Purity Hard and Sweet Bread
I guess every culture/region has some of its own “weird” foods, and Newfoundland is no exception. I guess being reliant so much on fish as a locale (and by fish I mean cod, to Newfoundlanders any other fish has a name), we came up with or borrowed many unique methods of preparation. One of these is Fish n Brewis. The link provided is wrong in my opinion though. It says that fish n brewis uses salt cod and fisherman’s brewis uses fresh. I’ve always known it to be the opposite; we always use fresh, and I personally don’t care for the salt fish variety.
Even in the fresh there are different methods of serving, but first… what is it? Well its basically hard tack (hard bread) soaked in water to soften, and boiled fish. Sound appetizing right? Well it is delicious! Even better when served with rendered pork fat and scruncheons drizzled over it! Some people prefer to keep the bread and fish separate, I’ve actually never tried it that way, I prefer it mashed together, drizzled with pork, and blackened with pepper, mmmmm.
Some people serve it with drawn or drawing butter, another thing I’ve never been fond of, though all it is is butter, onion and flour thickened as a sauce.
I’m not really sure the origin of fish and brewis, but I like to think its probably from the offshore fishery or navy, where non-perishable foods like hard tack were prominent, and cooks needed to improvise meals as best they can.
In any event, today’s supper was a memory of home. Hope you get to enjoy some soon!
Raised in outport Newfoundland in a town of 65 people, I pursued a post secondary diploma in Information Technology right out of High School.
I’ve always been a geek at heart, but yet I love the rural life I grew up with. Fishing, hunting, camping and the great outdoors are still loves of mine, even if I don’t pursue them as often as I once did. Sports were always a big part of our lives, and I played many (badly) and loved them all.
although I have to agree with you Fresh “Fish” is the only proper way for Fish an Brews ,, Living in Calgary it is Impossible to get Fresh Fish so I have to use Salted fish, and it fills the bill until I get back Home again
Not so easy to get here in Nova Scotia to be honest, they all eat haddock here, and for me that only good for bait, and when I can get cod, they don’t seem to have figured out boneless fillets either. Costco sells some nice looking boneless cod though its pacific, its the best I’ve found so far.
I haven’t had a meal in over 30 yrs, well over due.
I wonder can you freeze leftover fish and brewis?
You definitely can! Have had it lots of times. But only without pork fat added. Have always added that after