Scottish Fish Cakes Recipes

CLASSIC FISH CAKES

Steps:

• Place all ingredients, except for the breadcrumbs, in a large bowl and mash until thoroughly combined.Form the mixture into 8 equal patties and roll them in the panko breadcrumbs. (You can make smaller patties if you prefer.) Refrigerate the patties for at least 30 minutes or until they've firmed up.
• Heat some oil in a non-stick pan and fry the patties on each side for 3-4 minutes until lightly browned, being careful not to overcrowd the pan.
• Serve immediately with our BEST homemade tartar sauce!

SCOTTISH FISH CAKES

Steps:

• Marinate the salmon and cod in orange and lemon juice, salt and pepper, basil, parsley and olive oil.
• Boil potatoes until cooked, drain them and then bake them in the oven (at low heat) for 10 minutes.
• Mash the potatoes and (while potato is still hot) mix in the fish and the marinade.
• Set the mixture aside to cool down.
• When the mixture is cold, add the beaten eggs and mix in.
• Take handfuls of the mixture and shape into large egg-sized balls, flatten to about 1-inch-thick rounds.
• Bake under a hot broiler for 2 minutes.

NOVA SCOTIA FISH CAKES

Steps:

• Put the fish and milk in a medium saucepan. Refrigerate at least an hour.
• Peel the potatoes and put in a saucepan with water to cover. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, until the potatoes are soft. Drain thoroughly, mash and season well with salt and pepper.
• In a small skillet, melt butter, add scallions and cook until soft, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Remove the fish from the refrigerator and place over medium-low heat. Bring the milk to a simmer and cook the fish until flaky, 5 to 7 minutes; do not overcook. Remove from heat, drain off the milk and allow to cool. Using a fork, break the fish into large flakes.
• Lightly beat one of the eggs and stir into the cooled potato mixture with the scallions and Worcestershire sauce. Add the flaked fish and 1 tablespoon of the parsley and gently fold into the mixture. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
• Taste for seasoning and adjust if needed. Form patties about 3 1/2 inches in diameter and 1 inch thick for entree portions, or 2 inches in diameter for appetizer portions.
• Beat the remaining 2 eggs in a small bowl and put the bread crumbs in another. Dip the patties first in the beaten egg and then the bread crumbs. Heat about 1/8 of an inch of oil in a frying pan, adding more as needed. Fry the patties for just a few minutes on each side until golden. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with the remaining parsley. Serve warm with lemon, tartar sauce, chutney or chowchow.

NOVA SCOTIA FISH CAKES

Steps:

• In a large bowl mix together flaked fish, mashed potatoes, onion, 1/4 cup flour, eggs and parsley. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Form the mixture into 12 small patties.
• Place the remaining 1/2 cup flour in a shallow dish and season with salt and pepper. Stir to mix well.
• Heat about a 1/4-inch of vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet over moderately high heat. Dredge the fish patties in the seasoned flour, shaking off any excess and add them to the hot oil. Cook untill browned on both sides; about 8 minutes total, turning once. As the patties are cooked, transfer them to paper towels to drain. Serve hot.

FAMILY MEALS: EASY FISH CAKES

Steps:

• Cook the potatoes in boiling water until just tender. Drain well and return to the pan on a low heat. Heat for another minute or two to evaporate excess liquid. Mash the potato with a small knob of butter. Allow to cool.
• Put the fish spring onions and milk in a shallow dish, cover with cling film and cook in the microwave for 1 ½ - 2 mins until just cooked. If you don't have a microwave, put everything in a saucepan and gently cook until just opaque and cooked through.
• Drain the fish and spring onions through a fine sieve. Gently mix through the potatoes, avoiding breaking up the fish too much, along with the sweetcorn, cheddar and a generous grind of black pepper. Form into 6 - 8 patties. The cooler the mash potato is when you do this, the easier it will be to form the patties as the mixture will be very soft when warm.
• Pour the egg on one plate and scatter flour on the other. Dip the patties in egg and then flour and arrange on a sheet of baking paper on a tray. Put the patties in the fridge for at least half an hour to firm up if the patties feel very soft. At this point you can freeze the patties, wrapped individually. Defrost throughly before moving onto the next stage.
• Heat a large frying pan with a generous glug of olive oil. When the oil is hot, carefully lower the fish cakes into the pan. Cook for 5 - 7 minutes or until golden brown underneath and then carefully flip them over. Fry for another 5 - 7 minutes or until golden on the bottom and heated all the way through.

ULTIMATE FISH CAKES

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.

SMOKY FISHCAKES WITH OAT CRUMB

Steps:

• Boil potatoes in salted water for 15 mins until tender, drain, then return to the pan. Mash quickly over a gentle heat until the potatoes become quite dry, then transfer to a large bowl. Put the fish in a microwave-proof dish with a couple of spoonfuls of water, cover with cling film, then cook on Medium for 2-3 mins until the fish flakes easily. Gently peel away the skin, then flake into the potatoes in large chunks.
• Mix in the spring onions, 2 tbsp of tartare sauce and some seasoning, then shape into 4 cakes. Briefly whizz the oats in a food processor until slightly crumbly-looking, then tip onto a plate. Dip the fish cakes into the egg, then into the oats to coat. Chill for 20 mins to firm up.
• Heat the oil in a large, non-stick frying pan, then fry the cakes for 5 mins on each side until golden and hot. Serve with the leftover tartare and a green salad.

CLASSIC CHUNKY FISH CAKES

Steps:

• Cover the potatoes in cold, salted water and bring to the boil. Turn down to a simmer and cook for 10-12 mins until tender. Drain and steam dry for a few mins, then mash and set aside to cool a little. Meanwhile, cook the fish. Cover in cold water and the lemon juice, bring to a gentle simmer, then poach for 5 mins (depending on the thickness of the fish) until just cooked through. Remove from the water, get rid of the skin and flake into large chunks.
• Put the lemon zest, herbs, spring onions, tartar sauce and some seasoning into a large bowl with the fish and the potatoes. Combine all the ingredients, then divide into 12 and shape into cakes.
• Put the eggs, flour and breadcrumbs on three plates. Dip each of the fish cakes in flour, pat off any excess, then dip in the egg. Finally, coat in the breadcrumbs and transfer to a clean plate or baking tray lined with parchment paper. Repeat with the remaining fish cakes. You can freeze the fish cakes now for up to three months, or chill for 1-2 days.
• To cook, heat the grill to medium. Brush the fish cakes with the oil and grill for 4-5 mins each side until golden and hot through. Serve with extra tartar sauce and salad or green veg. Defrost frozen fish cakes overnight in fridge and cook as above. Alternatively, to cook straight from frozen, heat grill to medium, oil fish cakes as per recipe then grill 12-15 mins one side to brown, before flipping and grilling the other side for 5 mins more.