Gifts of the Lower Volga and the wonders of Astrakhan cuisine

Being interested in the traditions of different regions, I always try to learn something about local cuisine. In the Astrakhan region, on the Lower Volga, the river plays the main role in this. Rivers have always fed those living on their banks, and the village of Verkhnekalinovsky, where our still nameless fishing base is located, is no exception.

We were not hungry on this trip at all. All thanks to the owner of the base Natalia - an excellent cook with golden hands and extensive experience in other fishing bases. One evening, after fishing, we asked her to introduce us to the Astrakhan cuisine closer.

These are future baked zander. I never would have thought that fish can be cleaned and stuffed from the back. They would have said this before the trip, laughed and would have advised me to put on trousers over my head) But what I love about traveling is for learning new things and various discoveries for myself.

Zander is cut from the back because their abdomen is soft, it is convenient to lay fish on it so that the filling does not fall out and spread. Stuffed mashed potatoes with the addition of onions and (or) mushrooms.

Of course, fish cuisine cannot be imagined without fish soup. It is boiled from pike perch or catfish with the addition of vegetables. But here it wasn’t everything as I imagined.

I thought they would take a scoop and pour a portion. Yeah, kaneshn)

It turns out that ear is not eaten as usual for us first, but separately broth and filling. The filling is placed on a plate as a second, the broth is poured into bowls. And traditionally they drink it, and not eat with a spoon. These are the pies)

Speaking of pies! We have them with catfish, potatoes and cabbage. Frankly, I always made a displeased face when cakes were sold or offered somewhere, and they answered my question that they were not with sweet filling, but with cabbage. But these will be a long time for me to dream, and, in general, the unification of the unions!

The lucky salad also went well, did not promise to return)

Stuffing fish soup closer.

Crayfish were caught by accident. It turned out funny - every day, one or two. As a result, everyone got it)

And it was like that. You sit, you see that it starts to peck. You yank - oh, unexpected. You can say hello to crustaceans to the joyful cries of the female half of the group. By the way, one of these reptiles bit me with a claw while I tried to examine and take a picture of it, just caught.

Another cake baked in the oven. From catfish and cabbage.

And here are the zander that turned out to be raw at the beginning of the post. Fairy tale, not dishes! Many thanks to Natalia that pleased such charms!