How to Make Proper Fish Cakes

This month's guest blogger is a good friend Penny of Jeroxie. If Penny and I were to hang out, I could imagine us trying new restaurants together all over the city whether in Metro Manila or in Melbourne. We'll eat and shop till we drop. But here's a light, refreshing dish from Penny that would tantalize and tickle your taste buds.

Have you ever wondered why some home made fish cakes or fish balls are more bouncy than others? I found this traditional method while surfing the net one day and had made many fish cakes and fish balls ever since. As all good and simple things in life, it takes a little more time and effort. I tend to curse and swear quietly as my arms will feel so sore after continuous slapping of the fish mixture. But as always, it is very rewarding and satisfying.

I was totally thrilled when Divina asked for me to be her guest blogger. I offered to do it this month as my garden was still pretty bare in January. With my very late planting, it means that my tomatoes aren't ready but delighted that the rest of my herbs are flourishing. Therefore, all the herbs used in the fish mixture is from the garden.

From the garden

Ingredients:

Fish cake

• 1.1kg of trevally
• 11/2 tbsp of fish sauce
• 4 finely chopped red chillies
• A handful of finely chopped parsley
• A handful of finely chopped coriander
• A handful of finely chopped spring onions
• Salt and white pepper

Minced fish with chopped herbs

Simple Salad

• 2 small carrots, finely julienned
• 2 small cucumbers, skinned, de-seeded and finely sliced
• 4 cherry capsicums, finely diced
• 8 cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 16 grapes, halved
• Good quality olive oil

A simple salad of grapes, cucumbers, tomatoes and carrots

Method:

• Scrape the flesh off the skin with a porcelain soup spoon. Remove any bloodline and bones if any. Use a chopped and mince it. Place the minced fish in a big metal bowl
• Add all the ingredients for the fish cake except the fish sauce and mix it through. Start grabbing a handful of fish mixture and slap it against the side of the metal. (Watch the youtube video below) It takes awhile and be prepared for sore arms later!
• Since the mixture becomes sticky, add the fish sauce and continue till the mixture looks like fish mash
• Shape the fish cake and add it to the hot pan with olive oil. Bring the heat down to medium and shallow fry it till they are lightly brown on both sides or cooked
• For the salad, mix all the ingredients together and just add olive oil
• Serve the fish cakes and the salad together.

Fish cake with simple salad

For this post, I have especially made my first iMovieyoutube video and hopefully it illustrates how the fish slapping is done. Would love to hear your feedback.

I had so much fun making this and kicked myself for not trying to find more time to make this more often. It made a very light and refreshing Sunday brunch for Mister and myself. I guess this is the healthier and yummy option to our usual bacon and eggs menu! :)

Thanks Divina for the opportunity to guest blog.

Thanks Penny for your time and for the wonderful recipe. I will be making this really soon.

Love and light,



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