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Plokkfiskur
Plokkfiskur: Icelandic flaked cod and potato in a creamy white sauce
Plokkfiskur, 'picked fish', is the thrifty Icelandic way to use leftover boiled cod or haddock: the fish is flaked and folded with potatoes into a thick, peppery white sauce with onion, then eaten with dark, sweet rúgbrauð (rye bread) and butter. Reykjavík cafés serve it at lunch, and every Icelandic home makes it on Monday after Sunday's fish. A common mistake is mashing the fish into paste; it should stay in flakes. Chef's tip: lots of black pepper and a little chopped chives lift it, and a grating of cheese browned under the grill makes a fine variation. The fish should be opaque and flaking before it goes into the sauce.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the fish
- 1 ⅛ lb cod or haddock fillet
- 1 ⅛ lb potatoespeeled
- 6 ¼ cups water
- 1 tsp salt
For the sauce
- 1 ⅜ oz butter
- 1 onionfinely chopped
- 1 oz plain flour
- 1 ¾ cups whole milk
- 1 tsp black pepper
- ⅛ oz fresh chiveschopped
To serve
- 4 slices dark rye breadbuttered
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Boil 1 ⅛ lb potatoes for 15–20 minutes, until tender, then dice.
20 minStep 2: Poach 1 ⅛ lb cod or haddock fillet in 6 ¼ cups water with 1 tsp salt for 6–8 minutes, until opaque and flaking. Drain and break into large flakes.
8 minStep 3: Soften 1 onion in 1 ⅜ oz butter for 5 minutes. Stir in 1 oz plain flour, then whisk in 1 ¾ cups whole milk and simmer for 4 minutes until thick.
9 minStep 4: Fold in the potatoes and fish gently with 1 tsp black pepper. Common mistake: mashing it to paste.
Step 5: Scatter with ⅛ oz fresh chives and serve with 4 slices dark rye bread.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 420 kcal
- Protein
- 30 g
- Carbs
- 36 g
- Fat
- 17 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does plokkfiskur take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of potatoes?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
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