Recipe: Moroccan flavoured salmon and couscous patties

Tuna patties are an old family favourite and are a great standby when camping. But here is a recipe for fish patties with a difference using canned salmon and couscous. My carnivore of a husband enjoyed these – even after he said I should pour the couscous out of the packet, throw away the grains and eat the cardboard!

Ingredients

(Serves four to six people)

• 415g canned salmon – drained with bones removed
• 1/2 cup couscous
• 2/3 cup orange juice
• 2 eggs – beaten
• 2 cloves garlic – crushed (or use ready-made minced garlic)
• 1 tsp Moroccan spice mix (or more, depending on how much flavor you want)
• 1 tsp chilli paste – optional (or you could use some fresh red chilli, finely chopped)
• 1 tbs fresh parsley and/or mint – finely chopped
• Salt, pepper to taste
• Breadcrumbs or plain flour
• Oil

METHOD

• Prepare the couscous by placing it in a large bowl and add the orange juice. Leave for about five minutes until the liquid is absorbed (if you don’t have any orange juice, you
• can just use water or stock, but orange juice gives the couscous a lovely flavour).
• When the couscous is ready, add the salmon along with the remaining ingredients and mix well to combine.
• Form the mixture into patties. Cover and refrigerate for about 30 minutes or until they are firm. If you do this, the patties will hold their shape while cooking and not fall apart.
• Before cooking, coat the patties in a thin layer of breadcrumbs or plain flour.
• Heat a little oil in a large frying pan or BBQ plate (preferably non-stick if you’ve got it) over a medium heat. Don’t have the heat too hot or you’ll burn the patties. Fry the patties
• for about three to four minutes each side, or until golden brown, turning once.
• Serve with some sweet chilli mayonnaise (just mix mayo with some sweet chilli sauce to taste). They are even great cold in a sandwich.

VIV'S HINT

You could change the flavour and add some Thai or Middle Eastern spices. You could even add some finely grated carrot or maybe a little finely grated lemon rind. If you can get flavoured couscous, even better. It all adds flavor to the patties.