Fish cakes & tales of accidenteley by chance

This world is the size of a golf ball. Well, not literally. Nevertheless, true…

Received this call from an unknown number last week (around late afternoon) and while I answered the call; I had the least idea of what could follow next. The voice asked for me with an air of acquaintance. Too good to be a cold sales call; yet it took me a while to realise where this was coming from.

The voice started introducing himself… helping me rake up a fuzzy picture of the past. A short walk the memory lane, I soon realised this voice this voice had a name; and the voice personified was a long lost, dear buddy from high school. That voice was that of ‘V’. 

The last time we had seen each other was 16 years ago; the day of our convocation. I couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised that he made an effort to re-connect. A long conversation followed… the usual like: how, where, when etc. It so happened that he was here in my city for some work; during which he had almost by chance met my husband ‘KD’ at a conference the very same day and had re-discovered my ‘being’. This call was meant to be a surprise and what a beautiful and memorable surprise this has been.

The meet up (although very short) was a real treat. Settled in Mumbai; 'V' family is a gorgeous one with a beautiful wife and a 2 year old daughter. A gentleman to the core; 'V' works as a  financial economist (Funny, I told him as; he had once told my best friend's father that he wanted to become 'a karate kid'. He took the film rather seriously at that point in time) and as I learn now; he has met ‘KD’ once before, but never had a chance to chat up.


You see a situation like this can spark off areas in your grey matter you'd long thought never existed... the lunch time plays, mischiefs and young broken hearts. I was curious to know what he'd be up to, was he in touch with others from the gang etc... and more then anything I wanted to know what about his 'then' well-known fetish with his hair (during one inauspicious days he was famously caught by our dreaded physics teacher ‘Mrs. B’ gazing at his reflection in the window panes and combing his hair to give it the John Travolta like raff). I still remember Mrs B's look (bit of a black hole really). She was always known for her chalk piece aiming ritual. she would break a chalk piece into manageable size and aim at students; hitting them either on their shoulders or hands. The force of that hit being determined by her outburst. 'V' got one that day! 'Hit him like a missile'-as he puts it today. That seems like a by-gone era: He is clean shaven now! I was told his hair couldn’t live up to his expectations. Genetics played its part in a recession (at least in his hairline). With or without his hair; I bet, I couldn’t have recognised him and vice versa had it not been the way we did. 

‘V’ has been travelling around this country for the past 2 weeks and would be heading back to India then following morning. However, the good news is he’d be back in July with his wife and kid for a holiday. I look foreword and have extended an invitation to the couple to come and stay with us.

This incident, I recon, is what they say: Accidentally purposeful J

Speaking of which… I have another one for you. This time it’s about ‘Smoked haddock’. You would say, ‘What a shift from ‘V’ to smoked haddock?’ Well, you will see it’s all a part of the ‘accidentally purposeful’ scheme of things J
The dinner plan options were-
‘V’ arrived by at almost dinner time…

‘V’  loves fish

‘KD’ proposed eating out at this amazing sea food restaurant (which we recently discovered)

‘V’ recons ‘Why not order something from outside?’

I am thinking: What’s in the fridge?

Some smoked haddock, a few fiery spices and a couple boiled potatoes.

Problem solved: I could do up something at home and in no time.

2 hrs on… we are done with dinner. Lovely company, home made food, raked up lost childhood memories and a couple of beers to wash down the food… it was fun. As gracious as he is, ‘V’ sent in a text latter:

‘Just a humble thanks for a great evening. Fish cakes, chips, a few cans of beer and in the company of two great friends… a stay in a foreign land couldn’t have got friendlier’

My Fish Cake Recipe

Ingredients

Smoked haddock fillet                350 gms

Milk                                          200 ml

Bay leaves                                 2

Cloves                                      2

Shallot, finely chopped               2 tbsp

Spring Onion, finely chopped      1 tbsp

Fresh Coriander, finely chopped  1 tbsp

Waxy potatoes, boiled and peeled 100 gms

Lemon juice                               2 tsp

Mayonnaise                               120 ml

Eggs                                         2 +1 more for coating the fish cake

Red chilli, de-seeded, minced      1 tsp

Mild curry powder                     ½ tsp

Garlic, finely minced                  2 cloves                                            

 Bread crumbs                           200 gms + a little more

Ground pepper                          ¼ tsp (optional)

Oil                                 

Salt, to taste

§        In a wide mouthed pan, bring the milk to simmer. Reduce heat and add the cloves, bay leaves and the haddock fillet. Let it simmer again (uncovered for 4 minutes or so). The haddock fillet should start flaking. Take it off the milk; remove the skin (if still intact) and let it cool. Flake the flesh in a large mixing bowl.

§        To this add the mash potatoes, red chillies, shallots, fresh coriander, spring onions, 2 whole eggs (lightly whisked), curry powder, pepper (coarsely ground, if you are using), garlic mince, mayonnaise, lemon juice and about 2 tbsp of the bread crumbs. Mix well and rest in the fridge for 10 mins.

§        Check seasoning now. Divide into equal portions.

§        Whisk up an egg (you might need more, depending on the size of the eggs you are using). Add 2 tbsp of the milk (we used to poach the haddock fillets) and whisk again. In another platter spread out the breadcrumbs. Preheat oven to 170 degree C (fan oven)

§        Coat the fishcakes in the egg mix and then coat well with breadcrumbs. Sometimes, I repeat this process. But for today, it going to be just one coat.

§        Spray cakes with oil and bake, turning them every ten minutes. Should take about 25-30 mins

Enjoy this healthy, easy to make dish with sides of cucumber and yoghurt salsa. 

....................To good times. Maverick Cook :)