Fish

FISH IN A BAG

Fish

Thursday 6th of July

Ingredients

1-2 fillets of white fish -gurnard/sole- etc, salted lightly
A small carrot, peeled and sliced into matchsticks
A handful of green beans (fresh or frozen) sliced lengthways
A knob of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced into matchsticks
A matchsticks of celery
1 Tablespoon fish-friendly herb sprigs (do not chop) – dill, mint, parsley
A splash of white wine (optional)
A few drops of sesame oil
Salt and pepper.

Directions

Sprinkle a little salt on both sides of the fish fillets and put aside. Cut a large square of baking paper/parchment and smear with a sparse coating of light cooking oil. Fold it in half. Leave for 15 minutes while you prepare the vegetables and herbs. Heat oven to 200C. Place the fish fillets on the oiled paper, on one side of the fold. Pile the vegetables on and around the fish, add the bunch of herbs, the wine if using and salt and pepper. Fold the paper, crimp the edges together and pinch firmly. Place the parcel on an oven tray or baking sheet and bake for 12 minutes (15 minutes if the fillets are thick). Open for a peep after that time and if the fish is not cooked through, secure the edges and cook for a few more minutes. To serve, sprinkle lightly with sesame oil. Serves one

MAYO MAGIC

Fish

Friday 30th of June

Ingredients

About 175g (1-2) white fish fillets such as gurnard, terakihi, flounder or sole
1 Tbsp. store-bought mayo-style dressing
2-3 Tbsp. crisp breadcrumbs (make your own by baking a tray of fresh breadcrumbs at 160C for 10-15 minutes or buy readymade panko crumbs)

Directions

Heat oven to 185C
Coat each fillet lightly with mayonnaise-style salad dressing
Roll in crisp breadcrumbs
Add salt sparingly as store-bought mayo is well-salted
Place fillets on a shallow oven dish lined with baking paper
Bake uncovered for 8-12 minutes depending on thickness of fillets.

EXTRA FISHY

Fish

Monday 26th of June

The delicate flavour of panfried fish is enhanced in this simple-as dish

Ingredients

1-2 fish fillets
Flour for dusting
1 tsp each unsalted butter and light cooking oil
1 small anchovy
1-2 tsp sushi vinegar or lemon juice
Anchovies are salty and any extra salt should be added with great caution, after tasting.

Directions

Dust fish fillets lightly with flour
Gently heat a little butter and oil in a pan.
Add anchovy and stir over low heat until it dissolves into the butter/oil. Increase heat under pan. Add floured fillets and cook until browned. Remove and keep warm. Deglaze the pan with 1-2 tsp sushi vinegar or lemon juice and when bubbling pour over the cooked fillets.

FISH CAKES

Fish

Sunday 25th of June

Buying fish for one dish inevitably sees leftovers. Should there also be a spoonful or two of mashed potato in the refrigerator, you have the main ingredients for a delicious treat.

Ingredients

FISH CAKES
Buying fish for one dish inevitably sees leftovers. Should there also be a spoonful or two of mashed potato in the refrigerator, you have the ingredients for this cheap treat. Makes four small or two largish patty cakes.

Ingredients
Twice the amount of cold cooked fish (white fish and smoked fish) to cold mashed potato. Add a small can of smoked salmon if there is no cold smoked fish in the mix.
1 egg, separated
1 -2 tsp melted butter. Increase or decrease according to the amount of fish and potato.
A scattering of chopped chives or the green of a spring onion
Salt and pepper
1-2 slices of toast bread, finely crumbed
Serve 2 little cakes for your breakfast (with bacon) if it

Directions

Combine fish, mash, egg yolk and butter, salt and pepper, fresh herbs. Beat the egg white lightly. Spread breadcrumbs onto a plate, roll fish mixture into balls, flatten to make cakes, drop into egg white then onto breadcrumbs. If time permits chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Panfry untol golden brown and crispy.

HERB TOMATO & LEMON TOPPED FILLETS

Fish

Saturday 24th of June

Ingredients

About 175g (1-2) white fish fillets such as gurnard, terakihi, flounder or sole
½ tsp salt
½ lemon, zested and juiced. Put juice aside.
A generous sprig of fresh parsley, finely chopped
1-2 Tbsp. dry breadcrumbs
1 small to medium tomato, seeded and diced
1-2 tsp olive oil

Directions

Heat oven to 185C
Sprinkle fish fillets with salt and put aside for 20 minutes (the salt acts like a brief brining, plumping up the fish. It is unlikely any further salt will be needed).
Combine lemon zest, chopped parsley and breadcrumbs. Dice the tomato.
Oil or butter a small shallow oven dish
Pat fish dry with a paper towel and put into oiled dish. Press the crumb mixture firmly into the top of the fillet, add the diced tomato and sprinkle with the reserved lemon juice and oil. Bake uncovered for 8-10 minutes.

CEVICHE (raw fish) SALAD

Fish

Tuesday 7th of March

Ingredients

200g firm white fish fillets (monkfish, gurnard, snapper, etc)
Lemon juice to cover (about 2 Tbsp)
Salt and pepper to taste
Half a small cucumber. Peeled and diced
2 spring onions – white parts diced, green spears shredded
1/3 long red (mild) chill diced OR
1 scant tsp dried chill
1 Tbsp.diced red pepperOptional
1/3 cup peeled and diced rock-melon
Coconut cream to cover (about 100ml?)
Mint or coriander leaves

Directions

Trim fish and cut into 1.5 cm chunks.Squeeze lemon and add to fish to cover. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours or until the fish is translucent (‘cooked’). Add all other ingredients in the order given. Use a slotted spoon to plate up, and slish-slosh with sufficient coconut cream mixture to cover and bind but not drown.