I’ll admit that I was ambivalent about local cook Justin Bonello. Until I won an autographed copy of his book Cooked, Out of the Frying Pan in one of the Kleine Zalze challenges last year. When I received the book I became quite star-struck and now follow Justin’s TV shows avidly. I’ve also bought some of his other books. I’ve grown fond of his blokeish honesty and down-to-earth way of doing things.
Justin is currently running a cooking challenge (with a Le Creuset prize) to make a dish from any of his books. As I had two filleted angel fish in the freezer, I decided to do the Fish Frikkadels and Apple and Mint Raita that Justin learned to make at Cindy Muller’s Johannesburg restaurant, Gold. (Page 47, Cooked, Out of the Frying Pan – recipe available on request.)
The tasting panel were my husband, daughter and her best friend. The girls liked the raita, but my husband said he’d prefer an aioli. All agreed that the frikkadels were superb.
And, wouldn’t you know it; today is Feast day of St. Peter, patron saint of fishermen, bakers, harvesters.
As an aside, I’d like to make a comment about Facebook competitions. I am a long-standing member of the South African food blogging community, so my comment is an informed one: people have grown tired of ‘most likes’ popularity contests and it is becoming to be seen as in extremely bad taste to ‘beg for votes’. If brands decide to run competitions, they should be judged on merit instead.
Just saying …
for dinner last night we had what Mr F (our cook) called fish cakes (minced fish) We’d love to get the recipe for Justin Bonello’s Frikkadels so we can try the S.African version.
Thanks for adding the point at the end. I agree the begging for votes is in bad taste.
Bonello’s fish frikkadels: (taken verbatim from the book)
½ kg of a smoked, oily fish (like snoek, angel fish or yellowtail)
3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
Salt and milled black pepper
60 ml coriander, chopped
2 eggs (lightly beaten)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 lemon to serve
Vegetable oil
Skin and flake the fish making sure that even the tiniest of bones are removed. If you are using snoek make double sure because there is nothing worse than getting a mouth ful of these little spears. This is a rather painstaking task but, believe me, it’s well worth the effort. Toss all the bone-free fish into a bowl.
Cook the potatoes in a pot of salted boiling water. Drain well. Mash and add salt and pepper to taste. Mix in the fish, coriander and egg and flavour with lemon juice.
Shape into little cakes by flattening them between your palms. Brown lightly on both sides in a lightly oiled pan. Garnish with lemon quarters and serve with a dip bowl of apple relish.
Apple and Mint Raita (relish):
2 large Granny Smith apples
1 cup washed mint leaves (without stalks)
Pinch of salt
1 clove garlic
Small pinch of green masala
Juice of ½ lemon
60ml plain yoghurt
Peel, core and slice the apples. Place all the ingredients, except the yoghurt, in a food processor and whizz to a thick puree. Mix in the yoghurt. Cover and chill before serving.
Many thanks for copying the recipe out for us. I love the sound of the word, Frikkadels
I’ll let you know when Mr F makes it.
My pleasure, hope you enjoy. (BTW, 2 things I changed: the original recipe makes 24 frikkadels. Mine were for our main meal, so I made a dozen large ones. I also left the skin on the apples as I wanted a crunchy relish.)
Wow! This sounds so delicious. I love coriander and there are no allergines. Onto my to-do list. Yum yum!
Thanks!
Strangely, I knew you were going to approve this one, Jamie
Going to try this tonight with some leftover braaied Atlantic salmon (not smoked, I know, but oily enough), so thanks to you and Bonello – yum. xx
It will work perfectly with your braaied salmon
Enjoy!
I enjoyed this post…I enjoy your honesty all the time…and understand the change of heart that comes with a new exposure to topic or person…been there. Done that. Eaten words I’d so firmly spoke into the universe.☺.
Your comment of the “like” button is right on…I try to be faithful with “liking”… ’nuff said on that.☺.
☮ Siggi in Downeast Maine, USA
I’ve been guilty of begging for votes in the past, Siggi, and am currently in a competition that has gotten completely out of hand and made me feel kind of soiled.
“Soiled Cindy”
I see a whole new persona for you with that one – LOL!
I’ll still vote for your dish though, no matter how dirty it makes me feel…
Aaaw, thanks Gregegg!
I will LOL at the begging for votes part. I know of a certain blogger if not two who does that, haha! But I don’t see any wrong because @ blogville we are like family and family sticks together/supports each other though I won’t do that myself. Morning Mem!
Hello my sweetie
I usually go and delete those pages from any list of likes. I don’t like facebook as a commercial location.
the fishcakes sound wonderful I’m having a spell of being in love with angelfish.
I can’t get the smell off my hands
Yummy. I’m hungry.
Sorry, no leftovers
It’s nice to have a task panel availabe at home.
Yes, it is, Charlie
You are good at your craft, Cindy. The food looks so delicious I could snap it off the page and try it. It never works, though. Blessings to you…
Thank you, Carol
I’ve never heard of Fish Frikkadels ~ but the recipe looks similar to Cod Cakes.
Lovely alliteration in both.
I agree with you about the “begging for votes.”
As you may recall, that is one of the reasons I decided against running for the Nature Made Good Mood Blogger position ~ it wasn’t based on selecting the best writer/blogger . . . it was a popularity contest designed to get bloggers to prostitute themselves to raise brand awareness. Ack!
The other reason I declined to run has to do with enjoying my status as “FREE AGENT.” I’m guessing that the Good Mood Blogger could NOT have posted the post I posted today.
And I enjoyed posting it. Immensely.
How’d you do that toothy grin, Nancy???
What’s a mrgreen?
The little green smiley face
That’s : mrgreen : without the spaces.
I agree with your concluding comment and the frikkadels look divine!
Thanks Leon
Those Frikkadels look delicious. So does the raita. I like Sparky’s response. When it’s family (blogging or flesh), it’s fun time. Otherwise, I am not very interested, I’m afraid.
The one competition has been running for 6 months and – unfortunately – some entrants have found a way to cheat. It’s all become dreadful.
Yum – done with snoek, they’d be out of this world – we don’t get that here
Try baracouta instead?
I decided not to enter this as it is a most votes counts competition! Hope you win though *off to vote for the other one* xxx
Thankfully that one is at an end … finally … xxx
I sent Justin a link to that Facebook “Rules” page – about not using “likes” in competitions. He replied saying that he did not know how else to award a winner ….. um YOU decide, Justin, YOU decide!
We’ll see how he responds to my email …
Good luck!
Thank you
That last one is me. WP is playing silly beggars this morning.
Okey dokey
Are they cheating?
Off to vote
I saw a comment on FB yesterday that Miss Bunny Ears is cheating.
How is she doing that?
I have no idea *shrugs*
Going to make this tonight for the twins. I’m hungry already!
Enjoy it with them
Although I’ve never been a fish frikkadel kind of person (ruined by school cooking), these would tempt me! Don’t know much about all the competition stuff, but you have my vote
Thanks Naomi, you’re very kind
Thank you for your delicious recipe!Looks very yummy!
Thanks for stopping by, Steffi.
I also hate the “like” competitions and tend not to enter them anymore.
I’m also not going to bother with them anymore. Thanks for the visit.
En as jy wen?
Ja I think merit is what it has to be and how many times should one like a recipe or vote – should only get one vote or one like.
Love your Drak pics – have been here from time to time -just not commented – life is a whirlwind at the moment! xx
Seems whirly for us all at the moment, Chris. Thanks for popping in *heart*
I also think the “like” thing is not very sincere…. I’m sure someone just click without even read about it…
Anyway, that dish looks lovely…my family will just love that
Thanks Tes
Drool
Kom sit, Maankind
Wish I was eating at your house right now!
Oooh, I would feed you up real good SuziCate
They look truly delicious
Thanks Honey
Agree with the “likes” comment. I’m going to make these.
Enjoy them Tammy
Word sista re the FB comment, and is there any leftovers? Frikkadel sound the shiz!
Sorry, Cheffie, all gone
thank you for your sharing the delicious food and good recipe
Thanks for stopping by, Clair
Thanks for the frikkadels recipe, Cin. Will try it out, I hope, in the next few months! I agree about the food competitions – they should be judged on merit only!
I hope your back on your feet in your own kitchen really soon, adee, (hug).
Those frikkadels look divine. I like fish. This looks like something I would enjoy
Uncomplicated and easy to eat with your hand.
Justin’s version are bite sized, mine were quite large as they consituted our main meal (with a side salad).