SALMON FISH CAKES WITH DILL AND SPINACH SAUCE

Steps:

• Boil the potatoes in salted water until tender.
• Drain, return to the pan and mash thoroughly without milk, butter or water.
• Tip the mash into a mixing bowl.
• Meanwhile, place the salmon in a suitable pan and cover with 300ml water.
• Crumble in the stock cube and add the bay leaf.
• Bring the water to the boil, reduce the heat and cook the fish for five minutes a side (10 minutes if the fish is totally immersed).
• Turn off the heat, cover the pan and leave for five minutes.
• Add half the fish (keep the stock to use later), the tomato ketchup and anchovy essence (if desired) to the potato.
• Season generously with pepper and lightly with salt.
• Mix thoroughly until smooth.
• Now flake the remaining fish and fold through the mixture.
• Form handfuls into eight regular-sized fish cakes or sausages, or 12 smaller ones, laying the fish cakes on a plate as you go.
• Chill to firm for at least 15 minutes and up to 24 hours (covered with clingfilm) in the fridge while you make the sauce.
• Melt the butter and stir in the flour until smooth.
• Discard the bay leaf and gradually add the hot fish stock, stirring constantly, as the sauce comes up to the boil to avoid lumps.
• Add the milk and cream.
• Reduce the heat and simmer gently for five minutes.
• Shred the spinach.
• Stir spinach and dill into the thick, creamy sauce.
• Cook for a few minutes until the spinach wilts.
• Taste and adjust the seasoning.
• Preheat the oven to 400F or 200 degrees C.
• Oil a baking sheet.
• Dust the fish cakes with flour, shaking off any excess.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan and, when very hot, fry the fish cakes for about five minutes a side until nicely crusty.
• Transfer to the baking sheet and cook in the oven for 10 minutes.
• Reheat the sauce and serve with the fish cakes, adding a wedge of lemon.