Dried Seafood From Qijin Island, Taiwan

Dried Seafood is a delicacy in Taiwan. There are many markets that excel in dried seafood, but the Fish Market on Qijin Island, Taiwan is the best. During the Japanese colonization, the island developed a taste for the dried fish that Japan holds dear. With their acquired taste for dried fish, the manufacturing of equipment for this industry has boomed. Taiwan is one of the major exporters of fish processing machinery of all kinds. This is the decade where the Taiwanese consumer has spoken. They desire their snacks and they value their leisure time. So this is the age of commercial dried fish, though it has not always been that way. 

Welcome to the world of dried fish. It is one of the most versatile of all proteins and keeps forever almost. One of the favorites of all the fish, is the small dried fish. The Taiwanese seem to love these small fish as an evening snack.  They also like the cans of dried, powdered  fish . The amazing thing about the powder is that you can add it to soups and casseroles and you have almost instant protein. But nothing is better than these small fish fixed the traditional way. The key here is the marinade. They are soaked for a bit in sesame oil with chopped green onion , garlic, red pepper, and crushed peanuts. Let the fish set in the marinade for a couple of hours and then fry it slowly, adding the marinade as needed. After that the fish is left in the sun to dry thoroughly. Once the fish has been dried, you can package it in air tight packaging. Any brand sealer is good for these step. Once the fish is dried and sealed, your dried fish will last for months or longer. Usually when doing it at home,  6-12 months is the maximum. 

If you do not want to do it yourself and love the Taiwanese fish, pick up some packages of the fresh dried fish and the cans of power and store in your suitcase. Never come with only one full suitcase. Plan to have room for what you might want to bring back. Anytime is a good time to come to Taiwan, so grab your passport and pack lightly for your Taiwanese visit.