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Nani's Fish Cakes

A Christmas Tradition - Good Anytime
Prep Time2 days 2 hours
Cook Time40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Fish, Meat
Servings: 12

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Dry codfish (prepared - see below) or 2 lb of frozen cod
  • 1 tsp Active dry yeast
  • 1 cup warm water plus another 1 1/2 cup
  • 1-3 cups All purpose flour
  • Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste
  • Olive Oil for frying

Instructions

  • Two days ahead, soak dry cod for 2 days in a bowl of water in fridge. Change water twice a day. Remove any skin and all bones. Skip this step if using frozen cod.
  • Bring large pot of water to a boil. Add fish and boil until tender and flaky (test with fork). Drain well.
  • Mix yeast with water and allow to sit for 5 minutes.
  • Add another 1 1/2 cups warm water and stir.
  • Add enough flour just to make a very soft (thick, creamy) dough.
  • Shred the fish (with two forks) well. Mix into the batter.
  • Stir in a pinch of salt and pepper. If using frozen cod, be more generous with the salt. Mix well. Taste to see if you need more salt.
  • Cover and let rise for 1/2 hour.
  • In large frying pan, heat about 1/4" to 1/2" olive oil over medium/high heat. Fry fish batter by tablespoons-ful (like pancakes), until light golden-brown on both sides. Continue until batter is finished.
  • Strain on paper towels.
  • Leftovers can be covered in the refrigerator for about a week. Warm up in the oven at 350 degrees F, wrapped loosely in foil for a few minutes until warm throughout.