Deviled Fish Cakes with Lemon Horseradish Mayo
Here on the Cape Fear coast, we have some of the best fish and crab for these “cake” recipes. I like to use fish in a “crab cake style” for something different, but you may just as easily use crab.
For 4 to 6 servings of “cakes” you will need:
1 stick unsalted butter (divided in 1/2)
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped celery
1 green bell pepper diced
1 large garlic clove minced
1 teaspoon dry thyme
1 pound fish (skinless and boneless) cooked and flaked
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 cup bread crumbs
2 large eggs lightly beaten
1 dash of Cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons dried mustard
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
1 dash of salt
For the sauce you will need:
1/4 cup mayo
2 tablespoons yellow mustard
1 tablespoon horseradish
1 lemon juiced
2 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
1 tablespoon olive oil
(mix all of the sauce ingredients until smooth)
To prepare the cakes:
Heat half of the stick of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Then add in the onion, celery, bell pepper, garlic, and thyme. Sauté all of these ingredients for approximately 5 minutes.
Next, gently combine the fish and Worcestershire into the skillet.
Remove from heat, and then add cheese, 1/2 cup bread crumbs, 2 eggs, Cayenne pepper, dry mustard, and basil, and finish by seasoning with salt.
Now pat out all of the cakes, and then chill for 30 minutes to let the cakes set.
Heat the remaining butter in the skillet on medium heat. While the skillet is heating up, coat the cakes with the remaining bread crumbs.
Right before the butter begins to smoke, place the cakes in the skillet. Then brown on each side for approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
Serve with a dollop of sauce on top of each cake, and they go well with rice and veggies.
Eat and buy local!
Chef Danny H.
Danny Hieronymus was born and raised in Wrightsville Beach into a commercial fishing family and has been catching fish throughout NC all his life. He has also been cooking with his mother since he was 8 years old in the family restaurant. He can be reached at capefearcookin@yahoo.com.
