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Nutrition: Per serving

  • kcal887
  • fat34g
  • saturates10g
  • carbs115g
  • sugars26g
  • fibre11g
  • protein25g
  • salt0.6g
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Method

  • step 1

    Chop the potatoes into small pieces. Tip into a pan, cover with water and add a pinch of salt. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 mins until tender.

  • step 2

    Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp oil in a frying pan and fry the peppers for 10 mins. Finely slice 1 garlic clove, add to the pan and fry for 1 min. Stir in the honey and vinegar. Season. Fry for a few minutes more until jammy. Remove from the heat.

  • step 3

    Drain the potatoes and steam-dry for a minute, then mash. Drain the mackerel and add to the mash with the harissa. Season. Add the lemon zest. Finely slice the spring onions and stir in. Mix well, then form into six patties. Will keep chilled for up to two days or frozen for up to three months. Defrost fully before cooking.

  • step 4

    Combine the flour and nigella seeds on a plate, season, then dust the fishcakes on both sides. Put the peppers in a bowl. Heat the rest of the oil in the pan and fry the fishcakes for 2-3 mins on each side until golden and crisp.

  • step 5

    Finely chop the other garlic clove and most of the herbs, then stir into the yogurt. Season, spoon onto plates and top with the fishcakes, peppers and reserved herbs. Serve with the lemon wedges.

Recipe tip

Agrodolce means ‘sour sweet’ in Italian – it's a way of adding complexity to simple dishes, by balancing a sweet element,
like sugar or honey, with a sour flavour, like vinegar or lemon juice. Try it with any pan-fried veg as a quick chef's trick.

Recipe from Good Food magazine, January 2026

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