THE MAIN EVENT

Coeliac Gluten Free Fish Recipe

A generously laden Christmas table needs a main event, a dish or two around which all others are planned. Here we have two suggestions which will make very handsome additions to your festive feasting.

The first is a whole fish which is perfect for feeding a crowd.  We’ve cooked an ocean trout with saffron butter and recommend serving it with our vibrant and zingy saltsa.

The second is a butterflied, pork neck which is first marinated then stuffed with a delicious combination of mizithra or ricotta cheese, lots of herbs, bacon, garlic, onion and pistachio nuts. Here we’ve served it with a yoghurty sauce enriched with nut brown butter and tiny gerkins.

Enjoy!

Caren, Jan and Rosie

 

THE MAIN EVENT COOKED FISH PIC.JPG

 

BAKED WHOLE OCEAN TROUT, SAFFRON BUTTER AND AN ORANGE, KALAMATA AND CAPER SALTSA

Serves 10 as part of a shared meal.

2.4       kg ocean trout, cleaned but left whole, dried with kitchen paper
100      gm butter, softened
½         gm saffron threads (about a ½ teaspoonful)
1          golden shallot, finely diced
1          garlic clove, minced
            Salt and white pepper
            Olive oil
½         bunch dill

Soak the saffron threads in 1 tablespoon of hot water for 5 minutes.

Mash with a fork the butter, saffron threads and coloured water, the shallot and garlic until well combined. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Make about 5-6 cuts across the fish. Rub the fish completely with olive oil.

Take a 1.5 metre length of foil and double it over so you now have a 75cm length. Rub olive oil generously onto the foil and place the fish on top. Place this onto a large baking tray or disposable foil tray.

Rub the saffron butter into the cuts and put the dill into the fish cavity. Season with salt and pepper.

Fold the foil to make a long parcel and twist the ends to secure the fish. This can be prepared the day before and taken out of the fridge 1 hour before cooking.

Prepare the saltsa and its dressing (see below). This can also be done the day before. It will just need combining at the last moment.

Preheat the oven or lidded barbecue to hot.

Cook in the oven or barbeque for 40-45 minutes. Check occasionally to see if it is cooking evenly, especially on the barbecue. Turn the tray at least once during the cooking process.  There is no need to turn the fish over.

When cooked, remove from the heat and rest for 5 minutes. Release the fish from the foil with a flexible spatula if it has caught on the bottom. There will be a lot of fishy/buttery liquid. This is very rich and you only need to serve a small amount of this with the fish. Transfer carefully onto a large serving platter, cut side up.

Serve with the saltsa on the side with some steamed new potatoes.

 

ORANGE, KALAMATA AND CAPER SALTSA

3         oranges
1         red onion, diced, soaked in cold water for 10 minutes. Drain and dry with                                         kitchen paper
150     gm Kalamata olives, flesh removed, seeds discarded
2         tablespoons capers
½        cup coriander leaves, chopped
1         tablespoon dill fronds, chopped
1         long red chilli, finely sliced

Zest two of the oranges, and set aside for the dressing below.  Cut away the skin and pith of the oranges and then segment the oranges, removing the dividing membranes and inner pith. Roughly chop the segments and place in a bowl.

Prepare the remaining saltsa ingredients and keep in separate small bowls until you are ready to serve. This will ensure its fresh taste and bright colours.

Saltsa Dressing

3         tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1         tablespoon lemon juice
2         tablespoon red wine vinegar
1         teaspoon sea salt
1         clove garlic, minced
           Zest from the oranges as described above
           Black pepper to taste

Combine the dressing ingredients in a glass jar and shake well.

When ready to serve the fish combine all the saltsa ingredients and gently toss with the dressing.

TIPS: This recipe would also work well with a whole mulloway or snapper.  Or if you don’t have the inclination to cook a whole fish then serve individual portions.

 

THE MAIN EVENT PORK SLICED PIC.jpg

 

STUFFED PORK ROLL SOUVLAKI STYLE WITH YOGHURT AND NUT BROWN BUTTER SAUCE

Serves 10-12

2        kg pork neck
1        tablespoon gluten-free soy sauce for brushing
2        tablespoons olive oil for brushing
1        handful of mint leaves for garnishing

Marinade

2         lemons, finely grated zest
2         tablespoons lemon juice
4         cloves garlic, minced
1         tablespoon dried mint
1         tablespoon dried oregano
2         tablespoons full fat plain yoghurt
1         teaspoon salt
3         tablespoons olive oil

Butterfly the pork neck by placing it skin-side down on a board and cutting lengthways down the centre three quarters through the meat, then cutting horizontally out to one side, to create a flap. Repeat the horizontal cut on the then other side and open both flaps out to make a flattish sheet. Make several diagonal slashes across the pork being mindful not to cut all the way through.

Mix marinade ingredients together and pour over the pork, kneading well into the slashes and making sure to cover both sides of the pork.  Leave to marinate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Stuffing

1          tablespoon olive oil
2          cloves garlic, minced
1          small red  onion, finely chopped
100      gm streaky bacon, cut into dice
200      gm full fat Mizithra or ricotta cheese
100      gm pistachio nuts, ground
50        gm pistachio nuts, chopped
1          bunch chives, finely chopped
½         bunch dill, finely chopped
50        gm dried figs, chopped
            salt and pepper to taste
          

Heat olive oil in a small frying pan and fry garlic, red onion and bacon until the onion is lightly golden.  Cool completely.

Mix the onion, garlic, bacon mix and all stuffing ingredients together.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Spread half the stuffing over the slashed side of the flattened pork, kneading well in the slashes. Place the remaining stuffing along one short edge of the pork and gently roll the pork up.  Secure with string at 3cm intervals.

 

THE MAIN EVENT RAW PORK PICS.jpg

 

To Cook

Preheat barbecue to hot.  Preheat oven to 160°C.

Brush the pork roll with soy sauce and olive oil and brown on the barbecue until nicely charred.

Transfer to a baking dish and place in the preheated oven.  Cook for 1.5 hours, turning once.  If you have a reliable barbecue you can cook the pork entirely in the barbecue.

 Allow to rest for 15-20 minutes in a warm place before removing the strings and slicing.

Arrange on a platter to serve garnished with mint leaves.

 

YOGHURT AND NUT BROWN BUTTER SAUCE

25        gm unsalted butter
125      gm Greek yoghurt
1          tablespoon olive oil
1          clove garlic, minced
20        ml lemon juice (or to taste)
25        gm  petits cornichons (baby gherkins), finely chopped
            salt to taste

Cook butter in a small saucepan over a medium heat until it starts to bubble.  Allow it to bubble away until it turns golden brown and has a nutty aroma.  Allow to cool.

Mix the cooled butter together well with all other sauce ingredients.  Store in the fridge.

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