Visnisckis (Fried Fish Pastries, a Russian Hors-d'œuvre)

Ingredients

• fish of any kind
• salt
• pepper
• fennel
• reduced fish Velouté
• Coulibiac paste
• oil

Instructions

1. Chop any fish to a hash, season it with salt and pepper and flavour it with fennel.
2. Bind it with reduced fish Velouté.
3. Roll out a piece of Coulibiac paste and cut it with the ordinary small-pie cutter.
4. Lift half the rounds onto a moistened tray and put on each the size of a good walnut of the hash.
5. Moisten the edges, cover with the remaining rounds and press with the back of a cutter, as for small pies.
6. Keep in a fairly warm place for 25 minutes, to let the paste ferment lightly.
7. Plunge into plenty of very hot oil 6 to 7 minutes before serving.
8. Drain and dress on a napkin.