Passover Tuna Gefilte Fish Recipes

GEFILTE FISH

Steps:

• Have your fishmonger remove the heads and bones from enough fish to yield five pounds of white fish, pike and carp. Rinse the heads and bones thoroughly and set them aside for the broth.
• Grind the fish and onion using a hand grinder or food processor. Place in a large bowl and add eggs, salt, pepper, sugar, and matzo meal. Gradually add in water and stir. Slowly add in matzo meal and stir until well blended. Add more seasonings and water if needed.
• Knead mixture with hands until firm enough to form oval balls that hold their shape at approximately 3 inches in length. Make the fish balls and set aside.
• Place fish heads and tails in a large stock pot or Dutch oven with 2 quarts of water. Add salt, pepper and pinch of sugar.
• Boil uncovered for 30 minutes.
• Remove solids and strain and return liquid to pot. Add sliced carrots and onion.
• Carefully place the fish into the broth. The liquid should cover the fish. If not, add more water.
• Cover and bring to a boil. Uncover, reduce heat, and simmer for approximately 2 1/2 hours or until the stock has been reduced to less than half.
• Gently remove the gefilte fish and place in a large glass pan with sides (like a 9 x 13 glass baking pan).
• Strain the stock and pour over the fish. Cool and refrigerate until the stock gels.
• Serve with horseradish, sliced carrots, matzoh, and enjoy!

PASSOVER GEFILTE FISH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Blanch the head of cabbage in boiling salted water, about 5 minutes, then place in a basin of cold water. Remove the whole leaves and cut away the tough core. As you peel off the outer leaves, you may have to return the head of cabbage to the boiling water to soften the inner leaves. Dry on a clean towel and reserve.
• Place the matzoh meal in a small bowl. Cover with 1 cup of stock and let soak until needed.
• In a small skillet, heat the olive oil. Over medium heat, saute the onion until wilted, 4 to 5 minutes. Do not brown. Cool.
• In a wooden bowl or on a chopping board, chop the fish fine with a chopper or large knife. Add the matzoh meal with the stock, the cooled onions, 3 egg yolks, the chopped parsley and tarragon, 2 teaspoons of salt, white pepper, and cayenne, and continue to chop until well combined. In a clean, medium bowl, whisk the egg white until firm but not stiff. Stir a little into the fish mixture, then, quickly but gently, and fold in the remaining whites. To test for flavor, bring a little fish stock to a simmer, add a small ball of the fish mixture and cook for about 5 minutes. Taste and correct seasoning.
• Heat the remaining fish stock and spoon a little into an 11 by 17-inch baking pan. Divide the fish mixture into 12 portions, about 4 ounces each, and enclose each portion in 1 or 2 cabbage leaves. You will find that when the leaves get smaller, you will have to use 2 leaves to wrap the fish. As each package is formed, place in the prepared baking pan, seam-side down. This size pan holds the 12 packages comfortably. Pour the remaining stock over the fish and top with the julienned carrots and leeks. Cover the pan with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Let cool in the stock and refrigerate until needed.
• Presentation: Place 1 package of fish on each of 12 plates, garnishing with some of the julienned carrots and leeks. Serve with homemade horseradish, white or red.*
• Homemade Horseradish:
• To make white horseradish, finely grate peeled fresh horseradish into a small bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until needed.
• To make red horseradish, boil 1/2 pound red beets until tender. Peel and then finely grate into a medium bowl. Add about 1/2 cup grated horseradish, or to taste, and combine thoroughly. Refrigerate, covered, until needed.

FAIRLY CLASSIC GEFILTE FISH

Steps:

• Grind the fish, but not too finely. In a food processor it should be done in two batches, about 24 pulses each. Mix the fish with the onion, garlic, parsley, matzoh meal, lemon juice, wine or water and eggs. Season with salt and pepper. Do not underseason. The best way to check the seasonings is to poach a small amount of the mixture in simmering water and taste.
• For the stock, place the fish bones and heads in a stockpot. Cover with cold water, and bring to a boil. Boil about 5 minutes, skimming constantly. Lower heat to a simmer.
• Add the remaining stock ingredients except the salt, and simmer gently about 1 1/2 hours, adding additional water as needed to keep the ingredients covered. Strain through a very fine strainer. Season with salt.
• Pour the stock into a large shallow saucepan. Add the carrots, and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Remove the carrots, slice them and refrigerate. Add enough water to the stock so the liquid is about 3 inches deep. Bring to a simmer.
• Keeping your hands wet with cold water, form the fish mixture into oval patties about 3 inches long. Slip as many as will fit comfortably into the pan, and poach for 30 minutes. Remove and drain them, and continue poaching the rest. When all the fish is cooked, transfer it to a bowl or serving dish, scatter the carrot slices over it and refrigerate.
• Boil down the cooking liquid until it is reduced to about 3 cups. Strain through a fine strainer. Spoon some over the cooled fish. Refrigerate the rest. It should jell. Skim the surface.
• Serve the fish cold with horseradish and jellied broth on the side.

PASSOVER TUNA GEFILTE FISH

Steps:

• Grind the tuna fish and the small onion together, set aside.
• Beat the eggs together with the ground pepper.
• Add the matzo meal to the eggs. Mix well and let stand for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, put the water in a soup pan, add the salt, the cut-up onion, carrots and celery. Let this come to a boil.
• Add the tuna to the egg mixture, mix well.
• Roll into palm of hand medium sized balls and drop into pan of boiling water.
• Cover tightly and boil on low heat for 1 hour.
• Serve hot or cold.