Fish Shami Kabab or Fish Cakes- Two sides of the same coin

I promised last week was fish week and then I vanished into thin air like camphor. No, I was busy with this and that and my blog started feeling neglected. I managed to update it finely today with these fish shami kababs.Feed your soul and your heart with these fish shami kababs for a moment, tummy that I cant say to you. And I am sure you will definitely going to try it out after reading this.

When I was preparing these kebabs, Fish Cake   were on my mind. But believe me,fish cakes that are so popular here is a milder version of Shami kababs.Interesting are the similarities they have. Just wondering which recipe is adapted version and which is not.
Anyways, as a firm believer in “Good food and music always travel,crossing all boundaries”.
I must say you should go ahead and try it at least once even if some of you swear by their non-vegetarian shami kababs.


Shami kababs as we know them are preparation of cooked minced meats with chana dal and loads of Indian spices. Fish cake is a preparation of fish mince with dried herbs,boiled potatoes and coriander. Both of the recipes are often made with pre-cooked mince meats or fish mince. The spices are then added to enhance the flavour and round it off they are pan-fried or fried over Tava/iron skillet.I just thought of inter-mingling Indian spices with poached fish fillet. And it showed great results with oodles of flavour.Fish mince are way better option than lean meat or red meat if you are health conscious souls.

I happened to have all the ingredients with me for the fishcakes or kebabs and then for the tartar sauce.
Tartar sauce as you all know is a mayonnaise based sauce. I have just tweaked in to suit our Indian taste palates by adding some garam masala and red chilly flakes.
Meal Ideas

• Prepare them in the night and give it to your kiddos lunch-box, they will be surprised and would love to have it.And you may pack some of it in your lunch-box as well.
• Make a quick wrap with these , some lettuce, cucumber and tartar sauce.
• Make a sub/sandwich with coleslaw and Fish Shami kebabs.You wont need any take-aways.

  

Fish Shami kebab inspired by  Fish Cakes
Recipe requirements

• 4 fish fillets (Tilapia/Haddock/Cod/Sea Bass)
• 1 potato boiled
• 2-3 tbs of Shaan Shami kabab mixture
• 2 tsp of garam masala
• 3-5 tbs of besan or ¼ cup of besan
• 1 cup of finely chopped coriander
• ¼ cup of mint leaves chopped
• 1 tsp of dried mixed herb
• 2-3 tsp of grounded red pepper
• pinch of soda
• 3-4 tbs of cooking oil for frying the kebabs 

Method

• We will first start with poaching the fish fillets. Bring a pot of water to boil.Add in fish fillets and cook for 7-8 mints at medium flame.Take out and drain excess water.
• Now in a big mixing bowl.Add in boiled potato mashed well.Add in Besan (If you wish you may use cooked chana dal)
• Now add in grounded red pepper, garam masala, Shaan Shami kabab mixture, dried mixed herb and salt.
• Now add in finely chopped mint and coriander leaves.
• Mash the fish fillets with the above prepared mixture. You will see thread like consistency of the mash.
• Prepare the patties while working with your palms.
• Now heat up a frying pan, add oil and cook the patties/kebab/fishcakes each side for 4-5 mints at medium flame. Serve with some lemon wedges and tartar sauce.

Tartar Sauce- Indianised version my way

• 1 cup of mayonnaise
• ¼ cup of olive oil
• 2 -3 tbs of water
• 2-3 tsp of dried thyme or parsley or mixed herb
• ½ cup of finely chopped onions
• 1 tsp of red chilly flakes
• 1 tsp of garam masala
• 1 tsp of lemon juice
• Method
• Mix all well and refridgerate. Take out after 2-3 hrs and serve with these delicious fish cakes.Delicious.

Enjoy good food.I will be taking a short blogging break, will catch up with you all soon.

Happy Cooking