Haddock & Shrimp Cakes with Basil Mayonnaise
These crispy cakes have big hunks of succulent seafood. Nico Monday and Amelia O'Reilly love haddock, a sustainable fish with sweet, firm white flesh. The accompanying basil mayonnaise is a big improvement on basic tartar sauce.
- Total Time:
- Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup basil leaves
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 3/4 pound skinless haddock or cod fillet, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
- 1/2 pound medium shrimp—shelled, deveined and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
- 1/2 cup panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives
- 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
How to make this recipe
- In a small saucepan of boiling water, blanch the basil for 30 seconds. Drain and rinse it under cold running water. Squeeze the excess water from the basil and transfer the basil to a blender. Add the mayonnaise and puree. Transfer to a bowl and season with salt and black pepper. Refrigerate the basil mayonnaise until lightly chilled.
- In a large bowl, combine the haddock and shrimp with the panko, heavy cream, egg, chopped parsley and chives, lemon zest, cayenne, 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. Form the mixture into eight 1/2-cup cakes, about 3 inches in diameter.
- In a large cast-iron skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in the oil. Add 4 of the fish cakes and fry over moderately high heat until browned and crisp, about 3 minutes per side. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the fish cakes to paper towels to drain. Repeat with the remaining butter and fish cakes, then transfer the cakes to a platter and serve at once, with the basil mayonnaise.
Make Ahead
The basil mayonnaise can be refrigerated overnight.
Suggested Pairing
Dry, floral Provençal rosé
Photo © Christina Holmes