With the long Easter weekend ahead, we’ve been exploring the link between eating fish and what's known as Good Friday.
Many of us probably think of Easter weekend as a time for feasting on roast lamb and scoffing too much chocolate.
But did you know it’s also traditional for Christians to eat fish on Good Friday? (Some of us here at Sea Sisters didn’t know this either). According to the Bible, Jesus sacrificed his flesh on what is now known as Good Friday. That’s why his followers abstain from eating meat on Good Friday, and opt instead for lighter fish.
A little digging also reveals that the habit of eating fish on what became Good Friday already existed within pagan custom, mostly because fish was affordable and abundant in spring. Eating fish was also linked to Roman fertility rituals honoring goddesses like Aphrodite, Venus, and Atargatis, where fish symbolized reproduction, life, and even the vulva. All of these pre-Christian practices revolved around spring, renewal, and the sea, and were later adapted by the Christian church (don’t even ask about the Easter Bunny.)
Whatever the faith, or day of the week, we’re always happy to find new reasons to eat fish.
If you’ve got people coming over on Friday and want to get your Good Friday fish-fix, try this elegant ensemble from our head-chef Angus.
Trout Toasts
In a bowl, mix together equal quantities of a good quality horseradish sauce and your favourite cream cheese.
Spoon the mix onto pieces of sourdough toast (blinis or crostinis are good, too, if you want to serve this as nibbles). Top each toast piece with flakes of Sea Sisters smoked rainbow trout in extra-virgin olive-oil. Garnish with pickles, fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon juice to serve. Chillies optional.
Happy Easter!