Ruth Messinger's Gefilte Fish
- 10 pounds whole fish (a combination of whitefish, pike and carp -- but no more than 1/3 carp), cut into fillets (reserve bones, skin and heads)
- 8 medium onions, quartered
- 8 medium carrots, roughly chopped
- 6 stalks of celery with leaves, roughly chopped
- 3 to 4 whole matzohs
- 2 cups plain seltzer
- 6 whole eggs
- 3 large egg yolks
- 2 tablespoons salt or to taste
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup matzoh meal as needed
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- Combine the fish bones, skin and heads in a 10-quart or larger stock pot.
- Add half of the onions and carrots and all the celery.
- Place the fish fillets in a food processor and pulse until coarsely ground (you may have to do this in batches).
- Set aside.
- Put the remaining onions and carrots in the food processor and chop medium fine.
- Mix with the ground fish by hand.
- Soak the matzohs in the seltzer for 5 minutes, then squeeze dry and crumble.
- Add the matzohs, whole eggs, egg yolks and half the salt and all the pepper to the ground fish mixture.
- Lightly shape the fish mixture into balls 2 to 2 1/2 inches in diameter.
- If the balls will not hold their shape or if mixture feels too sticky, add matzo meal until it is the consistency of meatballs.
- Place the balls in the pot on top of the bones and vegetables.
- They can be in a double layer.
- Add cold water to cover the fish balls almost completely.
- Add lemon juice and remaining salt.
- Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the balls are solid and the liquid has been reduced by half.
- Frequently baste any uncovered balls as they cook.
- Remove fish balls with slotted spoon.
- Place on a platter and wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
- Let broth simmer to reduce again by half.
- Cool; strain and pour a light layer over the fish balls.
- Chill.
- Broth will gel.
- Serve with fresh horseradish (recipe below).
fish, onions, carrots, stalks of celery, seltzer, eggs, egg yolks, salt, pepper, lemon juice
Taken from cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/9110 (may not work)