Mediterranean sh pie

SERVES 4 PREP AND COOK TIME 1 HOUR 15 MINUTES

1 large fennel bulb (550g), cut into 1cm thick slices, fronds reserved

1 large red onion (300g), cut into thin wedges

1 medium bulb garlic, cloves separated, unpeeled

1/4 cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil

1 large red capsicum (350g), chopped coarsely

2 stalks celery (300g), chopped coarsely

2 stalks fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped finely

3 teaspoons smoked paprika

½ teaspoon saffron threads

2 tablespoons tomato paste

½ cup (125ml) dry white wine

1 litre (4 cups) fish stock

400g can cherry tomatoes

800g skinless blue-eye trevalla fillets, pinboned, cut into 3cm pieces

PANGRATTATO TOPPING

520g day-old garlic sourdough bread, crusts removed

1 tablespoon finely grated lemon rind

2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

¼ cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil

1 Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced).

2 PANGRATTATO TOPPING Coarsely chop bread; process until coarse crumbs form. Toss with remaining ingredients. Spread over lined oven tray; bake for 5 minutes or until golden and crisp.

3 Increase oven to 220°C (200°C fanforced). Line a large oven tray with baking paper. Toss fennel, onion and garlic with half the oil; season. Spread over prepared tray; roast for 25 minutes or until just tender. Squeeze garlic flesh from skins; reserve roast vegetables.

4 Meanwhile, heat remaining oil in a 3-litre (12-cup) 30cm round ovenproof frying pan or flameproof roasting pan over medium heat. Cook capsicum, celery and parsley stalks, stirring, for 2 minutes or until softened. Add paprika and saffron; cook for 1 minute. Stir in the tomato paste; cook for a further 1 minute. Increase the heat to high; deglaze pan with wine.

5 Add stock, tomatoes and roast fennel mixture to pan with capsicum mixture; bring to the boil and simmer over medium-high heat for 25 minutes or until reduced by a third. Season to taste.

6 Gently press fish into tomato mixture to submerge. Bake for 15 minutes or until fish is cooked through.

7 Top fish pie with Pangrattato Topping to serve. Not suitable to freeze or microwave.