New England Codfish Cakes Recipes

COD CAKES

Steps:

• Fill a shallow, wide pan with high sides with about an inch of water, and set it over high heat. Add the peppercorns, bay leaf and 1 section of the lemon to the water, and allow it to come to a bare simmer. Place the fish into this poaching liquid, and cook, barely simmering, until the flesh has just begun to whiten all the way through, approximately 6 to 8 minutes. Using a wide spatula, carefully remove the fish from the water, and set aside to cool.
• Empty the pan, and return it to the stove, over medium-high heat. Add the butter, and allow it to melt, swirling it around the pan. When the butter foams, add the celery, onions and garlic, and sauté, stirring often, until the vegetables soften and the onions turn translucent, then transfer them to a large bowl.
• In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, mustard, eggs, salt, pepper and seasoning salt (or paprika and hot-pepper flakes), then add this mixture to the bowl with the sautéed vegetables, pour the crushed saltines or bread crumbs over them and stir to combine. Add the parsley, and stir again.
• Flake the cooked fish into the binding sauce carefully, keeping the flakes as whole as you can manage, then gather them into small balls, and form them into patties, 4-6 for a main course, 6-8 for an appetizer. Place them on a sheet pan or platter, cover loosely with plastic wrap and transfer them to the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to set.
• Set a large sauté pan over high heat, and add to it the neutral oil. When the oil is shimmering, remove the fish cakes from the refrigerator, and carefully sauté the patties until they are golden brown, approximately 4 to 5 minutes a side. Work in batches if necessary. (A small smear of mayonnaise on the exterior of the patties will give them a crisp crust.) Serve them alone, or with greens dressed in a lemony vinaigrette, with the remaining wedges of lemon.

COD FISH CAKES

Steps:

• Place the potatoes in a large pot of water, bring the water to a boil. Let the potatoes cook until they are almost tender.
• Add the fish to the pot and let the fish and potatoes cook until they are both soft. Drain well and transfer the potatoes and fish to a large mixing bowl.
• Add butter, onion, parsley, and egg to the bowl; mash the mixture together. Mold the mixture into patties.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over a medium-high heat. Fry the patties on both sides until golden brown. Drain on paper towels before serving.

MOORE'S NEW ENGLAND CODFISH CAKES

Steps:

• Cover the cod with cold water for 1 to 2 hours or until the cod can be torn. Change the water once or twice if the water gets excessively salty-taste. Note: DO NOT over freshen. I think salt cod must be less salty than in days of yore.
• Pare the potatoes but leave whole.
• Place the potatoes & cod in a saucepan just large enough to hold tearing the cod into pieces to fit if necessary. Cover & simmer slowly until the potatoes are tender.
• Drain & separate the cod & potatoes.
• Rice or mash the potatoes.
• Place the cod in the center of a clean kitchen towel. Roll up, & shred the cod by rubbing the cod with your fingers through the towel. (This method allows you to feel any bones that might be lurking in the fish.).
• Mix together the cod & potatoes then mix in the egg & pepper mixture. Taste for salt, add salt if the cod was "over-freshened". Can be refrigerated at this point.
• Shape the mixture into cakes about 2" in diameter & about ½" thick.
• Fry in bacon fat or butter, in a heavy skillet, over medium heat until golden on each side-about 2 or 3 minutes a side.

NEW ENGLAND COD CAKES

Steps:

• If using salt cod: Soak salt cod in a large volume of water in the refrigerator for 12 - 24 hours. Change water several times. Place fillet into a 3 -4 quart sauce pan with a large volume of water, bring to a boil and turn heat down so that liquid is simmering. Cook for 10 minutes, remove from heat and leave in water for 10 - 15 minutes. Rinse under cold water and break into flakes.
• Boil potatoes in salted water until done, drain and return to pan over moderate heat for 2-3 minutes to evaporate excess moisture. Mash as for mashed potatoes and keep warm. Saute onions or scallions in a small amount of butter until soft.
• Mix fish, potatoes, butter and onions to- gether using a fork, then mix in eggs, mus- tard, pepper and herbs, if using.
• Form the mixture into cakes and refrigerate for up to 6 hours if not cooking immediately.
• Heat enough butter to coat a frying pan, preferably non stick, and cook over medium heat until each side is well browned and the cakes are heated through.
• Serve immediately with slices of lemon, tarter sauce or mayonnaise mixed with lemon juice and capers. Smaller cakes can be served as a first course, while larger cakes, served with salad and bread, make a great lunch or light dinner.

NEW ENGLAND CODFISH CAKES

Steps:

• Season fillets well with salt and pepper. Place on the rack of a steamer over boiling water. Cover and steam for 5 minutes. Remove rack and fish and let fillets cool.
• Peel potatoes and cut them into 1 1/2-inch cubes. Cover with cold water in a saucepan. Add sliced onions, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
• Drain potatoes well and mash them coarsely.
• When fish is cool enough to handle, flake it with a fork.
• Place potatoes in a mixing bowl. Add egg, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and grated onion. Blend very well and add fish, folding it in lightly without overmixing. Put mixture in a baking dish and chill in refrigerator.
• When mixture is thoroughly cool, shape it into 12 hamburger-size patties. Put flour in a shallow dish and dredge fish cakes in it. Shake off excess flour.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large nonstick skillet. Fry patties for about 2 1/2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and serve immediately. Use remaining 2 tablespoons oil if necessary. Serve with tartar sauce (see recipe).