Fish of the Month

Salted pouting and parsnip fishcakes

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is widely known as a writer, broadcaster and campaigner for his uncompromising commitment to real food.
As an award-winning journalist, food and cookbook writer, Hugh and his team of food experts run courses and events expounding the River Cottage food philosophy, and celebrating the very best local, seasonal food. Hugh's website, www.rivercottage.net , is an important forum for discussing food issues of every kind.
Hugh’s Fish Fight started as a campaign to raise awareness that half of all fish caught in the North Sea is thrown back overboard dead due to the quota system imposed by the EU Common Fisheries Policy. More than 850,000 people signed up and have helped pressure politicians into reforming the system. The new series of Fish Fight in February 2013 will kick off a new campaign to create networks of Marine Protected Areas around the planet.

His latest book is HUGH’S THREE GOOD THINGS – a book which conjures up quick, fast, easy solutions for home cooks. Three is the magic number: salty, sweet, crunchy. Sharp, rich, crumbly. Hot, bland, crisp. Think scones with jam and cream, fish and chips with mushy peas, or porridge with golden syrup and cream.

My connection with seafood

I have long been an avid fish-eater and an enthusiastic – if not always successful – fisherman.

Why sustainability is important to me

I believe passionately that, in order to preserve and maintain the precious and delicious resources the oceans offer us, it’s encumbent on all of us to shop responsibly for fish. On a macro level, meanwhile, my Fish Fight campaign is lobbying those in power to do everything possible to foster sustainable, ethical fishing practices the world over.

http://www.rivercottage.net http://www.fishfight.net

July 2013

Pouting or Bib

These deliciously savoury cakes are a wonderful way to use pouting – and will also work with other white fish such as pollack. The light salting of the raw fish firms it up a little and seasons it beautifully.

Preparation

Start by salting the pouting.
Lay the fillets out on a board and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons salt in a thin, even layer.
Leave for 5 minutes, then rinse off all the salt under a running tap and pat dry with kitchen paper.
Slice the fish off the skin then cut the fish into 1cm cubes, discarding any bones.
Combine the fish with the grated parsnip and onion, the garlic, rosemary and egg and season with black pepper.
Heat a thin layer of oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat and when it is hot, put a handful of the fish and parsnip mixture into the pan.
Squash it into a cake roughly 8cm in diameter and 1cm thick. Repeat until you have three or four cakes in the pan.
Fry fairly gently so the heat has time to penetrate the centre of the cakes without the outside burning. Press each cake down with a spatula from time to time.
After 5-7 minutes, when they are nicely browned on the underside, very carefully flip them over and continue until the second side is browned.
The cakes are quite fragile – in order to keep them more or less in one piece, it’s important touse a good layer of oil (1-2mm) and to let them sit undisturbed for several minutes so they can form a crust on the base before you turn them.
When cooked, remove and drain on kitchen paper then repeat with the remaining mixture. Serve hot with a green salad. A fried egg or two makes a supper of them.

Preparation 30 minutes

Cooking

15 minutes

Ingredients

200g pouting fillet
250-300g parsnips (2 medium ones), peeled and coarsely grated
1 small onion, coarsely grated
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 teaspoon finely chopped rosemary
1 large egg, beaten
Sunflower oil, for frying
Salt and freshly ground black pepper