Finnan haddie facts for kids
Finnan haddie is a special kind of smoked haddock. It's also known as Finnan haddock or just Finnan. This fish is smoked using a unique method from north-east Scotland. People there use green wood and peat (a type of fuel made from decayed plants) to give it a special flavor.
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Where Did Finnan Haddie Come From?
People aren't sure exactly where Finnan haddie first came from. Some say it started in a small village called Findon, Aberdeenshire, near Aberdeen. This village was sometimes even called Finnan.
But others believe the name came from the village of Findhorn. This village is located at the mouth of the River Findhorn in Moray. This disagreement about its true home has been going on since the 1700s! However, it seems Finnan haddie was a popular dish in the Aberdeen area as far back as the 1640s.
How Finnan Haddie Became Popular
Finnan haddie was loved in Scotland for a long time. But it only became a popular food in London in the 1830s. In the past, the fish was only lightly smoked. This meant it didn't stay fresh for very long, maybe only a few days.
Even though the fish could be bought in Aberdeen just hours after being caught, getting it to London was hard. The long journey meant it would often spoil. It first started appearing in London when it was sent by mail coach. But it became much more widely available after the railway line was built. This railway connected Aberdeen to London in the 1840s. Because of this connection, people strongly linked the fish to Findon.
Eating Finnan Haddie Today
Finnan haddie is often used in traditional Scottish dishes. It's a key ingredient in Cullen skink, a famous Scottish fish soup. Many old Scottish cookbooks say that Finnan haddie is the best smoked haddock for this soup.
Traditionally, people would roast or grill whole pieces of the fish over high heat. Finnan haddie is also often served poached in milk. This is a popular way to eat it for breakfast. It's also an important part of other classic dishes like kedgeree and the Arnold Bennett omelette.
See also
In Spanish: Finnan haddie para niños
