Q: I can not get my fishcakes right . I’ve tried different recipes but they are always soft ,even if I leave the mixture in the fridge for a few hours,but the bigest problem, they absorb a lot of oil although I use very little oil to fry them . They are very nice and tasty but not easy to handle.

A: There are a number of techniques to use when making fish cakes.  These include:

1. Ensure that you have a good wet/dry mix.  You need a binding agent such as egg and a starch for binding,  such as cooked potato, flour  or breadcrumbs.
2. Work the mixture when mixing, so that it becomes sticky.
3. Once the fish cakes have been shaped, chill in the fridge for approximately 30 minutes so that the firm up.

At Wickedfood Cooking School we make delicious fish cakes in our Thai cooking class.  Fish cakes are a popular snack, found throughout Thailand, and are an ideal starter or appetizer. Every chef has his own secret recipe, and we found this one at Pat’s Home Thai Cooking School in Phuket, especially delicious. What makes them special is that they have no flour or baking powder, which when added, tends to make the cakes rather stodgy. When making the cakes make double quantities and freeze any leftovers. Always bring back to room temperature and heat through before serving as they are best eaten warm. These cakes can also be made using chicken, pork, beef, lamb or prawns, but then blend the meat in a food processor until almost pasty in consistency.

500g fine flesh white fish fillets (hake, cob), skin on

1 egg

¹/2 cup string or French beans, sliced fine

3T kaffir lime leaves (or basil), shredded

1t sugar

1t salt or 1T fish sauce

1-3T red curry paste

±3 cups oil for flying

1. Using a fork, scrape the meat off the skin, a little at the time, which will give the meat the appearance of having been ground.
2. Place the fish in a large bowl, together with the remaining ingredients, except the oil, and knead with the hands until sticky. Then continue to mix, aerating by taking spoonfuls and forcefully dropping back into the bowl.
3. Heat the oil in a wok or frying pan. Dampen the hands with a little cold water, and then working with approximately a tablespoonful at a time, form into approximately 3cm x 1cm diameter cakes, and drop into the hot oil, taking care not to splash. Fry for about 3 minutes on either side, or until golden brown and crispy, then drain on paper towel.
4. Serve with cucumber dipping sauce

Serves 4-6

Wickedfood Cooking School

Sunninghill – (011) 234-3252 sunninghill@wickedfood.co.za

Runs cooking classes throughout the year at its purpose-built cooking studios. Classes are run in the mornings and evenings 7 days a week (subject to a minimum of 12 people). The venue is also popular for corporate events and private functions – team building cooking classes, birthdays, kitchen teas, and dinner parties with a difference.

Our classes are hands-on, where every person gets to participate in the preparation of the dishes. They are also a lot of fun where you not only learn new skills, but get to meet people with similar interests. For corporate groups and teambuilding cooking classes these events are a novel way of creating staff interaction or entertaining clients.

You may remember Katie from the TV series which chronicled the couple’s trip to Tuscany to rediscover Giancarlo, her husband’s, culinary roots, and set up a cooking school.

In The Italian Cookery Course she has collated recipes, techniques and ingredients to create a unique compendium of Italian food. The book will guide you through the vast collection of famous recipes and lesser-known regional dishes, with clear instruction on how to replicate them at home. Each chapter contains ‘masterclasses’ on technique, revealing the practical secrets of Italian cooking and giving the reader new confidence in the kitchen. It has some great sections including:

• Italian breads – how to make your own starter dough, perfect ciabatta, Focaccia, and pizza;
• a great chapter on antipasti, including a guide on Italian cold meats cuts, demystifying various hams from Italy and even how to make your own Bresaola;
• Making pasta – adding colour and filling, as well as some mouthwatering sauces;
• a good section on Italian cheeses and how to use them; and
• An formative section on preserving.

Even if you have a host of other Italian cookery books, this book is well worth the purchase.

Wickedfood Cooking School

Sunninghill – (011) 234-3252 sunninghill@wickedfood.co.za

Runs cooking classes throughout the year at its purpose-built cooking studios. Classes are run in the mornings and evenings 7 days a week (subject to a minimum of 12 people). The venue is also popular for corporate events and private functions – team building cooking classes, birthdays, kitchen teas, and dinner parties with a difference.

Our classes are hands-on, where every person gets to participate in the preparation of the dishes. They are also a lot of fun where you not only learn new skills, but get to meet people with similar interests. For corporate groups and teambuilding cooking classes these events are a novel way of creating staff interaction or entertaining clients.

500g waxy potatoes
2 cloves garlic
2 lemons
4T marjoram leaves
Extra virgin olive oil

1. Preheat the oven to 220°C.
2. Scrub and cut the potatoes in half lengthways, and each half  lengthways again. Peel and chop the garlic.
3. Cut the lemons in half lengthways, and each half into three and each third into half. Put in a bowl with the potatoes, squeezing the juice out of the lemon pieces with your hands as you mix.
4. Add the garlic, marjoram, salt and pepper and enough olive oil to moisten well. Tip into an ovenproof dish.
5. Roast for ½ hour, until they are cooked and brown. Halfway through, turn the pieces over.

Wickedfood Cooking School

Sunninghill – (011) 234-3252 sunninghill@wickedfood.co.za

Runs cooking classes throughout the year at its purpose-built cooking studios. Classes are run in the mornings and evenings 7 days a week (subject to a minimum of 12 people). The venue is also popular for corporate events and private functions – team building cooking classes, birthdays, kitchen teas, and dinner parties with a difference.

Our classes are hands-on, where every person gets to participate in the preparation of the dishes. They are also a lot of fun where you not only learn new skills, but get to meet people with similar interests. For corporate groups and teambuilding cooking classes these events are a novel way of creating staff interaction or entertaining clients.

2T butter
2T oil
1kg short ribs (Find ones with a good fat-meat ratio)
Salt and pepper to season
2 medium onions, peeled and chopped
3 carrots, peeled and chopped
3 celery stalk, chopped
6 cloves garlic, chopped
2 anchovy fillets
2 bay leaves
¼t thyme
¼ cup bourbon (or other whiskey)
2T tomato paste
1½ cups water
1T soy sauce
1/3 cup pomegranate molasses (or regular molasses)
fresh ground pepper

1. Preheat oven to 150°C. Heat the butter and oil in a large casserole dish over medium heat.
2. Season the short ribs and brown (about 3 minutes each side) in the casserole. Remove the ribs and set aside.
3. Add the onion, and cook to translucent.
4. Add the carrot, celery, garlic and anchovy and sauté for 5 minutes.
5. Add bay leaves, thyme, bourbon, tomato paste, water, soy sauce and pomegranate molasses. Return ribs, cover, bring to the boil and place in oven on center rack. Cook for ±2 hours or until the meat is soft.
6. Serve with rice or cuscus.

Serves 4-6

Wickedfood Cooking School

Sunninghill – (011) 234-3252 sunninghill@wickedfood.co.za

Wickedfood Cooking School runs Johannesburg cooking classes throughout the year at its purpose-built cooking studios. We offer a variety of Cooking Classes. Cooking lessons are run in the mornings and evenings 7 days a week (subject to a minimum of 12 people). The venue is also popular for corporate events and private functions – team building cooking classes, birthdays, kitchen teas, and dinner parties with a difference.

Our classes are hands-on, where every person gets to participate in the preparation of the dishes. They are also a lot of fun where you not only learn new skills, but get to meet people with similar interests. For corporate groups and team building cooking classes these classes are a novel way of creating staff interaction or entertaining clients.