Salmon Fishcakes

By LyndaB

Ingredients

• To serve:
• 15 oz (425 g) tinned red salmon
• 10 oz (275 g) Desirée or King Edward potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 2 heaped tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 2 heaped tablespoons salted capers or capers in vinegar, drained and chopped
• 6 pickled gherkins (cornichons), drained and chopped
• 2 large eggs, hard-boiled and chopped small
• 1 level dessertspoon anchovy paste or 4 anchovies, mashed up
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• ¼ level teaspoon powdered mace
• ¼ level teaspoon cayenne pepper
• salt and freshly milled black pepper
• a few sprigs fresh parsley
• lemon wedges
• 1 quantity English Parsley Sauce
• For the coating and frying:
• a little flour for dusting
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 3 oz (75 g) matzo meal or fresh white breadcrumbs
• 2 about 2 tablespoons groundnut or other flavourless oil
• about ½ oz (10 g) butter

Details

Servings 12

Preparation

Step 1

First of all boil the potatoes in salted water for about 25 minutes or until they're absolutely tender when tested with a skewer. (Be careful, though – if they are not tender you will get lumps.) Then drain the potatoes and mash them to a purée with the mayonnaise using an electric hand whisk, then add some seasoning.

Now, in a large mixing bowl, simply combine all the ingredients for the fishcakes together.

Mix really thoroughly, then taste and season again if it needs it. After that, allow it to cool thoroughly, then cover the bowl and place it in the fridge, giving it at least 2 hours to chill and become firm.

When you are ready to cook the fishcakes, lightly flour a work surface, then turn the fish mixture on to it and, using your hands, pat and shape it into a long roll, 2-2½ inches (5-6 cm) in diameter.

Now cut the roll into 12 round fishcakes, pat each one into a neat, flat shape and then dip them, one by one, first into the beaten egg and then into the matzo meal (or breadcrumbs), making sure they get a nice, even coating all round.

Now, in a large frying pan, heat the oil and butter over a high heat and, when it is really hot, add half the fishcakes to the pan, then turn the heat down to medium and give them 4 minutes' shallow frying on each side. Then drain on crumpled greaseproof paper and keep warm. Repeat with the rest of the fishcakes, adding a little more oil and butter if needed. Serve immediately on hot plates with the English Parsley Sauce, sprigs of parsley and some lemon wedges.