Pike perch is a delicious "noble" fish that lives in the rivers and lakes of the European part of Russia. In the Caspian Sea, its marine variety is found, and on the Volga - a close relative of the pike perch bersh. Since olden times, pike perch has been one of the most popular types of commercial fish; over hundreds of years, many delicious and original culinary recipes have developed. In addition, the pike perch is reflected in folklore, for example: “It’s not the ice that is bursting, but the mosquito is not squealing, but the godfather is dragging the pike perch to the kuma”. And here are some more interesting facts about this fish.
Stupid predator
Pike perch is one of the largest fish of the perch family; there are even individuals up to a meter in height and weighing up to 30 kilograms! These fish love clean waters and do not tolerate muddy swampy water. Usually they live at the bottom of pebble or sandy reservoirs, near snags or large stones, behind which you can hide during hunting: pike perch is a predator that feeds on small fish like gobies, minnows, and tulka. In the excitement of chasing prey, the pike perch can even jump out onto the shore - that is why the saying has developed among the people: "Stupid as a pike perch."
Dreaming
Many dream books offer an interpretation of dreams in which a pike perch is seen. And all the authors of these dream books agree that dreams about pike perch are good events. Seeing pike perch, eating pike perch, cleaning pike perch promises profit, the implementation of goals, the appearance of patrons and assistants in life. In the Dream Book of the Healer Akulina, the following advice is given: if you saw a pike perch in a dream, in the morning imagine that you are cleaning a large and oily fish, and then cooking it whole - this will bring material well-being.
The city of Sudak in Crimea
The name of the Crimean city has nothing to do with the name of the fish - these are homonyms, that is, they are the same in sound and spelling, but different in meaning. Etymologists have several variants of the origin of these words: fish - either from the Old Russian "sudok" or the Polish "sandacz"; the name of the city - either from the Scythian word "sugda", meaning "pure", "holy", or, as the Crimean Tatars claim, from "su" - "water" and "dag" - "mountain".
Structural features
Pike perch meat has a noble white color and delicate texture. This fish has practically no intermuscular bones, so it is a pleasure to cook and eat pike perch fillets. However, care must be taken when cleaning and cutting it, as the gill bones and fins of pike perch have very sharp spines.
Beneficial features
Pike perch is a valuable dietary product. There is very little fat in it, and protein - as much as 18%. Calorie content will delight all dieters: only 84 kilocalories per 100 grams. And an excellent chemical composition: all amino acids, including 8 essential ones (which the human body does not synthesize), and such essential minerals as phosphorus, iodine, molybdenum, potassium, manganese, etc.
