Smoked eel fillets are a delicacy easily found in Dutch delicatessens and supermarkets. They are even sold at the airport. Whenever Ro-Ri San stops over Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, he will buy a pack together with my favorite Gouda cheese to bring home. Smoked eel is usually eaten on buttered toast and is offered as part of a Dutch style fish platter with smoked mackerel and other seafood.
The long thin strips of fillet remind me of sushi quality fish suitable for hand rolled sushi. Instead of serving them on toasts, I combined them with Japanese vinegar rice to make a fusion sushi. The creamy wasabi mayo helped bind the two together and the salty capers gave the sushi a contrast of taste and texture. I must say they turned out really well and were a quite a treat!
Why have I called this dish Oranda Sushi? Well, the Dutch were the second group of Europeans after the Portuguese to trade with the Japanese. In the aftermath of the expulsion of the Catholic missionaries from Japan, only the Dutch were allowed to remain at their trading post on an island off the port of Nagasaki. Despite the separation, the Japanese were intrigued by many Dutch things and collectively labeled them “Oranda”, a corruption of the name of Holland. So, there you have it. 😀
This hand rolled method of sushi was adapted from the book, Sushi, Taste and Technique.
[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:238]
Enjoy…..and have a wonderful day! 😎
Raymund says
November 5, 2012 at 2:01 amUsing smoked eel is very interesting, I bet this would be so flavourful
Biren says
November 10, 2012 at 7:57 pmThe smoked eel actually paired really nicely with the vinegar rice. Will definitely make it again if I get more smoked ell.
Ann@Anncoo Journal says
November 5, 2012 at 3:48 amI love your fusion way of combining the smoked eel and sushi. Very creative 🙂
Biren says
November 10, 2012 at 7:58 pmThanks Ann! I was pleasantly surprised at the results. The smoked eel combined really well with the vinegar rice.
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
November 5, 2012 at 5:56 amThese are so professionally prepared. I miss smoked eel.
Biren says
November 10, 2012 at 7:58 pmIt just takes a little practice! 😉
Kitchen Belleicious says
November 5, 2012 at 2:58 pmdutch smoked eye! That sounds so amazing.I love your creativity Biren. I just had sushi this weekend but I am telling you the truth yours looks wayyyy better than even our favorite sushi restaurant!
Biren says
November 10, 2012 at 8:00 pmThanks Jessica for your kind words always! I do enjoy preparing sushi but I am still very much a novice.
Jeannie says
November 5, 2012 at 6:41 pmI bet my guys would love these….not so me because I try to avoid rice if I could. Looks lovely though..
Biren says
November 10, 2012 at 8:00 pmNo rice for you? I don’t think I can avoid rice totally. 🙂
Pam says
November 5, 2012 at 7:30 pmThis sounds great, Biren! My son and DIL would love it!!! Your plate is pretty too.
Biren says
November 10, 2012 at 8:02 pmThanks Pam! The plate is Delft ware from Holland.
mjskit says
November 6, 2012 at 9:38 amInteresting history of the food and the name. Dutch and Japanese fusion – that’s a first! I love Japanese smoked eel, but have never had Dutch smoked eel. It looks lighter in taste and texture from your pictures (which are lovely BTW). Wonderful looking Zushi!
Biren says
November 10, 2012 at 8:04 pmDutch eel has a lighter texture and the meat is quite delicate. That is why I thought it will pair well with the vinegar rice. I am pleased with the results.
Ramona says
November 6, 2012 at 6:23 pmReally beautiful sushi. 🙂
Biren says
November 10, 2012 at 8:04 pmThanks Ramona! 🙂
denise @ singapore shiok says
November 6, 2012 at 9:03 pmI love the flavour of smoked eel, but find the bones really irksome! Is this Dutch smoked eel as bony as unagi and French smoked eel? Your sushi looks really delicious and makes me wish I could taste your Japanese cooking – it always looks gorgeous and I do think Japanese food is my most favoured kind of all, even more so than the sambals and gulais I love so much 😉
Biren says
November 10, 2012 at 8:09 pmSo far, all the eel I have tasted did not have bones in them. This one is light and delicate with no bones either. I wouldn’t like it if it had bones.
I am still very much a novice but I do enjoy preparing and eating Japanese food. I love my sambals and gulais! Don’t think I can live without the spicy stuff. 😀
vianney says
November 6, 2012 at 10:53 pmLove the combo of eel with capers, thank you for sharing. Great plate!
Biren says
November 10, 2012 at 8:05 pmThanks Vianney for visiting and commenting! The smoked eel did combine nicely with the vinegar rice and capers.
kitchenriffs says
November 7, 2012 at 9:42 pmI’ve never had smoked eel, much less Dutch smoked eel! Sounds interesting. Great looking sushi, and very clear instructions. Really good post – thanks.
Biren says
November 10, 2012 at 8:12 pmThank you! This Dutch smoked eel is quite light and has a delicate texture. Paired really well with the vinegar rice.
Dongxing says
November 9, 2012 at 3:12 pmI have never tasted smoked Dutch eel before. I enjoyed learning the step by step instructions on the shaped rice, mine had never turned out properly – they were always wonky and lopsided. I like the name too, and learning a little about the history. That’s the amazing thing about your blog, not just good food but very informative. Thanks for sharing, Biren.
Biren says
November 10, 2012 at 8:11 pmIt takes a little practice but you will eventually get the hang of it. Don’t worry if it doesn’t come out perfect. You know where it will all end up anyway, right?
Thank you always for your kind words and support. It is a great source of encouragement for me. Hugs…xx
Nasifriet says
November 10, 2012 at 5:14 pmWow! What a great way of working around with the “paling” – Dutch for eel. BTW, the Dutch may eat a lot of “paling” but their eels come from the UK (England, Scotland, Wales…)!! Surprise! Surprise! Neighbouring Belgium has her own “paling” recipe as well.
Well done, Biren, for making these eels look so appetising 😀
Biren says
November 10, 2012 at 8:16 pmThanks for the info! I guess there is not much space along the coastline of the Netherlands to raise “paling”. That’s what neighbors are for. I will have to try Belgian “paling” one of these days.
The smoked eel paired surprisingly well with the vinegar rice. 🙂
PolaM says
November 11, 2012 at 2:23 pmI so wanted to have some eel and also dome heering in the Netherlands, but I was brought to a Moroccan place 🙁 Will have to find the time to buy some eel next time I am at schipol running from one gate to the next…