The SsLuT

I haven't always kept kosher.  It was a rash decision I took before my barmitzvah.  As I was learning more about my religion, I realised it was something I wanted to do.  My decision may also have been influenced by my brother who made a very similar decision some years earlier.

I've only wavered once, when I was at university and increasingly getting into food in a slightly obsessive way.  I couldn't see the point of keeping kosher.  I then met a very special lady, who got me back on track.

This is a long way of saying I know not of a BLT, but I understand from all who partake that they're tasty.  And it is from the insistence of others that the SsLuT was born: smoked salmon, lettuce and tomato.

Some years ago, I got to thinking that there was an odd similarity between bacon and smoked salmon.  Obviously, there is the issue of one coming from a land based mammal and the other a fish.  One being a cheap product and the other until recently, being quite expensive.  BUT they're both quite fatty.  They're often served in strips (tenuous I know), they err towards pink (I know, I know) and their respective flavour profiles are relatively earthy.  Ok look, maybe I'm pushing my luck, but stay with me because the resulting sandwich is a stunna. 

Get some smoked salmon.  Heat your frying pan until it gets very hot, turn on the extractor (it all gets rather fishy) and place your fish in the pan.  Stand back as it sizzles and let it cook until it turns brown at the edges - shouldn't take too long at all - turn the salmon over and repeat.

This is a sandwich best eaten in either an onion platzel or a sesame bagel.  It needs mayo, preferably homemade so it's not too claggy.  Lettuce and tomato are to taste.

It's really very good.  It's the SsLuT.

Just to finish, a (useful) bit of trivia.  There is a fish that is kosher (not all of them are) that is called shibuta that supposedly tastes of pork.  It sounds pretty gross to me, I'm not sure I want my fish tasting of pork.  Nonetheless, if anyone happens to catch one as you're fishing in the Euphrates, do let me know, I'm intrigued to try it.

Comments

[jabbett]

It's nutritionally sinful, but... if you cook chicken skin until it is thoroughly browned and quite crispy, it tastes close to bacon.

[Helen]

Brilliant. I want one. I usually make a BLAT (bacon, lettuce, avocado and tomato). I wonder what a SLAT would be like.

[Helen]

Or a SsLAT even.

[Anthony Silverbrow]

Helen, I'm a big fan of avocados and reckon it might just work. They couldn't be too ripe though. I should add, if you like avocados then I can strongly recommend avocado and banana mashed together for the mother of all umami hits. 

Jabett, it's naughty but very nice. I think Heston took it to it's apotheosis. Makes me think of gribenes. 

[Christmas Sweets]

Haha! Nice title. Made me wonder for a sec there if this was a food blog. :)

[Anthony Silverbrow]

Thanks Christmas Sweets, I'll let you through the spam filter just this once

[catering Fort Lauderdale]

For those who want to keep eating kosher, salmon is one alternative to consider. It is also delicious and healthy when eaten in moderation. Kosher-style food preparation is not at all difficult, with the right kind of ingredients and cooking utensils. I do like variety in the food that I prepare and I try to keep things kosher as much as possible not just the taste but for the health benefits as well.

[Anthony Silverbrow]

@Towedeli, thank for your somewhat random comment, especially as I note Tower Deli isn't a kosher deli.  Nonetheless, thanks for the comment.  I'm intrigued though to know what you mean by 'the health benefits' of kosher food.  What health benefits?  I don't believe there are any.  But taking your argument to its logical conclusion, if kosher food is more healthy than non-kosher food, are you suggesting that your own food is not particularly healthy?