Smoked Haddock Spinach Potato Cakes Food

SMOKED HADDOCK WITH BUTTERED SPINACH & MUSTARD SAUCE

Steps:

• To make the sauce, gently heat and stir together the mustard and crème fraîche in a small saucepan, then turn off the heat and set aside.
• Put the spinach in a colander and put in the sink. Pour over kettle-hot water to wilt, cool under cold water, squeeze out as much water as possible, then set aside.
• Put the potatoes in the bottom part of a tiered steamer, just cover with water and bring to the simmer. Lay the fish fillets in the first tier of the steamer and, after the potatoes have cooked for 5 mins, sit on top, cover and steam for a further 5 mins or until the fish is cooked through. While the fish and potatoes are cooking, bring another small pan of water to the boil, add the vinegar and poach the eggs to your liking - we did ours for 2 mins.
• Gently reheat the sauce and add the lemon juice and a small splash of water if it's a little too thick. Season and stir in the chives. Lift the fish tier off the potatoes, drain the potatoes, then tip them back into the pan. Add the spinach and a drizzle of the sauce, and mix to combine. Divide the potatoes and spinach between 2 plates, sit a fillet of haddock on each and top with a poached egg. Drizzle the remaining sauce over the eggs and around the fish, and serve straight away.

SPICED SMOKED HADDOCK FISH CAKES

Steps:

• Cook the potatoes in lightly salted boiling water for 15-20 minutes or until tender. Meanwhile, put the smoked haddock in a large shallow microwaveproof dish and pour over the milk. Cover with cling film, pierce a few times, then microwave on High for 4 minutes or until the fish flakes easily. (Alternatively, simmer in a pan on the hob for 5 minutes.)
• While the fish cooks, heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a frying pan and fry the onion, ginger and paprika for about 5 minutes until the onion is soft. Remove from the heat.
• When the potatoes and fish are ready, drain them both. Mash the potatoes with a potato masher, and remove the skin and any bones from the fish. Mix the potatoes, fish and onion with the coriander, lemon juice and plenty of salt and pepper. Divide the mixture into eight, roll each portion into a ball and flatten slightly. Dip into the beaten egg, then coat with the oats. Put on a plate, cover with cling film and chill in the fridge for half an hour or so to firm them up a bit.
• Heat 2 tbsp oil in a frying pan (preferably non-stick if you have one) until very hot. Fry 4 fish cakes at a time for 5-6 minutes on each side, turning once, until they are golden and crisp. Lift out and drain on kitchen paper. Wipe the pan clean with kitchen paper and fry the remaining fish cakes in another 2 tbsp oil, making sure it's really hot before you put them in. Serve hot, with lemon wedges and a cucumber and yogurt dip (bought or home-made).

SMOKED HADDOCK GRATIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Place the spinach in a large colander in a sink and carefully and slowly pour over a kettleful of hot water to wilt it. Cool again under the cold tap then squeeze out as much liquid from the spinach as possible. Butter a medium gratin dish. Roughly chop the spinach and scatter evenly over the base of the dish. Season the spinach lightly with salt and pepper and lay the haddock fillets, skinned side down on top. Nestle the tomatoes among the haddock fillets.
• Mix all the ingredients for the topping, except the breadcrumbs, in a small bowl and season with lots of pepper and a little salt. Dollop and spread the mixture over the fish and spinach. Scatter everything with the breadcrumbs and bake for 30 mins until bubbling and golden. If you like things really grilled finish for a few mins under a hot grill. Serve straight from the dish.