Tag Archives: seafood

Pan-roasted cod loin with pea and asparagus risotto

12 Jul

Risotto is a traditional Italian rice dish made from a short-grained, starchy variety of rice called arborio rice. The technique for making it is called the risotto method, which involves stirring small amounts of hot stock or broth into the rice a little at a time, allowing the liquid to be absorbed as you go.

While the rice cooks, it releases its starch, which is essential to giving the risotto a rich, creamy consistency. The more starch in your rice, the creamier the risotto. This is why cooking your rice slowly is essential; cooking risotto low and slow gives super-starchy arborio rice the time it needs to release the starch and achieve the sought-after creaminess.

Like pasta, risotto is cooked al dente, which means that it should be slightly firm to the bite—a degree of doneness that might seem underdone in ordinary white rice. It should not be crunchy though.

Ingredients

• COD LOIN

• 4 portions of cod loin, thick, skin-on

• 2 tbsp of olive oil

• 30g of unsalted butter

•salt

•freshly ground black pepper

• PEA AND ASPARAGUS RISOTTO

• 150g of asparagus spears, fine

• 1l vegetable or chicken stock, fresh

• 2 shallots, peeled and finely chopped

• 1 small fennel bulb finely chopped

• Zest and juice of 1 lemon

• 1 Handful of chopped mint

• 1 handful of chopped oregano and dill

• 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed

• 25g of unsalted butter, diced

• 250g of carnaroli risotto rice

• 250ml of dry white wine

• 50g fresh or frozen peas

• 30g of Parmesan, finely grated

• 1 tbsp of olive oil

•salt

•freshly ground black pepper

• Sprigs of dill for serving

Method

1

To begin, place the vegetable stock in a small pan, bring to the boil then keep warm over a low heat

2

Prepare the asparagus by snapping of the woody ends (add the woody ends to the pan with vegetable stock). Cut an inch off the tips of the spears and finely slice the remaining middle section into discs, setting both aside

3

Make the risotto by adding the olive oil to a wide, heavy-based frying pan over a low heat. Sweat the shallot, fennel and crushed garlic until soft and translucent, this will take around 8–10 minutes. Season lightly with salt and pepper

4

Add the diced butter to the pan along with the rice and stir for a couple of minutes until the rice becomes hot and sticky. Turn up the heat and add the white wine, stirring until the wine has evaporated

5

Remove the woody asparagus ends from the stock with a slotted spoon and discard them. Lower the heat to moderate and start adding the stock to the rice, one ladleful at a time. Stir and allow the rice to absorb the liquid before adding another ladleful. After 10 minutes, add the asparagus tips and sliced middles along with the peas, chopped herbs, lemon zest and juice. Continue adding the stock until the rice is cooked with a slight bite, approximately another 5–8 minutes

6

While the risotto is cooking, prepare the cod, seasoning it with salt and pepper. Heat a large non stick frying pan over a medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the fish to the pan, skin-side down. Turn the heat down and cook for 5 minutes. Add the butter to the pan and turn the fish over, cook for a further 4–6 minutes depending on the thickness of the fish, basting occasionally with butter

7

Finish the risotto by stirring in the Parmesan and seasoning to taste. Divide between four plates or bowls and top with the fish and sprigs of dill . Serve immediately.

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Mullet with Sliced Potatoes and Black Olives

7 Mar

Mullet with Sliced Potatoes and Black Olivesimage

Mullet Facts
Mullet belongs to the group of ray-finned fish. There are 80 species of mullets that can be found in tropical, subtropical and temperate waters around the world. Most species of mullets inhabit coastal marine waters, but they can be occasionally seen in the estuaries, bays, inlets and rivers (even though fresh water is not essential part of their life cycle). Mullet prefers waters with muddy or sandy bottoms, on a depth of up to 400 feet that offer plenty of food. Mullets are part of human diet for thousands of years. Some species of mullets are endangered due to increased demand for their meat

Recipie

Ingredients:
Serves 4
* 3 medium potatoes, peeled
* 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
* 2 garlic cloves, chopped
* 1 thyme sprig, leaves stripped
* sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
* 30 Aragón or Kalamata black olives, pitted
* 10 chive stalks, chopped
* 4 x 400g red mullet, filleted
* olive oil, for frying

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/gas 6.
2. Slice the potatoes as thinly as possible (use a mandolin if you have one), then mix with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, the chopped garlic and thyme leaves. Season, then spread the mixture over a greased baking tray. Bake for about 15 minutes, until the potatoes are cooked.
3. Meanwhile, blitz the olives and half the chives with the remaining olive oil in a food processor to make a thick purée.
4. Season the fillets. Heat some oil in a frying pan until it is medium hot – the oil should be shimmering but not smoking – and fry the mullet for 2 minutes skin-side down, then turn over and fry for another minute. You want a crispy skin.
5. Divide the potatoes between four plates, pop two fillets on top of each mound and, using a teaspoon, drizzle the plate with the olive purée. Scatter the remaining chives over everything and eat immediatlyimage

For more info mail or call ; simon.bingham@simons-sauces.com  0031(0)642297107

 

 

 

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Roasted skrei (Norwegian cod) with fennel, red onion, black olives and balsamic tomatoe

9 Feb

Roasted sjrei (Norwegian cod) with fennel, red onion, black olives and balsamic tomatoeimage

What is Skrei? image Skrei is seasonal Norwegian cod at its very best. It comes from the world’s largest cod stock that lives in the Barents Sea—the Northeast Arctic cod stock (Gadus morhua). When the cod reaches maturity (at around 5 years old) it spends the winter months migrating to the coast of Norway to spawn. The cod spends most of its life in the nutrient-rich Barents Sea, but when it migrates to the coast, the cod is actually returning to its birthplace. When the cod comes to the coast to spawn, we call it Skrei. Skrei is therefore a Norwegian cod in the prime of its life.
Skrei is a Norwegian delicacy. Every winter for thousands of years, the Skrei has returned to its birthplace to spawn. This great phenomenon takes place only in Norway.
My recipe uses this delicious fish in a Mediterranean style dish, fennel, tomatoes,olives and balsamic vinegar, a one pan dish that looks fabulous placed on the middle of your dining table for everyone to tuck in too.

INGREDIENTSimage
1 large fennel bulb, trimmed and thinly sliced, fennel fronds reserved
1 large red onion, sliced
1-2 small red chillies, thinly sliced (optional)
2 tbsp olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon and zest
200g cherry tomatoes, halved
Handful sliced black olives
3 tbsp balsamic vinegarimage4 thick cod fillets skrei
1 heaped tbsp capers, drained and rinsed

METHOD
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan180°C/gas 6. Scatter the fennel, olives, onion and chilli in a roasting tin and drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil and the lemon juice. Roast for 10 minutes.

2. Scatter over the cherry tomatoes , lemon zest and roast for a further 5 minutes, then drizzle with the balsamic vinegar. Place the cod fillets on top, drizzle with the remaining oil, season and roast for 10-12minutes until the cod is just cooked through.

3. Garnish with capers and fennel fronds serve with hot crusty bread to mop up all the juices.image

For more info call or mail @ 0031(0)642297107 Simon.bingham@simons-sauces.comimage

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My fish pie

9 Dec

Fish pie image
Fish pie is a traditional british dish. The pie is usually made with white, often smoked, fish (for example cod, haddockor halibut) in a white sauce or cheese sauce made using the milk the fish was poached in. Prawns and hard boiled eggs are other common additional ingredients.
It is oven baked in a deep dish but is not usually made with the shortcrust or puff pastry casing that is associated with most savoury pies (e.g. steak and kidney pie).
In place of a pastry casing enclosing the pie, a topping of mashed potatoes sometimes topped with cheese is used to enclose the contents during baking.
The dish is sometimes referred to as “fisherman’s pie” because the topping is similar to that of shepherd’s pie, in that it uses mashed potatoes

Ingredients
* 1.5 kg floury potatoes
* 4 large free-range eggs , optional
* 50 g unsalted butter
* 50 g plain flour
* 2 fresh bay leaves
* 350 ml quality fish stock
* 350 ml semi-skimmed milk , plus an extra splash
* 1 heaped teaspoon English mustard
* 50 g Cheddar cheese
* ½ a lemon
* a few sprigs of fresh flat-leaf parsley , optional
* freshly ground black pepperimage* 300 g skinless, boneless white fish , such as coley, whiting, haddock, cod, from sustainable sources
* 200 g skinless boneless salmon from sustainable sources
* 200 g skinless, boneless undyed smoked haddock, from sustainable sources
* 200 g baby spinach
* extra virgin olive oil
* 1 whole nutmeg , for grating

Method
Preheat the oven to 200°C/400ºF/gas 6. Peel the potatoes and cut into 2cm chunks, then boil for around 15 minutes, or until tender. Add the eggs for the last 8 minutes (if using).Meanwhile, make the sauce. Melt the in a heavy-bottomed pan over a low heat and stir in the flour. Add the bay, then bit by bit, add the stock and the milk, stirring after every addition until you have a smooth, silky sauce. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes, or until thickened. Stir in the mustard, grate in half the cheese, then squeeze in the lemon juice. Pick, finely chop and stir in the parsley (if using), then keep stirring until the cheese is melted. Season with a little black pepper, then remove from the heat.

Get yourself a 25cm x 30cm baking dish. Check that there aren’t any stray bones lurking in the fish fillets, then slice into 2.5cm chunks and spread them evenly over the base of the dish. Wilt and add the spinach, then peel, quarter and add the eggs (if using). Remove the bay leaves, then pour over the white sauce and allow to cool slightly. Drain the potatoes well and mash with a little extra virgin olive oil, a splash of milk and a few scrapings of nutmeg. Spoon the potatoes over the pie and scuff up the surface with a fork. Grate the remaining Cheddar over the top and bake in the oven for 45 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through, the sauce is bubbling up at the sides and the top is golden. Delicious served with lots of green peas.image
For more information mail or call; simon.bingham@simons-sauces.com 0031(0)642297107image

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Shrimp burger with chilli mayonnaise

3 Nov

Shrimp burger with chilli mayonnaiseimage
This is the ultimate burger for seafood lovers. Easy to prepare and make in advance , the patties cook equally well in a pan or on a bbq, I’ve served mine with roasted sweet potato wedges and my delicious red cabbage slawimage
Ingredients
Serves 4

500g raw king prawns (frozen is fine, just make sure they are fully defrosted before you start)
4 spring onions, thinly sliced
10-15g flat leaf parsley, leaves and stalks finely chopped
Handful rocket leaves
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Splash of tobacco
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
squeeze of lemon juice
1-2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, for frying
4 burger buns or ciabatta rolls toasted

Chilli mayonnaise

1 red pepper
1 red chilli
Small handful flat leaf parsley finely chopped
Small handful mint finely chopped
1 pickled gherkin finely chopped
1 tbsp capers roughly chopped
200ml mayonnaise
1 lemon, zest of all and juice of half

Method

1. Start by making the chilli mayonnaise , preheat the grill to high. Put the pepper and chilli on a roasting tray and grill turning regularly, until blackened all over, place in a bowl, cover with cling film and leave to cool.
2. Once cooled remove and discard skin and seeds, finely chop chilli and pepper then mix into the mayonnaise now add the rest of the ingredients. Season and chill until needed.
3. Pat the prawns dry on kitchen paper and place 1/3 into a food processor with the spring onions, blitz until smooth, roughly chop by hand the remaining prawns.
4. In a mixing bowl add all of the prawns , parsley, Worcestershire and tobacco sauces, cayenne and lemon juice , combine all together, season with salt and pepper
5. Divide And shape the mix into 4 patties, brush each burger with a little olive oil and fry over a medium-high heat in a non stick pan ( or on a bbq ) for 4 to 6 mins on each side, until golden and cooked throughimage
6. Serve in a toasted bun with the chilli mayonnaise and rocket leaves , I also like to have it with homemade slaw and roasted potato wedges.imageimage
For more info mail or call; simon.bingham@simons-sauces.com 0031(0)642297107image

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Fried cod loin ( Skrei the Norwegian cod ) with white bean purée and garlic crisps

15 Feb

Fried cod loin ( skrei the Norwegian cod ) with white bean purée and garlic crispsimage
Skrei is the name for adult winter cod from the Barents Sea northwest of Norway where it migrates to spawn. This sustainable fish It is a delicacy which is looked forward too at the beginning of the year The cod travels from December to April from the Barents Sea to the warmer waters around Lofoten in the north of Norway to spawn . The migration ensures for a lean, tender and flaky fish.image

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Skrei is therefore a Norwegian cod in the prime of its life, in fact, the word Skrei comes from the Norse word “skrida” which means to wander or walk.
Skrie’s premium quality is preserved through strict grading guidelines on size, maturity, location and appearance. It’s then packaged within 12 hours of being caught, and branded with the SKREI® logo to guarantee you’re getting the best sustainable product.

A real Norwegian fish supper is the marvellous mølje, a traditional trio of poached skrei, cod’s roe and cod’s liver, cooked up with onions in its own oil. Served simply with boiled potatoes and crispbread, the hearty family meal is often washed down with a shot or two of aquavit (a Scandinavian spirit distilled from potatoes) and followed by a little nap💤image
Fried cod loin ( Skreithe Norwegian cod ) with white bean purée and garlic crispsThe recipe is taken from the fantastic chef Daniel Galmiche who was on the BBC’s Saturday kitchen dated 07-02-2015.

Ingredients
image
For the white bean purée
150g/5½oz dried butter beans , soaked overnight, drained and rinsed.
1 carrot, peeled, cut into quarters
1 shallot, cut into quarters
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp chopped flat leaf parsley
1 lime, zest and juice
For the garlic crisps
Sunflower oil for frying
100ml/3½fl oz full-fat milk
4 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
3 tbsp plain flour
Sea salt and ground pepper
For the cod
8 garlic cloves, unpeeled
4 cod ( skrei ) loins, about 150g/5½oz each, skin on, patted dry
40g/1½oz unsalted butter
2 tbsp olive oil

Method

1. For the purée, put the butter beans in a saucepan, cover with cold water and bring to the boil over a high heat, skimming off any foam the rises to the surface. Add the carrot, shallot and garlic, turn the heat down to a simmer, partially cover and cook for 40 minutes until tender.
Strain the beans, reserving 4 tablespoons of the cooking liquid. Discard the carrot, shallot and garlic. Put the beans in a blender with 3 tablespoons of the cooking liquid and blend to a smooth purée. Add the extra virgin olive oil and blend again. Add the remaining cooking liquid if the purée is too thick. Season with salt and pepper, then stir in the parsley, half the lime zest and all of the lime juice.image
2. For the garlic crisps, heat a deep, heavy-bottomed saucepan with enough sunflower oil to deep-fry the garlic. Heat to 160C/315F, or until a cube of bread browns in 45 seconds. Alternatively, use a deep-fat fryer. (CAUTION: hot oil can be dangerous. Do not leave unattended.)image

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Meanwhile bring the milk to a gentle boil in a small saucepan, add the sliced garlic and blanch for 2-3 minutes until softened slightly but not breaking up. Remove and pat dry with kitchen paper. Discard the milk.
Lightly dust the garlic in the flour, then carefully drop a few slices at a time into the hot oil and fry for 2-3 minutes until golden-brown and crisp. Drain on kitchen paper. Season with salt and set aside.
3. For the cod, blanch the garlic cloves in a small saucepan of boiling water for 4-8 minutes until softened, then drain. Refresh in cold water and pat dry with kitchen paper.image
Season the skin of the cod with salt and pepper. Heat a lidded non-stick frying pan over a high heat. Add the butter and olive oil. When the butter is foaming, add the cod, skin side down, and cook for 3-5 minutes, or until the skin is crisp and golden. imageTurn the heat down to medium-low, add the blanched garlic cloves, partially cover with the lid and cook for 3-4 minutes. Remove the lid, turn the fish over and cook for a further 2-3 minutes until just cooked through.
Serve the cod on a bed of the bean purée with the buttery garlic sauce spooned over the top. Sprinkle with garlic crisps and the remaining lime zest before serving.image
For more info call or mail inquires to: 0031 (0)642297107
simon.bingham@simons-sauces.comimage

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