Irish Fish Cakes Food

IRISH COD FISHCAKES

Steps:

• Pour the milk into a large saucepan and add the sliced onion and peppercorns. Bring the liquid to simmering point. Do not boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the cod fillets and simmer for 7 to 10 minutes depending on the thickness of your fish.
• Remove the pan from the heat and allow the fish to cool in the liquid. Remove the fish with a slotted spoon. Reserve the liquid, which may be needed to bind the fish cakes.
• Flake the fish into a large mixing bowl, taking care to remove all the bones. Pass the mashed potatoes through a sieve or food mill.
• Add the mashed potatoes, minced garlic, parsley, salt and pepper and combine well together. Add the parmesan cheese if desired.
• Add the beaten egg and bind the mixture. If the mixture is too dry add some of the reserved poaching milk. If the mixture is too wet and sticky add a little flour.
• Divide into eight portions. Using floured hands form the mixture into flat cakes.
• Set up 3 bowls, one with flour, one with beaten egg and the other with breadcrumbs.
• Coat each fish cake in flour. Dip it in egg and then coat in breadcrumbs. Repeat with the rest of the fish cakes.
• Heat the butter or oil in a large skillet. Fry the fish cakes for about 5 minutes on the first side or until nicely golden brown. Flip the fish cake and brown for 4 to 5 minutes on the other side. Cook in 2 separate batches.
• Serve hot with a side of vegetables or a crisp green salad.

IRISH FISH CAKES

Steps:

• 1. Place the cubed potatoes in a large pot of boiling water, to which a pinch of salt has been added. Bring potatoes to a second boil and reduce heat. Cover and cook about 20 minutes or until tender. Drain and set aside to cool.
• 2. While potatoes are cooling, prepare the fish. Place fillets in a medium sized skillet and cover them with water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then simmer until fully cooked, about five to ten minutes. Drain fish and set aside.
• 3. Add 1-2 Tbsp. butter to the potatoes and mash thoroughly. Once mashed, add parsley and lemon. Mix well. Flake the cooked and drained fish into the potato mixture and thoroughly combine. Add 3 Tbsp. flour and mix well.
• 4. Using floured hands, form fish mixture into 1-inch thick patties and place on floured surface.
• 5. In a shallow bowl beat 1 egg and 1 tsp. water together. In another shallow bowl, add oats. Dip each fish cake into the egg, coating it well. Then dip into the oats, again coating well.
• 6. In a large skillet, heat 3 Tbsp. oil. Cook fish cakes in the oil for about 8 minutes on each side until they are a golden brown and heated through. Serve warm.

ULTIMATE FISH CAKES

Steps:

• Mix together 125ml mayonnaise, 1 rounded tbsp roughly chopped capers, 1 rounded tsp creamed horseradish, 1 rounded tsp Dijon mustard, 1 small very finley chopped shallot and 1 tsp finely chopped flatleaf parsley. Set aside.
• Lay 450g skinned Icelandic cod or haddock fillet and 2 bay leaves in a frying pan. Pour over 150ml milk and 150ml water.
• Cover, bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 4 mins. Take off the heat and let stand, covered, for 10 mins to gently finish cooking the fish.
• Meanwhile, peel and chop 350g Maris Piper potatoes into even-sized chunks. Put them in a saucepan and just cover with boiling water. Add a pinch of salt, bring back to the boil and simmer for 10 mins or until tender, but not broken up.
• Lift the fish out of the milk with a slotted spoon and put on a plate to cool. Drain the potatoes in a colander and leave for a min or two.
• Tip the potatoes back into the hot pan on the lowest heat you can and let them dry out for 1 min, mashing them with a fork and stirring so they don't stick. You should have a light, dry fluffy mash.
• Take off the heat and beat in 1 rounded tbsp of the sauce, then ½ tsp lemon zest, 1 tbsp chopped flatleaf parsley and 1 tbsp snipped chives.
• Season well with salt and pepper. The potato should have a good flavour, so taste and adjust to suit.
• Drain off liquid from the fish, grind some pepper over it, then flake it into big chunks into the pan of potatoes.
• Using your hands, gently lift the fish and potatoes together so they just mix. You'll only need a couple of turns, or the fish will break up too much. Put to one side and cool.
• Beat 1 egg on a large plate and lightly flour a board. Spread 85g fresh white breadcrumbs on a baking sheet. Divide the fish cake mixture into four.
• On the floured board, and with floured hands, carefully shape into four cakes, about 2.5cm thick. One by one, sit each cake in the egg, and brush over the top and sides so it is completely coated.
• Sit the cakes on the crumbs, patting the crumbs on the sides and tops so they are lightly covered. Transfer to a plate, cover and chill for 30 mins (or up to a day ahead).
• Heat 3-4 tbsp vegetable or sunflower oil in a large frying pan. To test when ready, drop a piece of the dry breadcrumbs in - if it sizzles and quickly turns golden brown, it is ready to use.
• Fry the fish cakes over a medium heat for about 5 mins on each side or until crisp and golden. Serve with the rest of the sauce (squeeze in a little lemon to taste), lemon wedges for squeezing over and watercress.

IRISH SALMON CAKES

Steps:

• Put the potatoes in a large saucepan, cover with salted, cold water and bring up to a boil.
• Cook until tender, 12-15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, put the salmon in a large, shallow skillet, season lightly with salt and pepper, and cover halfway with water or white wine.
• Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer to poach.
• Cover with a lid.
• Turn one time when halfway through cooking, and cook until opaque in the center.
• Remove from the pan and set aside until cool enough to handle.
• Remove skin (if it is on) and any bones.
• Flake the fish into medium-size chunks.
• When the potatoes are cooked, drain and return to the pan.
• Mash with milk while still hot to a fluffy, even consistency.
• Add tarragon and parsley.
• Fold in the salmon.
• Season to taste.
• Once cooled, add the egg and mix again. Chill for at least 10 minutes before forming the patties.
• Shape the mixture into 8 to 10 evenly sized cakes.
• Lightly dredge in flour, pass through the egg wash and then dredge in the breadcrumbs.
• Heat the oil over medium high heat in a large, nonstick skillet.
• Add the patties, being careful not to crowd them, and cook in batches.
• Turn when cooked to a golden brown.
• Count on about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels and serve immediately, garnish with lemon slices, parsley and a dollop of sour cream or creme fraiche.

FAMILY MEALS: EASY FISH CAKES

Steps:

• Cook the potatoes in boiling water until just tender. Drain well and return to the pan on a low heat. Heat for another minute or two to evaporate excess liquid. Mash the potato with a small knob of butter. Allow to cool.
• Put the fish spring onions and milk in a shallow dish, cover with cling film and cook in the microwave for 1 ½ - 2 mins until just cooked. If you don't have a microwave, put everything in a saucepan and gently cook until just opaque and cooked through.
• Drain the fish and spring onions through a fine sieve. Gently mix through the potatoes, avoiding breaking up the fish too much, along with the sweetcorn, cheddar and a generous grind of black pepper. Form into 6 - 8 patties. The cooler the mash potato is when you do this, the easier it will be to form the patties as the mixture will be very soft when warm.
• Pour the egg on one plate and scatter flour on the other. Dip the patties in egg and then flour and arrange on a sheet of baking paper on a tray. Put the patties in the fridge for at least half an hour to firm up if the patties feel very soft. At this point you can freeze the patties, wrapped individually. Defrost throughly before moving onto the next stage.
• Heat a large frying pan with a generous glug of olive oil. When the oil is hot, carefully lower the fish cakes into the pan. Cook for 5 - 7 minutes or until golden brown underneath and then carefully flip them over. Fry for another 5 - 7 minutes or until golden on the bottom and heated all the way through.