Smoked Haddock and Spinach fishcakes

Smoked Haddock, Spinach and Potato Cakes

Serves 4

Ingredients

350g / 12oz smoked haddock fillet

450g / 1lb floury potatoes

150ml / ¼ pint milk

25g / 1oz butter

1 onion, finely chopped

140g / 5oz baby spinach

Seasoned flour

1 egg, beaten

Bread crumbs for coating

Vegetable oil for frying

 

For the mustard mayonnaise

175g / 6oz mayonnaise (see below)

2-3tsp grainy mustard

2 tbsp double cream

For the mayonnaise

300ml / ½ pint sunflower oil

1 tbsp white wine vinegar

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1 egg

Salt and white pepper

Peel and cut the potatoes into chunks then place in boiling salted water and cook until tender.  Meanwhile put the haddock in a pan with the milk, bring to the boil then turn the heat down.  Cover with a lid and poach for 3 minutes or until just cooked.  Set the haddock aside (reserving 2 tbsp of the milk), then remove the skin form the fish and fork the flesh into large flakes.

 

Fry the onion in the butter over a low heat until soft. Once the potatoes are tender drain well and put through a ricer into the buttery onion mixture.  Cook the spinach by placing in a colander and pouring over boiling water.  Cool with cold water then squeeze out excess fluid and chop.

Mix the spinach with the onion mash, then carefully fold in the fish – try to keep the flakes large.  Wet your hands and shape the mixture into 8 cakes, dust with seasoned flour.  Chill the cakes for 30 minutes.  Dip each cake in beaten egg, then breadcrumbs and fry in hot oil for 3-4 minutes on each side.  Serve with mustard mayonnaise and a green vegetable.

To make the mayonnaise place the egg, vinegar, mustard and salt and pepper into a food processor.  Process until well combined, then slowly add the oil through the feeder tube in a drizzle.  The mayonnaise will get thicker with the more oil that’s added.  Adjust seasoning if needed then store in the fridge for up to 5 days.  To make mustard mayonnaise simply mix all the ingredients together.

To get ahead: The cakes can be assembled ready to cook and kept in the fridge for 2 days ahead.  The mayonnaise can be kept for 2 days in the fridge.

To freeze: The cakes can be assembled ready to cook, then frozen for up to 1 month ahead.  The cakes can be cooked from frozen by cooking for 5 minutes on each side.  The mayonnaise cannot be frozen.