Irish Fish Cakes Recipes

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.

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.