Why is gefilte fish served with a slice of carrot

happy chick

Thu, Aug 04 2022, 5:07 pm

is there any significance to this? I dont do it, but seems like a lot do.

Ema of 5 ↓

Thu, Aug 04 2022, 5:08 pm

happy chick wrote:

is there any significance to this? I dont do it, but seems like a lot do.

My thought? Because many people cook it with carrot (I don’t) and don’t want the carrot to just get thrown out, so they put it on the fish, hoping the person being served will eat it.

watergirl

Thu, Aug 04 2022, 5:12 pm

Because it tastes good. Carrot and onion are classic seasonings, and why throw away usable food?

Elfrida

Thu, Aug 04 2022, 5:13 pm

A bit of colour on a very bland looking food.

Blessing1

Thu, Aug 04 2022, 5:13 pm

Tradition???
And it tastes good.

Chickensoupprof

Thu, Aug 04 2022, 5:16 pm

It resembles the kippa of the yidden (im kidding)

glamourmom

Thu, Aug 04 2022, 5:22 pm

cuz it's the best part of the portion.

Mermaidinexile

Thu, Aug 04 2022, 5:43 pm

Because gefilte fish swim with a carrot on their heads and it's best to serve fish with something that resembles its natural habitat.

Thu, Aug 04 2022, 5:49 pm

Another vote for it’s the fish’s kappel

agreer

Thu, Aug 04 2022, 5:51 pm

Ema of 4 wrote:

My thought? Because many people cook it with carrot (I don’t) and don’t want the carrot to just get thrown out, so they put it on the fish, hoping the person being served will eat it.

100% This ^^

It's to avoid bal tashchis as carrots are almost always cooked alongside the fish, traditionally.

Don't overthink it.

fatso gal ↓

Thu, Aug 04 2022, 6:04 pm

I thought the gefilta fiah swam around the ocean with a cut piece of carrot on its head.

ra_mom

Thu, Aug 04 2022, 6:12 pm

Chickensoupprof wrote:

It resembles the kippa of the yidden (im kidding)

↑ Ema of 5

Thu, Aug 04 2022, 6:35 pm

fatso gal wrote:

I thought the gefilta fiah swam around the ocean with a cut piece of carrot on its head.

It swims around in the bathtub until Mama is ready to cook it!!

iyar

Thu, Aug 04 2022, 6:50 pm

I'm loving all the answers.
Even ra_mom who (uncharacteristically) had no wise answer but burst out laughing just as I did.

I'm just disappointed this in under Fish, Recipe Collection.
There was a thread recently about cholent that put it under Issues of Concern to Frum Society and IMHO the humble gefilte fish deserves no less.

Hashem_Yaazor

Thu, Aug 04 2022, 7:11 pm

Because we're combining kra es roa gzar dineinu with sheyifriu vyirbu kdagim

my mama

Thu, Aug 04 2022, 7:56 pm

Well, I recently heard a vertel that is related

Mechutanim at a wedding (meaning other married kids in-laws) are like the carrot on the gefilte fish. They both gotta be there but they serve no purpose.

shirachadasha

Thu, Aug 04 2022, 8:11 pm

iyar wrote:

I'm just disappointed this in under Fish, Recipe Collection.
There was a thread recently about cholent that put it under Issues of Concern to Frum Society and IMHO the humble gefilte fish deserves no less.

Considering the strong opinions here, maybe it belongs in Emotional Health.

If a carrot tree falls in the forrest, does a gefilte fish have ears?

↑ fatso gal

Thu, Aug 04 2022, 8:14 pm

Ema of 4 wrote:

It swims around in the bathtub until Mama is ready to cook it!!

I told you wednesday night is not a good night to take a bath uncle isadore