Hake Cakes with Mustard Middles

Use white fish fillets in this self-saucing version of a seafood classic, with a hidden crème fraîche, cheddar and mustard filling.

Fish Cakes:
rooster potatoes, cut into chunks (450 g)
1 bay leaf
3-4 peppercorns
4 skinless hake fillets (450 g)
bunch spring onions, finely shredded
1 whole nutmeg, freshly grated
3 Tbsp. plain flour, seasoned
1 egg
fresh breadcrumbs (100 g)
vegetable oil, for deep-frying (2 L)

Mustard Middles:
full-fat crème fraîche (100 g)
strong white cheddar, grated (50 g)
1 egg yolk (reserve the white)
1 Tbsp. wholegrain mustard

Garnish:
salad leaves
lemon wedges

Mix all the mustard middle ingredients together. Drape cling film across a muffin tin, then spoon the mix into 4 of the wells. Freeze for 30 minutes or until solid.

Put the potatoes, bay leaf and peppercorns in a pan of cold water, bring to the boil and cook for 20 minutes or until tender. Remove and allow to steam-dry in a colander. Add the fish to the water and simmer for 5 minutes until it is just cooked through at the thickest part.

Mash the potatoes and stir in the spring onions, a little freshly grated nutmeg and some seasoning. Drain the hake, then flake it into the mash. Gently mix everything together and leave to cool.

Divide the fish mixture into 4. Shape 1 fish cake at a time, moulding it into a ball. Make a well in the centre of the ball and push a frozen mustard middle into it, then shape the mash around it to make a smooth hockey-puck shape. Repeat with the remaining fish, then freeze for 15 minutes.

Using 3 shallow bowls, add the flour to one; put the egg and reserved egg white in another, and the breadcrumbs in the third. Beat the eggs with some seasoning. Thoroughly coat the fishcakes first in the flour, then the egg, then the breadcrumbs. Freeze the fish cakes until firm. Can be frozen for up to 1 month – defrost in the fridge for 2 hours before cooking.

When ready to cook, heat the oil to 355°F (180°C) in a large, deep saucepan (or use a fat fryer) and the oven to 375°F (190°C, 170C Fan, Gas Mark 5).

Fry the fish cakes for 7 minutes, turning halfway, until crisp.

Drain on kitchen paper, transfer to a baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes (15 minutes from frozen) so the middles are hot.

Serve with dressed leaves and a lemon wedge.

Makes 4 servings.