Salmon Gefilte Fish
Instead of the traditional whitefish, this gefilte fish is made with salmon and a Western white-flesh fish, giving it a pretty pale pink color and rich flavor. Serve over salad greens with horseradish sauce. Notes: Wild salmon is sometimes in short supply. Luckily, Alaska is a reliable source for the wild fish. You can serve the gefilte fish warm or cold; if you like, make it a day ahead and chill.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
For broth, in a 5- to 6-qt. pan, combine onion, carrots, celery, peppercorns, 2 qt. water, and bouillon cubes. Bring to a boil over high heat, cover, reduce heat, and simmer until vegetables are very soft, about 45 minutes. Pour broth through a colander into a bowl. Discard seasonings and return broth to pan. Set aside.
Step 2
2
For gefilte fish, pulse half of salmon and lingcod at a time in a food processor until finely chopped; do not purée. Scrape into a large bowl. Whirl onion in processor until smoothly puréed and add to fish with eggs, 1/3 cup matzo meal, pepper, and salt; stir until blended. Mixture should be just firm enough to hold its shape when formed into a ball with your hands. If too soft, stir in 2 to 3 tbsp. more matzo meal.
Step 3
3
With your hands, pat fish mixture, 2 tbsp. at a time, into smooth balls and set slightly apart on a plate. Rinse hands frequently in cool water to prevent sticking.
Step 4
4
Bring broth in pan to a boil over high heat; adjust heat to simmer. Add enough fish balls to pan to make a single layer without crowding. Simmer, uncovered, until balls are opaque when cut in center, about 10 minutes.
Step 5
5
Lift gefilte fish from pan with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels, draping fish with foil if you'll be serving it warm (see Notes). Repeat to cook remaining fish.
Step 6
6
For horseradish sauce, in a bowl, combine sour cream, horseradish, and dill.
Step 7
7
Arrange salad greens on individual plates or a platter. Lay fish on greens and accompany with pickles, horseradish sauce, and salt to taste.
Ingredients
Broth:
1 large onion, quartered
2 large carrots, cut into 1-in. pieces
2 stalks celery, cut into 1-in. pieces
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
3 fish or chicken bouillon cubes
Gefilte fish:
3/4 pound boned and skinned salmon, cut into 1-in. chunks (see Notes)
3/4 pound boned and skinned white-flesh fish such as lingcod or rockfish, cut into 1-in. chunks
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
2 large eggs
1/3 to 1/2 cup matzo meal
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
Horseradish sauce and salad:
3/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup prepared horseradish
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
1 to 1 1/2 qt. mixed salad greens, rinsed, dried, and chilled to crisp
Dill pickle spears
Salt to taste
Directions
Step 1
1
For broth, in a 5- to 6-qt. pan, combine onion, carrots, celery, peppercorns, 2 qt. water, and bouillon cubes. Bring to a boil over high heat, cover, reduce heat, and simmer until vegetables are very soft, about 45 minutes. Pour broth through a colander into a bowl. Discard seasonings and return broth to pan. Set aside.
Step 2
2
For gefilte fish, pulse half of salmon and lingcod at a time in a food processor until finely chopped; do not purée. Scrape into a large bowl. Whirl onion in processor until smoothly puréed and add to fish with eggs, 1/3 cup matzo meal, pepper, and salt; stir until blended. Mixture should be just firm enough to hold its shape when formed into a ball with your hands. If too soft, stir in 2 to 3 tbsp. more matzo meal.
Step 3
3
With your hands, pat fish mixture, 2 tbsp. at a time, into smooth balls and set slightly apart on a plate. Rinse hands frequently in cool water to prevent sticking.
Step 4
4
Bring broth in pan to a boil over high heat; adjust heat to simmer. Add enough fish balls to pan to make a single layer without crowding. Simmer, uncovered, until balls are opaque when cut in center, about 10 minutes.
Step 5
5
Lift gefilte fish from pan with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels, draping fish with foil if you'll be serving it warm (see Notes). Repeat to cook remaining fish.
Step 6
6
For horseradish sauce, in a bowl, combine sour cream, horseradish, and dill.
Step 7
7
Arrange salad greens on individual plates or a platter. Lay fish on greens and accompany with pickles, horseradish sauce, and salt to taste.
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