An Easy Nova Scotia Fish Cakes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best binder for fish cakes? ›

Eggs and cracker crumbs will help bind everything together below a drift of spice.

Use a potato that is floury, starchy. Breadcrumbs will also work. Up the egg content if using. Especially if you are using pre cooked fish, all the sticky stuff that is contained within fish will have gone, so you need to replace this with a starch or some sort.

If you add too much egg, for instance, or the canned fish isn't properly drained, the mixture will be too wet and the cakes will fall apart. Too many breadcrumbs, on the other hand, will make your cakes dry and crumbly.

Fish cakes can become rubbery if overprocessed or overcooked, as this causes the proteins in the fish to tighten and squeeze out moisture.

First, use the right “glue.” If you've got the time and patience, a traditional breading (flour, egg and breadcrumbs) will work, but a far less messy and time-consuming binder is mayonnaise. It brings a bit of richness to the fish and spreads onto the fillets with a spatula so you can keep your hands clean.

One thing you'll always need for fish cakes is an egg. The proteins in the egg will help bind together your fish cake mix as it cooks. Think of it as your glue: Without it, your fish cakes are going to fall apart.

Cornflakes are classic breading material, but any grain-based, not-too-sweet cereal works great as a stand-in for traditional breadcrumbs. Corn or rice Chex, Wheaties, and even savory granola and oat-based cereals would make a great crust for your chicken breast or fish filets.

agree no need for milk or butter, if mix is too dry use an egg to bind. Though thinking about it I never use tuna, always salmon... Or cheat and fry the bottom, then stick pan under grill to cook top like you do for a Spanish omlette. Put them in the fridge to make them firm up.

Put the remaining egg in a shallow bowl, and tip the flour and breadcrumbs on to separate saucers. Dip each fishcake in turn into the flour, the egg, and finally the breadcrumbs until thoroughly coated. Put into the fridge for at least half an hour to firm up.

Drizzle a bit of oil. Place 3-4 fishcakes on the hot pan and cook on each side for 5-6 minutes, turning occasionally. If they start browning too quickly, reduce heat and continue cooking. The fishcakes are done when both sides are golden and the fishcake itself feels firm and slightly dry.

What is the pink stuff in fish cakes? ›

Narutomaki is made from surimi (white fish paste) that's been molded into a log and steamed. The pink spiral comes from dying half of the surimi with red food coloring and then rolling it into a cylinder.

TIP: Make sure your mixture is not to wet, you will need to form patties from it. If it is too wet, add a little flour. Dust your hands with flour to prevent excess sticking. Scoop up a portion of the mixture and shape into a ball.

This processed roll is primarily made of frozen surimi (processed, pureed whitefish), while the pink swirl comes from food coloring. Invented in the 1800s and prepared by slicing and steaming, narutomaki has a history of gracing traditional noodle soups, such as ramen and soba.

Each cloud-shaped slice of naruto has a pink or red spiral pattern, which is meant to resemble the Naruto whirlpools in the Naruto Strait between Awaji Island and Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture on Shikoku Island in Japan.

When you overcook fish, it can become dry, tough, and lack flavor. Overcooked fish loses its natural moisture, which can result in a dry and chewy texture. The proteins in the fish also begin to tighten, which can make the fish tough and rubbery.

"Heating your pan properly is a key factor for keeping your fish from sticking and will give you a flavorful crust. Heat your pan on a medium-high heat, then add a small amount of oil or clarified butter. When the fat is shimmering, the pan is hot enough to add your protein.

The three most common binders are xanthan gum, guar gum and psyllium husk powder. Each one works in a slightly different way to help create the structure we need to hold baked goods together.

Full Fat Milk

Liquid helps bind the dry ingredients together and are an essential part of any baked good recipe. The best type of milk to use in cake baking is full fat or whole milk, as it generally contains 3.5% fat, while skim milk contains none.