I, Aksel, take you into the kitchen for a taste of Norway right here in the Philippines. I wanted to prepare a simple, traditional Norwegian meal: salmon belly with cucumber salad and fried potatoes.
The star of the show was the Norwegian salmon, and I couldn't help but marvel at the price. Back home in Norway, this much salmon would easily set you back 600 or 700 pesos, but here, I managed to snag it for just 220 pesos. It’s a bit ironic, isn't it? I even shared a funny story about fish sticks in Norway—how the fish is caught there, shipped all the way to China to be processed, and then sent back just to keep costs down. To be fair, though, this salmon is cheap because it is leftover cuts, but it still has a great taste.
For the side, I went with fried potatoes. Instead of the usual boiling, I sliced them up to fry in some oil with a simple seasoning of salt and pepper. I’ll admit, a few of them got a bit more "cooked" than I intended, but as I always say, I’m only almost perfect!
Next up was the cucumber salad, a staple in Norwegian cuisine. It’s quite simple: just vinegar, water, sugar, and salt. I did have to sneak a peek at a recipe—cheating a little is allowed in my kitchen—since I didn't quite remember the exact ratios. Since we didn't have white pepper, I improvised with black pepper and substituted some fresh herbs that are a bit harder to find here. After mixing it all up and letting the cucumbers soak, it was ready to go.
One challenge I faced was finding sour cream, which isn't as common here. So, I decided to whip up a homemade version using full cream, a bit of vinegar, and a splash of milk. I gave it a good shake in a container (though I realized later a cup might have been smarter!) and it turned out surprisingly well. It would have been even better if I’d let it sit overnight, but for a quick fix, it hit the spot.
Finally, it was time for the salmon. I kept it simple with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon to keep it tasting fresh. Since the salmon belly strips were so thin, they only needed about three or four minutes in the pan. I mentioned how in Norway, we usually don't eat the skin, but here in the Philippines, I’ve learned to enjoy it.
Once everything was plated, it looked like a feast. I even joked about how my wife, Jessa, often eats more than me, despite me being the one with the "big stomach." It was a delicious, affordable meal that brought a little piece of my home to our table. Bon appétit!
