Basic Gefilte Fish Mixture

  • 3 pounds ground fish (2 lbs. whitefish, 1 lb. pike)
  • 4 medium onions, ground
  • ½ cup matzo meal
  • 4 eggs beaten
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 5 teaspoons salt
  • 3-5 teaspoons sugar (add more sugar if you like a sweeter fish)

Fish Water

  • 3 carrot stalks
  • 2 celery stalks
  • 1 parsnip peeled (optional)
  • 1 onion scored
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 2 tablespoons sugar

Directions

Combine all the ingredients for the gefilte fish mixture into your mixing bowl and mix on medium speed. Fill a dutch oven ½ of the way with water. Add all the vegetables and spices into the pot and bring to a boil. Wet the palms of your hands and form oval shaped balls and gently drop them into the boiling water. Allow to simmer covered for 1 ½ hours.

Gefilte Fish Loaf

Wet a sheet of parchment paper. Crumple it and wring out the excess water. Shake it out and place flat on a smooth surface. Pour the gefilte fish mixture in the middle of the sheet. Wrap the paper around the mixture and twist the ends tightly. Cook as you would the fish balls.