23 August 2024

Nori “Fish Finger” Tacos with Tartar Sauce


Start by making the tartar sauce by mixing together 1  crushed 
garlic clove, one 1,5 cm piece ginger (peeled and finely chopped), 1 spring onion (finely sliced), 10g capers (drained, roughly chopped), 10g cornichons (finely chopped),
1/2 tbsp lime juice, 1/2 tbsp green nori sprinkle (or nori sheets blitzed finely), 100g mayonnaise and freshly ground black pepper

To make the fish fingers remove the skin and bones from 4 sea bass fillets, slice them into finger-size pieces.

Whisk together  30g plain flour, 1 tbsp cornflour, 1/4 tsp baking powder, 1 tbsp green nori sprinkle, or nori sheets blitzed finely and  put in a plastic bag. Then add 1/3 of the fish fingers and shake well. Repeat with the rest of the fish. 

Place a medium deep frying pan over medium high heat and add in 300ml vegetable oil

When the oil is hot enough (when a drop of batter immediately sizzles), place 3 fish fillets into the batter, then drop each carefully into the oil and cook for 2-3 minutes, flipping halfway through. 

Drain onto a paper towel lined plate and sprinkle with some flaky sea salt. Continue with the rest of the fish fillets.

Serve the fish alongside the tartar,  wedges of a lime, 10g fresh coriander leaves, pickled sushi ginger, extra nori, and warm tortillas. Feeds 2

(An Ottolenghi recipe)

11 August 2024

Red snapper with ginger and coconut curry


Heat oven to 70°C

  1. Season 2 red snapper (or red sea bass) filets generously with salt and pepper. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high. When the oil is hot, add the fish and cook until browned on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the fish to a baking sheet and place in the oven to keep warm while you prepare the rest of the dish.

  2. Add 2 teaspoons oil to the skillet. Add a julliened spring onion and cook, stirring frequently, until lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 1 tbsp minced ginger and 1 tsp dried turmeric and cook, stirring frequently, 1 minute. Add a julliened carrot, 80g halved snow peas and 80g green peas and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes.

  3. Add a tin of coconut milk to a saucepan and 1 tablespoon red curry paste, bring to a simmer over medium, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until liquid is reduced by about one-third, about 6 minutes. Whisk in more curry paste according to taste, if desired. 

  4. Divide the sauce among 2 shallow bowls. then the vegetables and the fish, garnish with coriander (and as I had some left over courgette flowers I added them as well) and serve.(Here Patrick Jamon's original recipe)