I grew up knowing a fishcake as being fish sandwiched between two slices of potato covered in batter.
But when I ventured out into the wider world beyond Sheffield, fishcakes were strange breaded minced-up fish things.
Was my whole childhood a lie?
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Fishcake tends to be flaked fish mixed with a starchy ingredient (usually potato mash) that’s given a crispy coating. You’ll find minced cheap fish and potato used on the cheaper varieties.
So, a fillet of fish, sandwiched between potato slices and covered in a crispy batter, isn’t a million miles away from the traditional fish cake.
The Sheffield fish cake is definitely the better beast.
But I like the minced up ones too.
If I could get proper fish cakes down here, I’d be a lot rounder.
I’m wondering just how localized they are now. Do fishcakes just change as soon as you cross the Sheffield border?
I’m curious. Might have to phone a few chippys.
I think you can get them generally across much of Yorkshire, but outside of that it’s a freak occurrence and to be praised and treasured if/when you come across a proper fishcake. I feel strongly about this.
Cooked flaked, salted cod fish stirred into a potato mash with a little savory, salt and pepper. Make them into rounded balls just smaller than tennis balls. Hot iron skillet and a little butter. Pop them in the pan and press em down with the spatula until they’re about an inch thick. Do both sides until golden brown and warm through and you have what I consider a fish cake.
Fishcakes? They’re mostly deep-fried disappointment since they’re not proper Sheffield fishcakes.
Last year, the company I work for had a ‘mental health’ day. I used it to drive a 280-mile round trip to Sheffield just to go to Two Steps chippy on Sharrow Vale Road for a fishcake butty for lunch. Fucking worth it. Absolutely.
The breaded minced up thing, I’m afraid. Maybe I should go to Sheffield though, your one sounds great!
The fishcake is a lie.
Yep, whole childhood a lie I’m afraid. Fish cake is usually mashed potato mixed with fish, fried (usually breaded).
Although that said, has anyone ever encountered a cod roe “fish cake”? Literally a slice of pressed roe fried up. So I guess “fish cake” covers a multitude of sins.
Stinky groin.
fishcake
noun
A mixture of flaked fish, mashed potato and seasoning made into a patty and shallow fried.
What you had growing up is the anomaly, but it sounds far better.
Minced fish formed into a patty.
Crispy magic.
The strange breaded minced up fish things are usually called fish sticks in America. Kids love them.
Meanwhile the only place I’ve encountered “fish cake” is at Japanese ramen restaurants where its this weird slice of fishy tasting something they put on the Ramen. Found it here:
https://www.justonecookbook.com/kamaboko-fish-cake/
The ones I see are the narutomaki at my local spot. Love the ramen, but these are the part I skip eating, I just don’t find them appealing.
Ah, well a fish stick is a fish finger in the UK, so that’s a whole other thing.
Whatever the fishcake contains, it is usually round.
We do crab cakes here that are like that. If you find good ones they can be pretty awesome sometimes.
Where did you hear my nickname for your mom? We tried to keep it between just us.
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