Monkfish with celeriac mash and samphire
A warming monkfish dish with tangy pickled samphire and a Japanese-inspired seasoning.
Ingredients
For the celeriac mash
- 1 celeriac, peeled and roughly chopped
- 2 large potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped
- 100ml/3½fl oz double cream
- 75ml/2½fl oz creme fraiche
- 100²µ/3½´Ç³ú butter
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 small bunch thyme
- white pepper
- salt
For the pickled samphire
- 100²µ/3½´Ç³ú fresh samphire
- 100ml/3½fl oz cider vinegar
- 1 tsp coriander seeds
For the Japanese seasoning
- 75²µ/2½´Ç³ú sesame seeds
- 1 tsp pink peppercorns
- 2tbsp bonito flakes
- 2 nori sheets, crumbled
- pinch sugar
- pinch salt
For the monkfish
Method
To make the celeriac mash, bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil and cook the celeriac and potatoes for around 20 –25 minutes, until soft. Drain the mixture then pass through a potato ricer and then a sieve.
Meanwhile, place the cream, crème fraiche, butter, bay, garlic, thyme, white pepper and salt in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Immediately remove from the heat and leave to stand for 5 minutes. Strain the cream mixture into the celeriac and potato mixture and mix well to combine. Keep warm.
To make the pickled samphire, bring a large saucepan of water to the boil, add the samphire and cook for 30 seconds, remove from the pan and plunge into a bowl of iced water. Place the samphire in a bowl.
Place the vinegar and 100ml/3½fl oz water in a separate saucepan with the coriander seeds and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat immediately and pour over the samphire. Leave to steep while you prepare the seasoning.
To make the Japanese seasoning, toast the sesame seeds and pink peppercorns together in a dry frying pan over a medium heat. Allow to cool then tip into a bowl and add the crumbled nori and bonito flakes. Add the sugar and salt and mix well.
To make the monkfish. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a high heat. Fry the monkfish for 2–3 minutes then leave to rest while you plate up.
To serve, spoon some mash onto each plate and top with the monkfish and pickled samphire. Sprinkle over the Japanese seasoning.
