Fish Cakes

Ingredients:

1/2 lb cold boiled white fish, skin and bones removed
1/2 lb mashed potatoes, cold
pepper and salt to taste
1 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 tablespoon milk
1 tablespoon butter


Preparation:

  • Free the fish from skin and bone and flake it up.
  • Mash the potatoes and flaked fish smoothly, season with pepper and salt and mix well.
  • Put the milk and butter into a saucepan, and when it is quite hot put in the fish and the potato mixture.
  • Beat up one egg, and put it in the potato and fish mixture. Mix everything together till hot through.
  • Spread hot mixture on to a large serving plate or baking sheet and leave to cool.
  • Use small bowl, add in a tablespoon of cold water and beat up the second egg.
  • Put bread crumbs on a piece of paper or on small plate.
  • Shape the fish mixture into cakes about one inch high and two inches across; brush them over with the egg, and toss them into the crumbs.
  • Shape again and fry in hot oil. When nice gold in color take them out and dry on the paper towel for two minutes.
  • Arrange fish cakes in the form of a wheel on a serving plate, garnish with fresh or fried parsley leaves, and serve hot with your favorite salad.
Real Cooking
Fish occupies a most important place among the high-protein foods essential to properly balanced diet. It is also the most easily digestible and always tender. Because of this all fish (saltwater or freshwater) can be cooked, with slight variation, in the same way you cook very tender cuts of meat, such as baking, grilling, broiling, poaching, sautéing, frying etc. It is very important to remember one thing, fish is cooked to develop flavor, while meat is cooked to be tenderized and to develop flavor. 

The main things to know when buying fish is to learn how to judge whether or not fish is fresh. Keep in mind that truly fresh fish have no odor whatever; odor develops with age. Fresh fish is never slimy! If you are able to press lightly fish with your fingers and no impression remains this is a sign of a fresh fish. A less fresh fish will retain impression because the flesh has gone limp with age. Fresh fish will have bright, full and clear eyes, red gills and overall color clear and shimmering.