Crispy Cod Cakes + Easy Tartar Sauce

So this is weird.  This is what I made this year for Thanksgiving!

No but really.  Sort of.  We celebrated Thanksgiving last week with my family on Friday, so on Thursday we decorated the house for Christmas (got our first real tree!) and putzed around in the baby's room and since it was Jay's birthday I asked him what he'd like to eat and he said "fish balls."  I think originally he had something Asian in mind but then started talking about lemon and parmesan and I was all THIS IS WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.  

Also, I did originally plan to make these round, not flat, but I have a hard time keeping balls round - I find they always kind of end up with a flat edge anyway, so I figured why not just beat the flattening to the punch?  

So what we have here is this:  little mini fish cakes with CHUNKS of cod, not ground up to smithereens, and a leeetle bit of filler for flavor and to hold everything together.  Then it's coated in parm and panko and fried so gently AND THEN we have a tangy but creamy dipper with dill and other yummy flavors.  I photographed this as an appetizer first, then tossed some of the sauce with lettuce and made a cod cake salad, and no one in this house was mad.  You will adore these.  

For the cod cakes, you'll need a piece of cod (duh), an egg, the zest of a lemon, regular and panko bread crumbs (or just one if that's all you have, no worries at all), dried dill, onion powder, garlic powder, and parmesan.  I think there are people in this world who don't like mixing seafood and cheese, and I really don't understand those people so bear with me on this, mmkay?  Then for frying you'll need butter and oil.  

Before you get all covered in fish, combine the parmesan and panko in a dish, and get out a plate for the finished cakes.  

Then, roughly chop the fish.  You want it a little smaller than this but not the size of ground meat - just chop back and forth until you have little bits of fish.  

Add the fish to a bowl with the egg, lemon zest, regular bread crumbs, dill, onion powder, and garlic powder.  

Mix everything together with your fingers - the mixture will be wet but should hold together when you mush it into a round shape.  If the cakes fall apart, add a tiny bit more bread crumb.  Then, use your hands to shape the mixture into 2-inch or so disks.  Gently turn the cakes over in the panko/parm mixture, pressing a little to make a nice crust, then put the cod cakes on the plate you already set out.  Press the mixture gently but firmly to get it to hold together - it might take a few tries, but I promise it works!  

Now, for added insurance for the cakes not falling apart while you fry them, stick them in the fridge for 30 minutes or longer while you wash your dang hands, heat the oil for frying, and make the tarter sauce.  For that we need mayo, sour cream, lemon juice, and the same three spices - dill, onion powder, and garlic powder.  Easy!  

Just combine all the ingredients, taste, adjust, you know the drill.  

When you're ready to fry the cod cakes, heat some butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium heat - enough to coat the bottom of the pan but not deep enough to coat the cakes.  The butter will foam and start to brown slightly - that's when it's ready!  Put the fish cakes in the skillet and let them sizzle for 5 minutes or so on each side.  

When the cod cakes are brown and crispy on the first side, flip them over and let them finish cooking.  

Now, that's totes it.  What you do next is up to you!  

The dip plan is perfect for a party or anytime you need a fried-fish-esque snack.  

I love the texture there, you actually know that there's fish involved!  It makes the cakes just slightly more finnicky to form and fry, but I promise it's worth it.  Cod is just so BUTTERY, you don't want to chop it to death before you make these.  

OR, you can toss some lettuce with the tartar sauce, drizzle some more on top, and make salads!  We loved both versions, really.  I'll say that for a meal the salad is great because the cold watery veggies are a nice contrast to the fried fish, but dipping these in the tangy sauce is just as delicious.  You could throw a baked potato next to these and call them dinner for sure.  

New holiday appetizer?  I say yes.