In celebration of Passover, I wanted to make a traditional food – so we made Gefilte Fish! Thank goodness for Stephanie at InCultureParent. She had the perfect recipe.
Just as a note, I’m no food blogger. I don’t even really like to cook (especially). I mean, it’s okay – here and there – but I’m no maestro in the kitchen. Plus, I don’t like the mess that I have to clean up afterwords. Despite that, I did want to make at least one traditional meal. So, I went to the store and bought the specialized ingredients (another reason I don’t like to cook – buying expensive spices and such that will only be used once).
Okay, enough of the grump.
Here is the recipe, which I took directly from InCultureParent.
Ingredients:
1/2 lb skinless, boneless salmon fillets
1/2 lb skinless, boneless red snapper or tilapia fillets
1/2 lb skinless, boneless cod fillets
1 large onion
2 carrots
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4-1/2 cup matzoh meal
1/4 cup ice water
2 cups fish stock
Instructions:
1. Boil fish stock in slow cooker (or bring to a boil on stove and transfer to a slow cooker).
2.. Place onion and 1 1/2 carrots in a large food processor. Grind. Scrape down side, add spices, and pulse. Add fish, and pulse until fully ground.
3. Turn fish mixture into a large mixing bowl. Add eggs. Mix thoroughly with a fork. Add ice water. Mix. Starting with 1/4 cup, add matzoh meal a bit at a time until mixture can bind into balls.
4. Shape fish into palm-sized, oval balls. Gently drop into hot stock. Add the remaining 1/2 carrot. Simmer for two hours. To serve, slice the remaining carrot, place the fish onto a dry plate, and top with a carrot slice.
Just a few notes.
- I used a seafood stock. There was nothing that said “fish stock” in the store. In fact, there was only one seafood stock. I didn’t even get a choice of brands.
- I used a 1:1:1 mixture of Salmon:Cod:Tilapia
- There must be something wrong with my slow cooker (AKA, picked the cheapest one for the birth and didn’t think I would actually cook in it). I was never able to get my seafood stock to boil. So, I boiled it on the stove and put it in the crock pot (with the crock pot on high). The liquid did not simmer, but it still turned out fine.
- I think I added too much of the Matzoh Meal. When they say add it slowly – they are not kidding. You should check frequently for the ability of the mixture to form balls. Once it can be formed into a ball – stop adding the Matzoh Meal. I think ours over-tasted of Matzoh Meal.
I think it turned out really good. I have never had it, so I have nothing to compare it to. My hubby thought it tasted too much like Cod. I don’t really “do” fish much, so I couldn’t tell. Perhaps you should try adding a bit less Cod – maybe 1/4 lb.
Have you ever had Gefilte Fish? What foods do you cook for special celebrations?
Twitter: justusfour1
says:
This sounds really interesting. I have never had Gefilte Fish before. Thanks for sharing!
Hey Shannah,
Yeah, me neither. It was new to me! It was good. I think there are ways I could do better, but I think it was a good start!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Twitter: mamasmiles
says:
Slow cookers don’t typically make things boil – simmer, but not boil. At least, that has been the case with every slow cooker I have ever owned!
I’ve never had Gefilte fish, but my family does like fish in general. Mike makes an awesome grilled salmon in the summertime by cooking it on a water-drenched cedar plank. Super easy and incredibly delicious!
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o. WOW! Well then. I kept waiting and waiting for it to boil. Good to know!
YUM, that sounds really good! I have never heard of a water-drenched cedar plank.
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