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RECIPE

Recipe: Spicy salmon fish balls with fruity tahina dips

You are going to love this Middle Eastern spin on an old favourite

articlemain
  • place PRE 30 minutes
  • place COOK 20 minutes
  • place SERVES Makes: 20 approximately
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Make both or just one of the dips — they are equally delicious. If you need to get ahead, you can freeze the fish balls for 3 months or refrigerate for 2 days. Reheat them in an oven at 160°C for 10-15 minutes.


Method:

  • Finely chop the leek and parsley and place in a large bowl with the minced fish, spices and beaten eggs. Mix to combine.

  • Add 1 – 2 tsp of harissa - taste the harissa to check the level of heat first as they can vary – and 4 tbs matzah meal. If the mixture seems very wet add 1 - 2 more tbsp. Mix well until blended.

  • Shape the mixture into balls and place on a tray or flat plate.

  • Warm a frying pan over a medium heat and add 2 tbsp sunflower oil. When the oil is hot, shallow fry the fish balls for approximately 3 – 4 minutes on each side until the fish balls turn golden brown.

  • Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon onto a tray or plate lined with kitchen paper towel to absorb the oil. Serve immediately or cool and refrigerate or freeze until need then reheat them as above.

  • For the apple and date tahina: mix the date syrup and apple sauce with one pot of tahina,

  • For the beetroot/pomegranate tahina: blitz the second pot of tahina with the pomegranate molasses and the cooked beetroots until smooth.

  • Serve the fish balls with one or both sauces. Any leftover sauce is delicious with crudités or drizzled over simply grilled fish or meat.

    Instagram: Fabienne_Viner_Luzzato


Ingredients

500g fresh salmon (skinless and boneless) minced
1 medium leek
30g fresh flat leaf parsley
2 eggs, beaten
4 – 6 tbsp fine matzah meal
1 – 2 tsp harissa (depending on how spicy you want it)
½ tsp each of turmeric, sweet paprika, cumin
Salt and pepper
200ml sunflower or vegetable oil approximately (for frying)

For the dips:
2 x 250g pots ready-made tahina sauce (I like Yarden brand)
For the apple and date tahina:
6 tbsp date syrup
3 tbsp smooth apple puree
For beetroot pomegranate tahina:
3 tbsp pomegranate molasses
125g cooked beetroot

Optional garnish: finely diced dates; finely diced apple; tbsp of pomegranate seeds

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