Gluten Free Morrocan Spiced Fishballs

A different way of serving chopped (minced) fish that I came across in Israel and have adapted. Traditionally served with cous cous so I serve it with quinoa which has been cooked in vegetable stock with some fresh parsley and coriander added at the end.

450g (1lb) chopped fish
or chop your own using cod or coley or tuna mixed with snapper or bream or bass indeed almost anything
Small carrot
2 sprigs dill
Zest and juice of a lemon
100g (4oz) ground almonds (almond meal)
2 spring onions (scallions)
Pinch ginger, pinch cinnamon
Seasoning
1 large egg

Large sprig fennel for stock
2 bay leaves for stock
2 stems celery
½ tsp salt

I use a food processor for ease

Chop the carrot in the processor and then add the fish, process until you have a roughly chopped mix.

Add the onions, dill, ground almonds and lemon juice and zest to the above mix. Process for another 30 seconds. Add the egg, spices and seasoning. Process this mix until you have a fairly smooth paste which holds together when you roll it.

Empty into a bowl and leave aside for at least 30 minutes. This helps it "set"

Just before you are ready to cook the fish, slice the celery and roughly chop the fennel. Bring 900ml (2pts) water to the boil with the celery, salt, fennel and bay leaves. Let flavours infuse for 3-4 minutes. Turn down to a simmer.

Take a small piece of the fish and roll into a ball the size of cherry tomato lower into the mix and cook for 2 minutes. If this collapses you will need to add some more almonds to the mix and try again - add a tablespoon at a time - it might become too hard otherwise. If the seasoning meets your taste then continue if not then adjust seasoning to taste.

Now if all is well, roll the remaining fish mix into balls somewhere between the size of a golf and tennis ball and cook these in the liqueur for about 5 -7 minutes.

I roll a few at one time and lower in as a batch together to make life easier

Lift out and serve either hot with a spicy tomato sauce or cold with a salsa of tomato and coriander.

Gluten Free Morrocan Style Fishballs