Fish, along with everything else seems to have jumped in price. Here in WA, with several thousands kilometres of coastline and an incredible range of seafood, prices seem to vary between 60 to 70 dollars per kilo for fish fillets. I remember … God! When I first came here in 1992, fresh local octopus off Rottnest Island was less than $3.50 a kilo. Now, you are lucky to find it for $40!
I bought some fish a bit cheaper today – Silver Perch (another name for some type of snapper fairly abundant around here but what’s in a name?) – at just over $60 a kilo. (Actually, I only bought 300g.)
Rather than flouring the fillets and frying or grilling or even baking them in a fish pie, I opted for sprinkling some Mediterranean flavourings on the fillets before wrapping them in slices of Seranno Ham (my new go-to favourite ingredient)
and then gently frying them in a little olive oil for about 4 minutes a side, so that the ham is approaching crispness while the fish inside is still moist and succulent. Of course, you could use good old salt and pepper, or anything else you like – fresh herbs, dried chilli, and so on, endless permutations!
I served it up with baby, baked potatoes and a (ready-bought) Asian style salad. I didn’t know a dressing was included so I made my own – 1 spoon of olive oil, one of soy sauce, one of sesame oil, (two spoonfuls would have been better but that was all I had), 1 spoon of Mirin or any white vinegar, and a teaspoon of sugar, mixed and then shaken thoroughly in a jar.
The fish was superb. Moist inside, flaking on the fork and almost (!) crisp on the outside. A winner for a gorgeous Friday night dinner – even though it includes ham!
As it does, thinking of fish brought couplets to mind, where things just go naturally together,
Fish n’ Chips, (d’you want vinegar with that?),
Rock n’Roll,
Tomatoes n’ Basil,
Bangers n’ Mash,
Peaches n’ Cream
Rags n’Bones
Salt n’ Pepper
Any others spring to mind?
Red Branch Chronicles 