Preparation

• Step 1

  Rinse the reserved fish trimmings (head, bones and tails) and place in the bottom of a fish poaching pot. Fill the pot to the halfway mark with water and bring to a boil over high heat, skimming any foam or impurities that rise to the surface.
  
  Note: unless you have a special burner on your stove that will accommodate the poaching pot, set the pot across two burners to heat the pot evenly.

• Step 2

  Slice two of the onions into ½-inch thick rounds and lay on top of the fish trimmings. Place rack inside the pot. Cover, reduce heat to low, and let simmer while preparing the filling.

• Step 3

  Place the ground fish in a large mixing bowl. Coarsely chop the remaining four onions and place in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse the onions 5-10 times until finely chopped, but not mushy. Add the onions to the ground fish. Coarsely chop four of the carrots and pulse in the food processor 5-10 times until finely chopped, but not mushy. Add the carrots to the bowl with the onions and fish and mix until evenly combined.

• Step 4

  Place the ground fish mixture in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. With the mixer on low, incorporate one egg at a time. Add the salt, pepper, and sugar. With the mixer still going, add the club soda and matzo meal and mix until combined.

• Step 5

  Spread the cheesecloth out, then fold it in half. Remove the cover of the pot and gently lay the cheesecloth over the opening so that there is about 1-2 inches of overlay around the edges of the pot.

• Step 6

  Using a large spoon or spatula, fill the cheesecloth evenly with the fish mixture (up to the top edge of the pot), being careful not to pack it down too tightly. Smooth the top of the mixture evenly with the back of your spoon, and tuck the edges of cheesecloth into the pot (you will need them again later to lift the loaf out of the pot). Essentially, you are creating a little cheesecloth hammock for the gefilte loaf to rest in and hold its shape while it cooks. Cover and lower heat to a gentle simmer.

• Step 7

  Cook for 1 hour, then lay the remaining whole carrots over the top of the gefilte loaf. Cover and let cook for 1 ½ - 2 hours more. You may need to adjust the heat as it cooks to maintain a gentle simmer, so keep and eye on the heat while it cooks. The finished gefilte should be light in color, firm to the touch, and the carrots should be cooked through.

• Step 8

  Remove the whole carrots from the top of the loaf and reserve for garnish. Carefully (and ideally with help from an extra set of hands), remove the loaf from the poaching pot by pulling up on the edges of the cheesecloth. Place the loaf, cheesecloth side down, on a large platter, plate or cutting board. Place another large platter over the top of the loaf and carefully invert so that you can easily remove the cheesecloth. Let cool, and then cover tightly with plastic wrap and chill overnight.

• Step 9

  For serving: Slice the loaf into ½-inch slices and the carrots into ¼-inch rounds. Serve on a bed of iceberg lettuce, with a few sliced carrot rounds and a dollop of beet horseradish.

• Step 10

  Optional: In some families, it is traditional to serve gefilte fish in a savory fish jello. To make this: Use a slotted spoon to remove the fish bones and onions from the poaching liquid. In a measuring cup, mix the gelatin with 3/4 cup of water and let thicken. Add the gelatin to the remaining poaching liquid and stir to combine. Strain the liquid through a fine sieve over the gefilte loaf, let cool, and then cover tightly and chill overnight.
  
  Note: Because Evelyn was such a stickler for presentation, she would make the gelatin, but serve it on the side with the gefilte in cube form. Patti and Johanna usually skip this step!