Fish Cakes - Barbados

Barbados - Fish Cakes

Fish cakes are a traditional Barbados breakfast dish and are also served at elegant cocktail parties. They are very delicious and can be eaten alone or you have the option to serve them with sweet bakes or bread. In Barbados, persons on the go prefer eating the fish cakes in a sandwiched form or in other words a "salt bread", this is known as a "bread and two".

At many restaurants in Barbados, Fish cakes are also a favourite to be served as an appetizer at restaurants or as a finger food at cocktail parties.  Fish cakes have also been known to be served throughout the Caribbean and is a favourite for most islanders.

The simple step-by-step recipe below will guide our viewers how to make this delicious appetizer.  I also find myself making these very often church gatherings, work or when liming with friends.  Recipe also goes well with a sauce of your choice.

Recipe

• 1 onion, diced
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 egg lightly beaten
• 1 small hot pepper, finely diced
• chopped parsley, thyme and marjoram
• 1 lb boneless, skinless salt cod
• 1 cup water

To prepare the salted cod, boil in 6 cups of water for 4 minutes. Throw off the water and boil a second time for 3 minutes. Flake the fish with a fork.

In a bowl, combine the flaked fish with the other ingredients. Stir until a thick batter forms. You can add more water or more flour to get the desired consistency. 

Drop the batter by teaspoonful into oil over medium heat, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. You may need to turn the heat down to medium-low if the fish cakes are burning before being fully cooked.

Drain on paper towels. Fish cakes are best eaten hot!

Fish cakes are even more delicious when dipped in traditional Barbados pepper sauce or Marie Rose sauce made by combining mayonnaise, ketchup and pepper sauce.

Recipes and information adapted from: www.barbados.org

Barbados Cutters

What is a "cutter"?

A cutter in Barbados is like a sandwich but only much better. It is a bread roll that is cut in half, crossways and stuffed with a filling that is savory.  This type of sandwich is very famous in Barbados and is made, sold and served throughout the island.  Cutters can be eaten at any time during the day whether it is for breakfast, lunch, dinner or as a snack.  It is a meal by itself and the locals tell you that the best drink to go with any cutter is a red soft drink. I had the honour of trying the cheese and fish cutters on my trip to Barbados in 2008. They were really delicious and heavenly.  I am hoping to try the other types of cutters on my next visit to the beautiful island in the near future.  There are many different types of cutters, some are more popular than others; however, for the salt-bread, everyone has their favourite filling.

• Ham cutter - thickly cut slices of baked ham (either leg ham or picnic ham) with some Barbadian hot sauce
• Cheese cutter - thick slices of cheddar cheese.  Preferably Australian, New Zealand or English Cheddar Cheese.
• Fish cutter - made with breaded and fried fish, often flying fish.  It is also served with marlin, billfish, King Fish, tuna or mahi mahi.
• Liver cutter - breaded and fried chicken livers
• Gizzard Cutter: made with breaded and fried chicken gizzards.
• Bread and Two - two Bajan fish cakes. Popular for breakfast.
• Egg cutter - fried egg

Most cutters are served with lettuce and tomato in the salt bread.  A little pepper sauce is needed as a finishing touch for your cutter.

Where to get a cutter

Cutters are found at the rum shops, food trucks and casual beachside eateries if you are looking for this special Barbados treat!  They are not served; however, in any restaurants.