Vendace

Vendace is a species of freshwater whitefish. The average length of this small fish is 15-20 cm.

There are several species of vendace: European, Siberian, and Coregonus albula. Russians also call it the ’Pereslavl herring’. The vendace and herring do not have much in common, except for insignificant similarities in their appearance (coloring). It has a laterally compressed body covered with large scales. Its upper jaw is shorter than the lower, and the lower jaw also has a notch.

Vendace prefers habitats with a clay bottom of deep and cold bodies of water. It can be found in the northern lakes, including Ladoga, Onega, Chudskoye, Pskovskoye, Pleshcheyevo, and Beloye lakes. It also dwells in the waters of the Gulfs of Finland and Bothnia in the Baltic Sea. Vendace can also be found in Scandinavia, including Denmark, as well as in Germany, Finland, Scotland, and Belarus.

Despite its small size, the vendace is a valuable commercial fish. In the 16th through the 18th centuries, the vendace was considered a royal fish, it was even part of the coronation ceremony. This choice is based on the fact that the fish is not only delicious but also healthy and nutritious.

Caloric value of vendace

Vendace contains 88 kcal per 100 g.

Nutritional value of vendace

Vendace contains omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin РР, and minerals, including nickel, molybdenum, fluorine, chromium, zinc, sulfur, chlorine, calcium, magnesium.

These vitamins and micronutrients are beneficial to the immune system, nervous system, heart, and brain health.

In terms of cooking, there are many ways of preparing the fish. Vendace can be boiled, stewed, salted, marinated, smoked. Vendace caviar is also delicious and healthy. Despite its small size, the fish has very few bones, which makes eating it an even more pleasurable experience.