Salmon Fishcakes

Photo: flickr user ndrwfgg

Ingredients

275 grams desiree or king edward potatoes peeled and cut into large chunks

2 heaped tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 2 heaped tablespoons salted 6 pickled gherkins (cornichons) drained and chopped

2 lrgs eggs hardboiled and chopped small

1 dsp anchovy paste or 4 anchovies mashed up

2 tablespoons lemon juice

teaspoon powdered mace

teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 salt and freshly milled black pepper

1 little flour for dusting

1 lrg egg beaten

75 grams matzo meal or fresh white breadcrumbs about 2 tables

about 10g butter

to serve:

1 quantity parsley sauce (qv)

1 few sprigs fresh parsley lemon wedges

Preparation

Boil the potatoes in salted water for about 25 minutes or until theyre absolutely tender when tested with a skewer. (Be careful though if they are not tender you will get lumps.)

Drain the potatoes and mash them to a puree with the mayonnaise using an electric hand whisk then add some seasoning.

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 5 to 6cm in diameter. 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.

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 then 4 minutes shallow frying on each side.

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 parsley sauce sprigs of parsley and some lemon wedges.

The thing to remember here is that good quality tinned salmon makes better fish cakes than fresh so dont be tempted to cook some salmon just for this.

Serves 6 (2 each)