The seas harbour all sorts of delicious treats from mullet to mackerel and everything in between. Tuck into any of these sumptuous fish dishes and let the flavours of the ocean transport you to a coastal paradise...
Fish is an excellent source of protein and is bursting with vitamins and minerals. It can be a wonderful alternative to meat and the variety of fish on the market means you’ll be hard pushed to get bored.
Delicate fish such as sole needs little more than a splash of white wine and lemon while more robust varieties such as mackerel can handle the bigger flavours, giving you room to play around with your favourite ingredients.
With so much in the news about fish sustainability, make sure your fish is sourced responsibly and consider trying out some lesser known species alongside old favourites. Try out the recipes below and open your eyes, and mouth, to the wonderful world of fish!
Tessa Sanderson’s saltfish
Summon the taste of the Caribbean with Tessa Sanderson’s classic Jamaican dish. Thyme, parsley and chives give a lovely herby depth to the fish while the coconut milk really brings a taste of the exotic.
Tessa suggests serving with fried plantain or cassava but it would work equally well with dumplings or potato.
Read Tessa Sanderson’s saltfish recipe
Richard Corrigan’s sea bass
This recipe comes from a Michelin starred chef, so you know it’s going to be good! Richard Corrigan successfully revived the famous Bentley’s Oyster Bar and Grill in London so this guy knows a thing or two about fish.
Garlic and lemon are perfect accompaniments to sea bass and the crème fraîche adds a touch of luxury. Scoring the skin ensures even cooking all the way through so don’t skip this bit, although as a general rule, undercooking fish is more acceptable than overcooking.
Read Richard Corrigan’s sea bass recipe
Jean Christophe Novelli’s Niçoise salad
This classic salad from Jean Christophe Novelli makes for a delicious light lunch or simple supper. The original version of Niçoise salad never included potatoes, but sometimes change is a good thing and we think this is one such example!
The crunchiness of the raw veg makes this a lovely fresh tasting dish and the anchovy fillets add a saltiness that helps to tie all the flavours together.
Read Jean Christophe Novelli’s Niçoise salad
Simon Goodman’s south coast Dover sole
This dish from Simon Goodman is super quick but luxurious at the same time. The shrimp cream really adds some extra oomph and works well alongside the fresh flavours of the leeks and spinach.
Sole is a very thin fish so takes hardly any time to cook, making this a perfect dish for a midweek dinner or a stylish main for a dinner party.
Read Simon Goodman’s south coast Dover sole
Tom van Zeller’s cauliflower and squid ink puree
This recipe may sound a bit off the wall but is guaranteed to impress. Tom van Zeller has created a dish that looks ultra stylish but isn’t actually that hard to recreate. This sounds good to us, after all, who likes knockout dishes that kill us in the process?
This puree is excellent served with a tasty piece of pan fried fish such as salmon, cod or sea bass. You can get squid ink from specialist shops or failing that, online from frozenfishdirect.co.uk.
Read Tom van Zeller’s cauliflower and squid ink puree
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