The One Gefilte Fish Your Family Will Actually Love

It's honestly the only gefilte fish that doesn't scare the *carp* out of me.

Related To:

Get a Premium Subscription to the Food Network Kitchen App

Download Food Network Kitchen to sign up and get access to live and on-demand cooking classes, in-app grocery ordering, meal planning, an organized place to save all your recipes and much more.

Up until recently, I was under the impression that gefilte fish could be prepared two ways: The first is the old-school method of hauling a live carp into your house and storing it in your bathtub until you're ready to cook. And the second? It involves opening up a jar.

Michael Solomonov's Gefilte Fish, as seen on Food Network Kitchen.

Michael Solomonov's Gefilte Fish, as seen on Food Network Kitchen.

Photo by: Lauren Volo

Lauren Volo

In his class in the Food Network Kitchen app, Mike Solomonov, Philly-based chef and restaurateur, taught me there's more to gefilte fish than the jellied mystery meat I grew up eating and I am never going back to the store-bought stuff.

Most importantly, Mike's method does not involve a live fish, which I consider to be a huge advantage over pretty much every other gefilte fish recipe I've looked at over the years.

Then, there's the quick pickled carrots. They're so easy to make – all you need is a mason jar and distilled vinegar – and the crunchy, briny pickles pair perfectly with the softer texture of gefilte fish.

And finally, the flavor base. Up until now, gefilte fish has always stood alone, or at the very least as the mostly flavorless vehicle for matzo and horseradish. Mike starts with a sofrito (think sauteed onions, peppers and tomato paste) and bakes the fish right in the delicious sauce, leaving you with a super flavorful dish that your whole family will absolutely love.

Take this class in the Food Network Kitchen app and you'll cook along with Mike as he shows you his technique, step by step, to make the best gefilte fish ever.

Related Links:

Next Up

Your Family Will Love Giada's Twist on Thanksgiving

Switch it up with festive, fuss-free dishes — and adorable chocolate turkey treats!

Kitchen Helpline: Grilling Fish

Banish your fear of fish sticking to the grill with this one easy trick.

What Does One Alcoholic Drink Actually Mean?

And how to calculate how many drinks you're having.

Do Immunity Supplements Actually Work?

A dietitian breaks down what research says about vitamin C, oregano oil, zinc and elderberry.

4 Best Fish Spatulas, Tested and Reviewed

We flipped fish, burgers and pancakes to determine the best fish spatulas.

Fish Sticks: A Healthier Catch

Although fish sticks can be a great way to introduce kids to seafood, they're basically fried finger food. Instead of raiding the freezer, whip up this version.

Do TikTok Food Hacks Actually Work?

A culinary expert weighs in.

Mix-and-Match Foil-Packet Fish

Create your own seafood dinner for the grill.

Family-Friendly Breakfast Banana Sushi

This clever food craft will make your kids go bananas!

Do ‘Fart Walks’ Actually Do Anything?

The fart walk, or taking a walk after eating, went viral last year undeniably because of its name – but also because of its supposed help with digestion and regulating blood sugar. Is there anything to it?