Smoked Trout Fish Cakes With Mushy Peas Food

TROUT CAKES

Steps:

• Cook the minced onion with the butter in a small pan over medium heat until translucent, but not browned. Remove from the pan and let cool.
• Chop the trout meat with a knife into bits. You can chop very roughly and then pulse a couple times in a food processor, but you want the trout in little pieces, not as a paste.
• Mix all the remaining ingredients (except the frying oil) together in a large bowl. Form cakes with your hands. I like them about the width of my palm. You will need to wash your hands a couple times to remove debris; this helps you make cleaner, nicer cakes.
• Let the cakes sit in the fridge for 20 minutes or so -- this lets the breadcrumbs absorb moisture, which helps your cakes hold together.
• Heat the frying oil in a large, wide pan over medium-high heat. Fry as many cakes as will fit in one layer without touching. Cook them until each side is golden brown, about 4 to 6 minutes per side. Serve hot.

SMOKED TROUT FISH CAKES WITH MUSHY PEAS

Steps:

• Cook the potatoes in boiling salted water for about 10 mins, until tender. Drain really well, then return to the pan and steam dry for a few mins. Remove from the heat, add the horseradish, then mash together.
• Gently stir in the flaked trout, lemon zest and half the juice with some seasoning. When the mixture is cool enough to handle, make 8 patty-shaped cakes, dust each one lightly with flour, then chill for 5 mins to set.
• To make the mushy peas, put the peas in a pan with the stock and bring to the boil, reduce the heat and cook for 3 mins until tender. Transfer to a food processor, or use a stick blender, and whizz for 30 secs to a crush. Tip them back into the pan, add a squeeze of lemon juice and some seasoning, and keep warm.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan until hot, cook the fish cakes for 3-4 mins on each side until golden and crisp - you may have to do this in batches. Serve with mushy peas and some extra lemon wedges on the side.

SMOKED TROUT FISH PIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Melt the butter in a saucepan, then stir in the flour for 1 min. Gradually stir in the milk and horseradish, if using. Bubble the sauce to thicken for a couple of mins, then add the dill, three-quarters of the onions, the lemon zest, fish and some seasoning. Pour into 4 individual pie dishes or 1 large pie dish.
• Mix the mashed potato with the remaining spring onion. Spoon over the fish mixture, then bake for 15-20 mins until golden and bubbling.

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.