Monkfish Sharing Canapé
Ingredients
Monkfish
350g monkfish or cod cheeks (or skinless fillets portioned into approx 2cm x 6cm strips)
100g plain flour
3 eggs
200g panko
Citrus Mayonnaise
1 lemon, zested
1 orange zested
1 egg
1 egg yolk
Pinch of mustard
250g neutral sunflower oil
Pickled Cucumber
200g cucumber (½ large)
10g dill
5tbsp Gherkin pickling liquid
1. Firstly prepare the monkfish cheeks by removing any sinew from both sides, then divide each cheek into three or two equal size pieces. Place in the fridge whilst preparing the panné.
2. To prepare the panné you will need three separate tubs. In the first tub place the flour with a good pinch of salt. In the second tub place the eggs which have been whisked together and strained through a fine sieve. Finally in the third tub zest the lemon and mix with the panko breadcrumbs.
3. Remove the prepared cheeks from the fridge and panné by first coating in seasoned flour, then coating in the sieved egg and finally in the lemon panko breadcrumbs. Each cheek should have an even distribution of breadcrumbs over its surface. Once this is achieved place into the fridge on a wire rack to chill until service.
4. Meanwhile prepare the mayonnaise. In a blender place the egg yolk, egg, mustard powder and a pinch of salt.
5. Begin to drizzle into the machine, slowly at first ensuring a stable emulsion is forming. Continue to drizzle slowly until all the oil is incorporated.
6. Once all the oil has been added remove the mayonnaise from the mixer and season to taste with the citrus zests. Place into the fridge covered until ready to use.
7. Now prepare the cucumber. Cut four finger length pieces of cucumber. Using a mandolin or knife cut 2mm thick slices leaving the skin on but stopping once you reach the watery core. Repeat on remaining 3 sides.
8. Take the 2mm thick slices of cucumber and cut into 2mm thick julienne. Then petit brunoise the cucumber.
9. Once the cucumber is diced mix it with the gherkin liquid and finely chopped dill. This can be used straight away but benefits from marinating in the fridge for a couple of hours.
Assembly
1. To assemble the cheeks preheat some vegetable oil to 180⁰.
2. Recheck the mayonnaise for seasoning and place into a piping bag.
3. Deep fry the cheeks for 2-3 minutes or until golden and crisp. Drain on tissue paper and season lightly with salt.
4. Place a small amount of the mayonnaise onto the serving plate, the monkfish cheek on top of that and garnish with a small spoon of the pickled cucumber and serve.
Latticed Pork and Apple Sausage Roll
Ingredients
400g pack pork and apple sausage – about 6 fat sausages
1 roasted red pepper from a jar, patted dry with kitchen paper
1 tsp chilli flakes (optional)
2 tbsp tomato purée
Salt and pepper
Flour, for dusting
250g ready-made puff pastry
1 large egg – glazing only
Salad, to serve
1. Heat oven to 220C/425f/200C fan/ gas 7. Place a sheet of parchment on baking tray, set aside.
2. Remove the meat from the sausage skins by snipping off the ends, then squeezing the sausage meat into a bowl.
3. Cut the pepper into small pieces with scissors. Add the red pepper, the chilli flakes (if using), tomato puree, salt and pepper. Mix well with a fork or clean hands. Set aside covered in the fridge until ready to assemble the sausage roll.
4. Sprinkle some flour on the work surface. Cut the pastry into three pieces, 1 x1/2 the pastry, 2 x ¼’s. Using a rolling pin, roll out one of the 1/4 pastry block into a rough rectangle shape, 1 pound coin thickness (3mm), approx 12 x 25cm. This is the base of the sausage roll, place on the prepared baking sheet.
5. Now spoon the sausage meat onto the middle of the pastry base in a sausage shape – leave a 2cm border of pastry all the way around the sausage meat. Set aside in the fridge while rolling out the rest of the pastry.
6. Take the 2nd 1/4 of the puff pastry, roll into a rectangle this piece needs to be thinner and larger than the base ideally 2mm.
7. Break the egg into the cup with a pinch of salt, beat with a fork until well combined.
8. Taking the sausage roll base out of the fridge, brush the beaten egg around the border of the pastry. Place the newly rolled rectangle on top of the sausage meat. Gently press the pastry to seal it from the top of the sausage meat down to the border (you need to remove as much air as possible from under the pastry so it is a snug fit), ensure the border is pressed down securely. Use a sharp knife to neaten up the edges. Set aside while you roll out the final piece of pastry.
9. Roll the final ½ of pastry into a rectangle approximately a pound coin thickness (3mm approx.). Do not worry if it is a similar size to the current sausage roll. Take a ruler and a small sharp knife, starting at one edge of the pastry, make 1 inch incisions down the pastry with a 1 inch gap between each. Leave 1cm between each row and continue the incisions to the other side of the pastry.
10. Pick up the pastry and gently pull the pastry to prize open the incisions so they are holes. Do this to the whole sheet. Brush the top of the pastry that is sitting on top of the sausage meat all over. Place the latticed pastry on top of the egg washed pastry and gently press down to seal. Using a sharp knife trim away excess pastry from the edges of the pastry so all the pastry layers are flush at the edges.
11. For best results, place the pastry in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or until it is firm prior to baking.
12. Bake for 35-40 mins or until the pastry is golden brown and the sausage meat is piping hot.
13. Serve hot or cold with salad and your favourite chutney.
Leiths Mulled Wine
Ingredients
4 x 75cl bottles of full-bodied red wine
570 ml/1 pint orange juice
290 ml/ ½ pint water
1 orange studded with 12 cloves
150ml/ ¼ pint orange liqueur
2 cinnamon sticks, broken in half
225g/8 oz granulated sugar
1. Put all the ingredients into a large saucepan and dissolve the sugar over a low heat.
2. Bring up to simmering point and add more sugar to taste if necessary
3. Keep warm but do not boil as the alcohol will be evaporated.
Gin Fizz
Ingredients
5 large lemons
900g granulated sugar
2 teaspoons citric acid
½ tablespoon tartaric acid
2 tablespoons epsom salts
1 litre boiling water
Gin to mix (also delicious without gin, just mix with soda over ice)
1. Peel the zest from the lemons in large strips using a vegetable peeler. Try not to remove too much of the pith. Put it into a large heatproof bowl. Squeeze the juice from the lemons.
2. Put the rest of the ingredients into the bowl with the lemons and pour on the boiling water.
3. Cover and leave overnight in a cool place. Strain into sterilized bottles and store in the fridge.
4. Half fill a glass with ice cubes, add a measure of gin and a measure of the mix. Top up with soda water to taste…
…Add a handful of raspberries for a pink Gin Fizz!
Mulled Apple Juice
Ingredients
1l apple juice
Strips of orange peel
1 cinnamon stick, plus extra to garnish, if you like
3 cloves
Sugar or honey, to taste
1. Simmer the apple juice with the strips of orange peel, cinnamon stick and cloves for about 5-10 mins until all the flavours have infused.
2. Sweeten to taste.
3. Serve each drink with a little orange peel and a piece of cinnamon stick, if you like.