Fritelle di Merluzzo (Cod and vegetable fritters)

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Paul Ainsworth transforms the flavours of bubble and squeak into these elegant cod fritters which make perfect appetizers or snacks. Traditionally made in Italy with salt cod, or baccala, this version is easy to make at home.

First published in 2015

Ingredients

Metric

Imperial

Cod

  • 500g of cod, skinned and boned
  • 25g of butter, melted

Fritters

To serve

  • mayonnaise
  • 2 lemons, cut into wedges

Equipment

  • Food processor
  • Deep fat fryer

Method

1
Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4 and prepare the oil for deep frying the fritters by heating it to 180°C
  • oil, neutral, for deep frying
2
Brush melted butter on the cod and place the fish on a baking tray. Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes until flaky and cooked through, then remove from the oven and leave to cool
  • 25g of butter, melted
  • 500g of cod, skinned and boned
3
Add the olive oil to a pan and heat on a medium heat. Add 50g of the butter and, once the butter has melted, add the finely chopped carrots, onion, swede and cabbage and a pinch of salt to the pan. Cook until all the vegetables have softened
4
Meanwhile, cook the potatoes in boiling water until soft. Drain the potatoes, then add the remaining butter and the milk. Blitz in a food processor to make a purée
5
Flake the cod into the potato and combine with the cooked vegetables, adding the lemon juice and zest to taste. Sprinkle the chopped parsley and chervil over the purée mix , season, and leave to cool
6
Roll the mixture into small balls, with wet hands. For each ball, dip in egg white, then into the panko breadcrumbs
7
Deep fry in batches for a couple of minutes until golden and crispy, then remove and leave to drain on kitchen paper
8
Drizzle over some olive oil and season with a pinch of rock salt. Serve immediately with mayonnaise and lemon wedges
First published in 2015

Southampton-born Paul Ainsworth got his break courtesy of Gary Rhodes, whom he worked for three years. After that, he moved to Gordon Ramsay's organisation, working first at his flagship Royal Hospital Road restaurant and then with Marcus Wareing at Petrus.

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