We’re always on the lookout for new fishcake recipes, so thanks to our friend Pat for this one. It combines sweet potato with salmon with the warmth of pimentón. We combine both kinds of pimentón – dulce and picante – for sweetness and a little heat. This serving makes four large fishcakes, one per person with salad or vegetables. The fishcakes can either be shallow-fried in a little oil for 2-3 minutes, or oven-baked. We do the latter.

Serves 4
500ml vegetable stock
400g sweet potato, peeled and diced
200-250g salmon fillet, skin removed, cut in half
½ tsp pimentón dulce
½ tsp pimentón picante
Squeeze of lime juice
1 bunch of fresh chives, chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 eggs
Breadcrumbs or Panko
1 lime, quartered, for serving Pour the stock into a saucepan and bring to the boil. Add the fish and cover with a lid, cook for a few minutes, check with a knife so the fish isn’t overcooked. Remove the fish from the pan and set aside. Bring the stock to the boil again and add the sweet potato. Cook until tender. Drain with a colander. Add fish and sweet potato to the pan, then add the pimentón, lime juice, chives, salt, pepper and one beaten egg, and mash with a potato masher. Using your hands, shape the mixture into four fish cake shapes. Put on a plate and chill in the fridge for as long as possible. When you are ready to cook, heat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4. On a dry baking tray, spread a thin layer of breadcrumbs and gently brown them in the oven. Check so they are only just pale golden. Set aside to cool. Beat the second egg lightly and put into one shallow dish. Put the breadcrumbs, or Panko, into another. Dip a fish cake into the egg, spooning the egg all over, then dip it into the breadcrumbs. Repeat with all the fishcakes. To oven bake, place the fishcakes on a lightly-oiled baking tray and bake for 20-30 minutes. Serve with the lime quarters and a salad or vegetables. We ate it accompanied by broccoli sprinkled with lemon juice.

5 to remember
el pimentón dulce – paprika
el pimentón picante – cayenne pepper
una croqueta – a fishcake
combinamos – we combine
el brócoli – the broccoli