Vegetarian Challenge - Day 3 (Codcakes)

I've never been happier that candy is vegetarian. Instead of eating bacon or cheeseburgers, I can just fill up on chocolate. I suppose I do have to eat some healthy food, though, so I made codcakes for dinner. They're like crabcakes but made with cod instead, since I'm not a huge fan of shellfish.

I included the recipe below, but first I'd like to talk a bit more about the impact of eating vegetarian. There is a lot of scientific evidence that eating vegetarian is far more healthy than eating meat, even in moderation. Animal products have been linked with heart disease and clogged arteries because many are high-cholesterol and contain large amounts of saturated fats. Some scientists have found that eating low-fat vegan foods can reverse blocked arteries and reduce the risk of heart disease. People who eat vegetarian for over five years are 24% less likely to die of ischemic heart disease or coronary heart disease, and vegetarians are more likely to be at a healthy weight and avoid adult-onset diabetes.

On a night like Halloween when I'm eating way too much sugar and unhealthy foods, it's nice to know that even just reducing the amount of meat I eat can improve my health. I would have to continue eating vegetarian for a while to fully experience all the health benefits (which probably won't happen given how unsustainable my diet would be long-term), but I'm learning to lessen the amount of meat I have in my diet. It's really not that hard with such tasty recipes like this.


18 oz Cod
1/2 tsp Lemon Juice
3 1/2 tsp Season Salt
1/2 tsp Salt
2 Cups Panko
2 tsp Onion Powder
2 tsp Garlic Powder
1/4 Cup Minced Onion
1 tsp Minced Garlic
2 Eggs
1/2 Cup Buttermilk


Pour water into a skillet to come 1/2" up the sides. Add the lemon juice, salt, and 2 tsp season salt and bring to a simmer. Add the fish and cover; cook for 8 minutes or until flaky and cooked through.

Pour out the water and wipe the skillet dry. Return to medium heat and add a bit of oil. Add the onions and garlic and cook until translucent and fragrant.

In a large bowl, combine the panko, onion powder, garlic powder, and remaining season salt. Add the eggs and mix until smooth. Add the flaked fish and onion mixture and mix gently to combine. Add enough buttermilk to hold everything together.

Heat some more oil in the skillet. Form the mixture into 6-8 4oz patties. Cook the cakes in the skillet until brown, about 5 minutes per side.


Makes 6-8