Mum’s Very Easy Gefilte Fish Cakes
Gefilte fish is a traditional Ashkenazi Jewish dish that has been a family favourite for generations
Makes: 16 Fish cakes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Equipment:
- 1 Mixing Bowl
- 1 Box Grater
- food processor
Ingredients:
- 500 g White boneless Fish
- 2 med Onions
- 2 lge Eggs
- 80 g Medium Matzo Meal
- 1-2 tsp salt
- 1-2 tsp black pepper
- 1-2 tsp sugar
- Oil of choice for frying
Instructions:
- Remove the skin from your fish then blend it with the onions in a food processor, it will look like mush
- In a large bowl, mix the ground fish mixture, eggs, matzo meal, salt, pepper, and sugar until smooth.
- Chill the mixture for 30 minutes to make it easier to handle.
- Using wet hands, shape the mixture into your preferred sized cakes
- Heat oil in a frying pan
- Fry the fish cakes in batches, about 6–7 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through
- Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain the excess oil
Tips / Notes
Always make sure your oil is hot before adding the fish cakes to the pan. If the oil isn’t hot enough, the cakes will absorb too much of it and become greasy rather than crisp and golden. You may need to top up the oil as you go, especially if you’re frying in batches, just remember to heat it properly again before adding more cakes.
If you love onions you can add an extra one, if you like them chunky in your fish cakes, then dice rather than blend or grate.
If you haven’t got a food processor or a hand blender, ask your fishmonger to mince the fish as it does need mincing not dicing.
The traditional recipe often includes a touch of sugar, and while it’s optional, it really does add that authentic flavour.
If you don’t have matzo meal, breadcrumbs will do the job, but for the best texture and flavour, stick with matzo meal.
Gefilte fish cakes aren’t just great straight out of the pan, they’re also delicious cold, perfect for a next-day snack or a picnic bite.
I hope you enjoy the recipe – let me know if you give it a try and how it turns out!
Did you make this recipe?
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