Passover Recipe: Fish Bites

FOOD

Vered Simons

" Vered is the author of the food blog ‘Eat Now Talk Later‘ - eatnowtalklater.wordpress.com...."

11th April, 2012

A couple of weeks ago I was asked to speak to a Year 5 class about Passover in 15 minutes. I figured it was not enough time to explain the measurement of an egg or tradition of gifts for the child that find the afikomen. Instead we had more of a ‘question and answer time’. The class were all non-Jewish and had learnt a good deal about the story of Passover. They were particularly interested in the objects on the Seder plate and why they are there. I have to say I was very impressed with the questions, including ‘What does the bone on the Seder plate represent?’, and ‘Why do you have two bitter herbs?’ It was so inspiring to see a class of non –Jewish 9-10 year olds take such an interest in my religion, especially as I am probably the first Jew some of them have ever met. It is such a wonderful feeling to walk out of the class and realise that you have unintentionally learnt a lesson or gained some new knowledge.

Having just spent 2 Seders with my family and friends, I have been thinking about the things I love and things I don’t like so much about the Seder. My late Savta (grandma) used to bring gefilte fish to our Seder, and I have to admit that even as a modern Sephardi Jew, I loved the flavours of the boiled fish with the spicy sweet chraine (beetroot and horseradish sauce). However, I am aware that not everyone likes gefilte fish, and some people view it as part of the symbolic ‘suffering’ we have to endure as part of the Seder. (Apologies to all those savtas/grandmas/bubbas out there!)

So, if you are not a fan of gefilte fish and you’re getting bored of matzah, here’s an alternative fish recipe that can be used as a Pesach lunch or as part of the Seder. It’s a simple and cheap recipe you can whip up in a flash, and a great way to use up leftover mashed potato. These fish bites also have the added benefit of being very low fat, so why not make a few extra and keep some for a cold snack or to have with a salad?

I wish you all a wonderful and inspiring Pesach.

Fish Bites

Makes about 18.

Ingredients:

• 2 tins tuna, drained
• 1 tin salmon, drained
• 3 potatoes, peeled, boiled and mashed
• Bunch of fresh parsley or dill, washed and chopped
• 1 courgette, finely grated
• 1 carrot, finely grated
• ½ white onion, finely grated
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil (optional)

Salt & pepper

1. Preheat oven to 170 degrees. Prepare an oven tray with tin foil and spray it with a little oil.
2. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Add a pinch of salt and black pepper.
3. Shape the mixture into small, firm, round cakes. If it is too wet to shape add 1 tbsp matzah meal.
4. You can now place them straight into the hot oven on the oiled tray to cook for about 15 minutes; turn once.
5. OR, if you want to brown them a little first, place them into a hot pan with the 2 tbsp oil and fry for a minute on each side. Then oven bake for 15 minutes, turning once.

Serve with chraine or lemon mayo. You can eat these hot or cold.
Bete’avon!