Russian Gefilte Fish

Ingredients:

Basic Fish Broth:
2 carrots, peeled
3 onions, sliced
6 to 8 cups water
fish bones and heads, optional
2 tsp. salt
1/2 pepper
1 tsp. sugar (optional)

Gefilte Fish:
3 pounds ground fish (1 pound pike, 1 1/2 whitefish, 1/2 pound carp)
3 medium onions, ground
3 eggs, separated
1/4 cup matzah meal (optional)
1/4 cup cold water
1 to 2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

Procedure:

Basic Fish Broth:
Slice carrots in half and separate onions into rings. Place in 8-quart pot with water, bones if used, and seasonings. Bring to boil, lower flame and allow to cook for a few minutes.

Gefilte Fish:
In a large bowl mix ground fish and onions until smooth. Add egg yolks, matzah meal, cold water, salt and pepper. Beat the egg whites and add to fish mixture. Wet hands and fill with fish mixture. Roll in hand until smooth; shape into rounds or oval balls. Place in pot only when sauce has come to a rapid boil. Lower balls gently into pot, lower flame and cook uncovered for one hour at slow boil. Liquid will be reduced to one-half. Allow fish to cool before removing from pot. Makes 10 to 12 servings.

Variation:
For Sweet Gefilte Fish, add 1 teaspoon sugar per pound of fish mixture.