Egyptian Fish Kofta Recipes

FISH KOFTAS IN TOMATO AND CARDAMOM SAUCE

Steps:

• Start with the sauce: In a large sauté pan (choose one that has a lid), heat olive oil, garlic, half the sliced chile pepper and a good pinch of salt over medium-low heat. Gently fry for 6 minutes, stirring frequently, until garlic is soft and golden. Remove 2 tablespoons of the oil (with some of the chile and garlic) and set aside.
• Add celery, shallot and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt to the same pan and continue to cook for 8 minutes, stirring often, until soft and translucent. Increase the heat to medium, add the tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, cumin, lime zest and juice and the cardamom and continue to cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the wine, 1 1/2 cups/350 milliliters water and 1/4 teaspoon salt and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 20 minutes, turning the heat down if the sauce bubbles too much, and stirring once in a while.
• While the sauce is simmering, make the fish koftas: Add fish, pistachios, herbs, lime zest, chile and egg to a bowl with 3 tablespoons potato flour and 1/8 teaspoon salt and mix together well. Grease your hands with a little oil and roll the mix into approximately 12 golf-sized balls (about 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 ounces/45 to 50 grams each), applying pressure to compact them as you go. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons/25 grams flour to a plate and roll each ball in the flour so they are coated.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large, nonstick saucepan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the fish balls and cook for about 5 minutes, turning throughout until all sides are golden-brown and crisp. (Remove the sauce from the heat and set aside if it finishes before you finish the koftas.)
• After the sauce has been cooking for 20 minutes, transfer the balls into the sauce, drizzling over some of the frying oil (or return the sauce to medium heat). Cover the pan with the lid and cook for 4 minutes, until hot.
• Remove the lid and scatter the herbs and the remaining fresh chile over the top, then drizzle with the reserved garlic and chile oil. Serve hot, with lime juice added to taste, or with lime wedges alongside.

EGYPTIAN FISH KOFTA

Steps:

• Poach fish in salted water for 10 minutes. Remove when cooked.
• Boil peeled and quartered potatoes in the same water for 15 minutes. Remove and mash them.
• While the fish is cooling, boil the potatoes. When the fish is cool enough to handle, tear the fish into pieces, feeling for any remaining bones (remove them).
• Drain the potatoes when they are done, and lightly mash them with a fork in a bowl. Add the chopped coriander and parsley, crushed garlic and finely chopped onions while the potatoes are still warm. Add the salt, pepper, cinnamon, and cumin.
• Add the fish. Blend it well, but don't thoroughly mash the fish. Adjust the flavor to your liking.
• Heat the oil for frying.
• Make walnut-sized balls of this fish mixture in the palm of your hand. Dip the pieces in the beaten egg. Next, dip the pieces in coarse bread crumbs.
• Fry 4 - 5 pieces at a time in hot oil until brown on both sides. Remove to drain on a plate lined with paper towels.
• Serve with squeezed lemon.