Newfoundland Fish Cakes are a delicious comfort food tradition that’s part of our collective culinary culture.
Newfoundland Fish Cakes
UPDATE: April 2015. I added new photos of this recipe today which are destined for my second cookbook this Fall. I’ve also included a great brunch idea for this traditional favourite by incorporating fish cakes in to a version of Eggs Benedict! Get my shortcut Hollandaise Sauce recipe here.
From Jan 30, 2009
Today’s dish and photo come courtesy of 13 year old guest chef Laura Taylor from Conception Bay South who was looking for tips on making Fish Cakes the traditional Newfoundland way. She chose fish cakes as a traditional Newfoundland meal to complete an assignment for her Grade 8 Social Studies class at Vila Nova School where she is a French Immersion student, hence the photo label Gateau de Poisson.
This very simple dish was a staple on many Newfoundland kitchen tables for who knows how long; probably hundreds of years, given that the simple ingredients were readily available from the land and the sea.
Fish Cakes Eggs Benedict
I remember my grandmothers cooking them in large cast iron skillets in the rendered fat from making scrunchions. For our non-native readers, scrunchions are a very traditional accompaniment to several traditional Newfoundland meals and are simply cured fat back pork which is diced in small cubes and then fried until crispy to render out most of the fat.
It does my heart good to know that our food culture is still being kept alive in the classroom. You did a great job on these, Laura; I think they look delicious. If your Social Studies teacher doesn’t give you an A on this one, tell him to take it up with me! 😉
One of my brunch favourites uses these traditional fish cakes in a new way by adding placed eggs and Hollandaise sauce. I sometimes add some crumbled crisp cooked bacon on top as well because what isn’t better with bacon?!
Newfoundland Fish Cakes
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Find many more traditional and Newfoundland inspired recipes here and find many more recipes for Fish and Seafood here.
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You might also like this other delicious seafood recipe:
- 1 ½ pounds salt dried cod
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 small chopped onion
- 6 cups mashed potato
- 1 beaten egg
- 2 tbsp dried savoury (optional)
- ½ tsp black pepper
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Soak the salt cod in cold water overnight.
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Simmer the salt cod in boiling water for about 15 minutes. Drain the water off the fish and allow the fish to cool to almost room temperature.
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When the fish is cool, flake it apart with a fork into small pieces.
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In a sauté pan, melt the butter over medium heat.
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Add the onions and cook until they are softened.
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Add the flaked fish along with the mashed potato, egg, pepper and savoury.
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Mix together until well combined, then form into small cakes and roll in flour.
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Fry the fish cakes in canola oil over medium heat until golden brown on both sides.
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Serve with scrunchions if desired.
Prep time does not include the overnight soaking time for the salt, dried cod. Scrunchions are ½ inch cubes of cured pork fatback that are fried and rendered to a crispy texture. The scrunchions and rendered fat get served over the fish cakes.
The nutritional information provided is automatically calculated by third party software and is meant as a guideline only. Exact accuracy is not guaranteed. For recipes where all ingredients may not be used entirely, such as those with coatings on meats, or with sauces or dressings for example, calorie & nutritional values per serving will likely be somewhat lower than indicated.
This was my 1st time trying this recipe for the Newfoundland Fish Cakes and i must say my husbandand i simply loved them. The recipe was easy and fast to do. I am impressed by the flavour of them. That is just what i needed a recipe that does not take all day to make. Very delicious!! I would recommend them to anyone who likes fish! Thank you for posting the recipe it sure came in handy.
Should the potatoes be left to cool to room temperature as well?
Not to room temperature but cooled down enough to handle.
Savory is not an option must a necessity for the flavor. Onions can be added just to the fish/potato mix and they cook just fine. This was my Mother’s way of cooking fishcakes–except now I buy deboned saltfish. I have been told they are very good.
I always boil my potatoes the day before. Let cool and then cover them with a paper towel and platic wrap.. Place in fridge. This paper towel idea takes the wetness out of the potatoes.
These fish cakes were amazing! I omitted the savory because my husband gets heartburn when he eats it. Also, I fried up the onions with scrunchions instead of butter. I then added the scrunchions to the mixture. I used the fat from the scrunchions to fry up the fish cakes. I served my fish cakes with mustard pickles 🙂 Thanks so much for this awesome recipe!!
I just mad these. They are great!! A simple and flavourful recipe. Awesome!
Nothing beats the traditional favourites! Glad you enjoyed them.
I make mine up the night before a dinner party, refrigerate for the savoury to mingle & take out about 1/2 hour before frying!
I serve mini fish cake appetizers with a sweet Asian sauce mixed with sour cream or light mayo diluted with milk. Always a big hit especially for those that have not had fish cakes with the Nfld savoury before, yes it is the savoury that makes a difference,
can you use salmon instead of the cod?
Yes. I sometimes do a mix of sweet potato and white potato to make salmon cakes.
Is it possible to sub another white fish for cod, like frozen flounder? I live in Saskatchewan and salt dried cod may not be available.
Absolutely. I’ve often seen them made with unsalted cod.
We loved these ! So easy to make & so yummy! I didn’t have to soak the cod overnight just put it in cold water in the morning & gave it 4-5 good rinses throughout the day!
Can I freeze these?
Before or after cooking, which is best?
Before cooking.
Can I freeze these?
Yes on a cookie shhet first, then with wax or parchment paper between them.
This may be a stupid question but if you have fresh cod, could you use that instead of salt fish and would it taste as good? Would adding salt to the dish, provide the same taste as salt fish?
Salt fish is quite different. These are also made with fresh fish on occasion.
Please list a few things that you serve with your fish cakes.
Also, What type of veggies taste best with these fish cakes?
Lots of times we have them with brunch. think eggs and hollandaise as a new eggs Benedict version. At meal times simple steamed vegetables of any sort or even a big salad is enough to serve.
WE serve them with carrots and cream sauce.
My mother always served them with stewed tomatoes and peas or green beans.
We serve them with homemade beans and fresh rolls or bread
I made this recipe for supper tonight and what a hit! Even the picky eater that doesn’t like fish cleaned her plate! I wouldn’t change a thing about these fish cakes! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
This looks so good. I loved fishcakes when I was growing up. My dad would add a little bit of parsnip to his fishcakes, that was his mother’s secret.
That’s an interesting idea. My wife loves parsnip.
Have made this recipe a couple of times. Forgot to soak the fish the first time and OH really enjoyed them that way so that is my only change to this delicious recipe 🙂
I used salt cod, striped bass and haddock for types if fish. my only issue is mine seem to fall apart easy when cooking. Any suggestions?
Try using less butter or more potato. Chilling the cakes before frying helps…and don’t try to turn them too soon before they get a good crust on them.
I add a beaten egg to the mix. Helps hold it together.
I just made this recipe tonight they were delicious. Almost like my grandmother’s, she didn’t put savoury in her fish cakes. The next time I will omitted the savoury. Thank you so much for this recipe. I will definitely be making these again. 😀
Hi there, can these be baked? or how could I make them a little crispy but not fried? Trying to be a little health conscious, maybe baked in a pan greased with butter?
You could heat a cast iron pan in the oven, lightly oiled. Bake them until brown in the bottom and then flip them. I’d try about 400 degrees.
Try cooking the cakes in an air fryer if you have one. You can get them for $39 up. They get crispy outside and soft inside
These are the best fish cakes I have ever made. Will definitely make these again.
So glad they were such a success!
I have made these fishcakes with little chunks of cheese and omitted the savoury, they are delish!
This may sound silly but is salt cod the same thing as corn fish? (Maybe pernounced corned -salted cod fillets) I would love to try this recipe and I only have corn fish
Salt fish is dry cured. You can probably substitute corned fish.
hi , do i soak the fish in fridge or on counter ?
Either will be fine.
Thanks Barry
Im making them for dinner tonite for my newfie hubby , so heres hopin !!!
I find corned cod works better.Simply catch or buy fresh cod and spread sea salt on both sides.Let it sit for a few hours Rince the salt of with cold water and presto you have corned cod.. Best with home made backed beans.
When thawing my fish cakes, they release a LOT of water making them hard to manage ( they want to fall apart). Any ideas?
I’m wondering the type of potatoes you use. Russets are what i generally use.
I don’t thaw the frozen fishcakes. I fry them before freezing. Then directly from freezer into frying pan on low heat until heated through. Works perfectly
I make fish cakes all the time and freeze them . You do not thaw them before frying . Just toss fish cakes in a hot pan with a little butter and oil. They will not fall apart . ( wrap separately in Saran before freezing ) . I servebthem with fresh home made bread and of course mustard .
Can’t see the recipe? Can you please send it to me. 🙂
I don’t understand your question. You are on the recipe page to make a comment. Why can’t you see it? Do you mean print it?
Savoury is a must! These are great served with mustard pickles.
Do you ever add an egg to the potato/ fish mixture?
These would also go very well with homemade baked beans.
I don’t use savoury as it gives me heartburn!
Just managed to find salt cod for the first time in many years! (I live in the Fraser Valley BC). And now I found your recipe! Sounds like my Grandma’s old recipe that I lost awhile back–thank you!!!