Fake Fish

17/11/2023

Fake fish, also known as “potato loaf,” is a dish that takes its name from its shape that vaguely resembles that of a fish. Here’s how to prepare it.

Ingredients

600 g potatoes
200 g drained tuna in oil
2 tablespoons salt-packed capers, desalted
1 handful chopped parsley
2 eggs
Salt and pepper to taste
Breadcrumbs (optional)
Taggiasca or pitted black olives (for decoration)
Carrots and zucchini (for decoration, optional)

Preparation

Start by boiling the potatoes in salted boiling water until soft. Once ready, drain them, peel them, and pass them through the potato ricer.
Add the previously drained tuna, chopped capers, and parsley to the bowl with the mashed potatoes. Mix the ingredients well.
Now add one egg and a pinch of salt and pepper, then knead until you obtain a homogeneous mixture. If the dough is too soft, you can add some breadcrumbs.
Take the mixture and shape it into a fish on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Use the leftover potatoes to create the “tail” and “fins” of the fish.
Beat the other egg in a small bowl and spread it on the surface of the loaf to give it a light golden color during cooking. At this point, you can decorate the fake fish with Taggiasca olives for the eyes and mouth and, if desired, with strips of carrots and zucchini to simulate the scales.
Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 30 minutes or until golden.
Serve the fake fish hot or even cold, according to your preferences.

Trivia

This dish was born during the Second World War period, as an economical and creative alternative to real fish, often difficult to find or expensive. Its simplicity and the possibility of preparing it with easily available ingredients have made it a classic of Italian home cooking.