The Ivy’s Salmon Fishcakes

The Ivy restaurant

Description: The Ivy restaurant

The Ivy restaurant

Although no one’s exactly sure when The Ivy
opened, it was around 1917 when Abel Giandellini bought a humble café and set
about turning it into the high-class restaurant it is today. Its location in
the heart of London’s West End, and the elegance of the food and dining room,
have kept it in favour with celebrities and the theatre community – and The Ivy
remains firmly established as one of London’s most popular restaurants.

The Ivy’s Salmon Fishcakes

Description: The Ivy’s Salmon Fishcakes

The Ivy’s Salmon Fishcakes

Hands-on time 40min , plus chilling.
Cooking time about 20min. Serves 4

·        
800g (13/4lb) potatoes

·        
650g (1lb 7oz) salmon fillets, boneless, skin on

·        
2tbsp tomato ketchup

·        
2tsp anchovy suace, we used Geo Watkins

·        
3tsp English mustard

·        
2tbsp olive oil

·        
Plain flour, to dust

1.    Peel the potatoes, then cut into even=sized chunks. Put into a large
pan and cover with cold water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 12min or
until potatoes are cooked through (test by pushing a cutlery knife through a
chunk of potato – it should go through easily). Drain and leave to steam dry
for 10min.

2.    Meanwhile, put salmon into a pan and cover with cold water. Bring up
to a gentle simmer and cook for 7min, or until fish flakes easily when pressed
with a knife. Lift fish out of the water and set aside to cool. Peel off and
discard skin. Flake the fish.

3.    To make the fishcakes, put the potatoes into a bowl and mash (do not
add nay milk or butter). Add half the flaked salmon, the ketchup, anchovy
sauce, mustard and some seasoning and mash until relatively smooth. Fold in the
remaining salmon, keeping the flakes as large as possible.

4.    Divide the mixture into eight and form each portion into a round
patty. Arrange on a board, cover with clingfilm and chill for 20min.

5.    Preheat oven to 180oC (160oC fan) mark 4. Heat
the oil in a large, non-stick frying pan. Lightly dust the fishcakes on both
sides with flour and brown on both sides in the pan (do this in batches if
necessary). Arrange the browned fishcakes on a baking tray and cook in the oven
for 10-15min until piping hot. Serve with salad or wilted spinach and the
Sorrel Sauce (see right), if you like.

Per
serving

509cals, 24g fat (4g saturates), 38g carbs
(4g total sugars)

Get
ahead

Prepare to end of step 4 up to a day ahead.
Chill. Complete recipe to serve.

GH
verdict

These fishcakes have to be one of the most
copied resturant dished, and with good reason. If you have time, do try the
sauce – it’s very special indeed.

Sorrel Sauce

Description: How to make Sorrel Sauce

How to make Sorrel Sauce

Melt 50g (2oz) butter in a large
wide-rimmed pan, then stir in 25g (1oz) plain flour. Cook gently,
stirring, for 30sec. gradually whisk in 500ml (17fl oz) hot, strong fisd
stock
followed by 50ml (2fl oz) white wine. Simmer for 30min until
the sauce has thickened. Add 250ml (8fl oz) double cream and bubble
again until the sauce is a thick pouring consistency. Stir in 15g (1/2oz)
shredded sorrel
or a small handful of shredded rocket or 1tbsp
chopped fresh tarragon
. Check the seasoning and serve with the fisfcakes.

Get
ahead

Make the sauce up to a day ahead, but do
not add the sorrel/rocket/tarragon. Cover with clingfilm (touching the sauce),
cool and chill. To serve, reheat gently in a pan, whisking to break up any
lumps, and complete recipe.