Supermarket chain Sainsbury’s will be making carp – a fish generally considered to be inedible by Britons – weighing between 5-7lb available in 35 of their stores throughout the UK in the lead up to Christmas.

The fish, big enough to feed a family of four, is likely to cost up to £15, with Eastern European immigrants expected to be the main customers for this ‘delicacy’.
For the thousands of Poles living in the UK, Christmas is not Christmas without a feast of carp and they are said to be delighted at the news that their traditional Christmas fayre is again on the menu.

Earlier this month the Environment Agency spent close on £150,000 on a 150-strong squad of anti-poaching officers who will patrol coarse fishing hot-spots in an attempt to curb the increasing poaching activities of some Eastern European’s, for whom the carp is a favourite fish to eat.

So if you fancy a nice tasty carp instead of that boring old butter-basted turkey to impress your friends and relatives at Christmas, here’s a recipe for you to try. All of us at UK Flyfisher will most certainly be kicking that lip smacking traditional bird out of the oven and replacing it with a delicious…Carp! (Is that a fact…Mrs Editor?)
 
Peceny Kapr S Kyselou Omackou (Carp with sour-cream sauce)

* 1/4 cup butter
* 2 bay leaves
* 1/3 cup of sour cream
* 1 lemon, juice
* Salt and pepper
* 1 Carp, 3-4 pound, cleaned and ready to cook 

Grease a shallow making dish with butter. Season carp inside and out with salt and pepper, place bay leaves on butter and lay on it your carp. Cover with sour cream and lemon juice. Bake in oven 350 F for 40 minutes or when brown. Baste frequently. Serve with noodles or potatoes. Makes 4 servings.