedig annyira könnyű volt, mint az egyszeregy.

Police are hunting this man and a woman after a supermarket worker was slapped across the face with a WET FISH.

The 52-year-old victim was working behind the fish counter in Asda, Accrington, when a young woman approached the stall to ask about different fish. Without warning the woman then picked up a large bream from the counter and slapped the worker across the face before running out of the store. Officers said the victim believes the incident was being filmed on a mobile phone by a man who stood nearby and also ran away when challenged.

The woman they want to speak to is described as being Irish and aged between 15 and 18 with blonde, shoulder-length untidy hair. She was wearing dark jeans and a blue coat with white cuffs, white down the front and a red collar with ‘I love PB’ on the left breast pocket.

The man they want to speak to is described as being around the same age, 5ft 8ins tall, wearing a dark coat and dark grey trousers and boots.

PC Graham Hartley said: “This behaviour is completely unacceptable and I would appeal to anybody that witnessed this incident or recognises either the man or the woman pictured in the CCTV images to come forward and contact the police.”

source: www.mirror.co.uk

to slap – megcsapni, megütni, felpofozni
fish counter – halpult
to approach – megközelíteni, odamenni
without warning – figyelmeztetés nélkül
bream – keszeg
victim – áldozat
to challenge – itt kérdőre vonni
to describe – leírni, személyleírást adni
shoulder-length – vállig érő
collar – gallér
PC = Police Constable – rendőr
unacceptable – elfogadhatatlan
to witness – tanúja valaminek
to recognise – felismerni
CCTV – closed-circuit television – biztonsági kamera és térfigyelő rendszereknél használt zártkörű TV lánc
 

True or false?

1. The man who ran away also slapped the shop assistant with a fish.

2. The police are looking for both the man and the woman.

3. The victim had no idea what was going to happen.

4. The woman is described as tall and in her thirties.

5. The man was wearing strange clothes.

answers: 1-F 2-T 3-T 4-F 5-F

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0

false
false
false

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X-NONE

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Fish and chips is the classic English take-away food and is the traditional national food of England. It became popular in the 1860’s when railways began to bring fresh fish straight from the east coast to the our cities over night.

The fish (cod, haddock, huss, plaice) is deep fried in flour batter and is eaten with chips. Traditionally, the fish and chips are covered with salt and malt vinegar and, using your fingers, eaten straight out of the newspaper which they were wrapped in. Now-a-days small wooden forks are provided and the fish and chips are wrapped in more hygienic paper.

In the north of England, fish and chips is often served with "mushy peas" (mashed processed peas).

"Did you know?" – Néhány érdekesség a fish and chips-ről:-)

a videót itt nézheted meg: /cikk/2690/

1. Approximately 10% of all potatoes – 500,000 tonnes – eaten in the UK are sold through fish and chip shops.

2. In Scandinavian countries, fish and chips are called "fiskefilleter".

3. Charles Dickens mentions a "fried fish warehouse" in Oliver Twist (1837).

4. Most of Sheffield’s chip shops give customers free Henderson’s Relish, a locally produced sauce resembling Worcestershire sauce.

5. London’s plush Dorchester Hotel has fish and chips on its menu.

6. While not exactly a health food, fish and chips does provide the body with protein, fibre, iron and vitamins.

7. More than 250 million portions are eaten in the UK every year.

8. New York has four fish and chip shops; the first to open was called "A Salt & Battery".

9. For one of its parties, the Yorkshire Society of Singapore imported not only the fish and chip ingredients but copies of the Yorkshire Evening Post to wrap them in!

HOW TO PREPARE FISH AND CHIPS

a videóreceptet itt nézheted meg: /cikk/english_fish_and_chips_with_beer_recipe/

We’re going to show you how to make a fish and chips with English beer batter. Fish and chips is a popular favourite around the world. This recipe makes an extra crispy batter that will melt in your mouth. You’ll need the following ingredients to serve 2 people:

– 2 fish fillets
– 1.5 litres of vegetable oil
– 140 gr of flour
– 50 gr of corn starch
– 1 tsp baking powder
– 1 egg
– 250 ml beer
– 1tsp salt
– salt and pepper
– French fries to garnish

You’ll also need the following utensils:
– a saucepan
– 2 bowls
– a whisk
– a slotted spoon
– a large fork
– a tray
– some kitchen towel
Preheat the oil. Add all oil into a pan. Turn medium heat. Let heat until hot enough for frying. Make the batter. Add flour, the corn starch, the salt and the baking powder into a bowl. Mix them together. Mix the egg and the beer. Pour the beer into a bowl, add egg and mix them well. Complete the batter. Transfer the beer mixture into the bowl with the flour mixture. Whisk well for a couple of minutes until it becomes lump free. Prepare the fish. Pat dry with paper towel. This helps to fry better as excess water makes it less crispy. Run your fingers along the surface to check for bones. Check the temperature of the oil. Drop some batter into the oil. If it fries immediately without burning, the temperature is correct. Dipone fillet into the batter and coat it completely, then place the fillet into the hot oil. Take care not to burn yourslef. Only fry one fillet at a time, otherwisetemperature would drop or the fillet might stick together. Turn the fish. Let the fish fry for 4-7 minutes, depending on its size. Flip it at least once to ensure it cooks evenly. Remove it when it becomes light golden brown. Transfer it to a tray with kitchen paper. Repeat it with the remaining fillet.

TIP: Place the fish on a ray if you have one, as this will make the batter crispier. It goes well with chips or French fries. Season it with salt and pepper.

baking powder – sütőpor
batter – tészta (nyers)
bone – csont
bowl – tál
burning – égő, égés
cod – tőkehal
corn starch – kukorica keményítő
crispy – ropogós
enough – eléggé
evenly – egyenlő arányban
fillet – filé
fishbone – szálka
following –következő
fork – villa
haddock – foltos tőkehal
heat – hő
ingredients – hozzávalók
kitchen towel – konyhai papírtörlőkendő
lump free – csomómentes
malt vinegar – maláta ecet
mashed – összenyomott, pürésített
mushy – pépes
national food – nemzeti étel
otherwise – máskülönben
plaice – lepényhal
popular – népszerű
railway – vasút
remaining – megmaradó
saucepan – serpenyő
size – méret
slotted spoon – lyukacsos kanál
straight – egyenesen
surface – felszín
takeaway food – étel elvitelre
temperature – hőmérséklet
to add – hozzáad
to become, became, become – válik valamivé
to coat – befed
to deep fry – forró, bő olajban kisüt
to depend on – függ valamitől
to dip – belemárt
to drop – ejt, cseppent
to ensure – biztosít
to flip – feldob, megforgat
to garnish – körít valamivel
to melt – elolvad, olvad
to mix – összekever
to pat – megütöget
to preheat – előmelegít
to prepare – elkészít
to provide with – ellát valamivel
to remove – eltávolít, kivesz
to stick together – összeragad
to transfer – áttesz
to wrap – becsomagol
traditionally – hagyományosan
tray – tálca
tsp (teaspoon) – teáskanál
utensil – konyhai eszköz
whisk – habverő
wooden fork – fa villa

source: WoodlandsJunior, VideoJug