(This is a second posting of this recipe. It is a 'must make' for Passover.)

I always bought sweetened gefilte fish in the kosher frozen food section. I would unroll it from the parchment wrapping and pop it into the oven. Done. Easy. Being served homemade gefilte fish once, I found it gritty and disappointing. Why bother? So, I continued to buy the store-bought variety and served it dutifully every week. Then I asked my oldest daughter, about 12 at the time, if she'd like any. She replied, "No thank you and you don't ever have to ask me again in life." Soon, other fish dishes began to vie for the opening act to Shabbat dinner.

That is until a customer asked me to make her family recipe. Easy. Tasty. Done. I won't divulge her secrets and feel confident I've added enough of my own spin to share the recipe; going so far on occasion to use halibut, white fish, lemon zest, fresh dill and capers. I thought that incredible, a guest thought it beyond the definition of gefilte fish. Ha! So it isn't like your mother used to make; but wait ~ your mother didn't make anything. I love the cherished traditions Jews cling to; even when they include remembering somebody else's mother's cooking!

Gefilte fish is essentially ground fish, onions, a little grated carrot and a bit of binder. Experimenting with various qualities of fish, the most extravagant combination to date is wild king salmon and halibut. I grind it myself in the bowl of the Cuisinart until it is totally smooth. All the ingredients are ground in the processor bowl so it is quick and easy. Of course, we once started with 100 pounds of ground fish from the fishmonger. The only thing quick and easy about that project was that it was delegated to someone else!

Like my customer, I prefer that the ground fish mixture is baked in a loaf rather than being simmered in fish stock...much simpler and less odorous. I suppose I can be accused of poaching individual portions (stop, I hear my French sidekick saying, "quenelle, it's a quenelle!"...totally exasperated) in court bouillon, a white wine poaching liquid....shamefully over the top but oh so fabulous! Freshly grated horseradish is my favorite condiment with the beet variety from the jar right on its heels.

We don't have carp here in the Northwest so there is some resistance to the authenticity of salmon gefilte fish. But I say, "Quit your carping!" and enjoy this most fabulous start to a great meal.

Ingredients:

1. 1 pound salmon
2. 1/2 pound halibut or other white fish
3. 1 1/4 pounds of sweet Mayan or Vidalia onions, peeled weight
4. 2 eggs
5. 1 teaspoon sea salt
6. 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
7. 2 tablespoons sugar
8. 1/4 cup fluffy bread crumbs (or, matzoh meal for Passover)
9. 1 carrot, chunked to toss into the food processor

Steps:

Skin and bone the fish. I usually have the fishmonger skin the fillets.

In the bowl of the Cuisinart, grind the fish until it is very smooth.

Place the peeled carrots into the bowl of the Cuisinart and grind until very fine. Add to fish mixture.

Get all the remaining ingredients assembled.

Combine all the ingredients to form a smooth mixture.

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Comments:

LARRY: Good day! When I made this! A foam started to form and spill out of my pan!! What is this? And how do I stop this from happening???? Thank you, Larry larnewm@aol.com

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