PICKLED FISH WITH BARBECUED EGGPLANT & CAPSICUM PANZANELLA

SERVES 6 / PREPARATION 20 MINUTES PLUS 24 HOURS MARINATING TIME / COOKING 15 MINUTES

I love a pickled fish salad in the summer – it is so easy and looks and tastes great. This one has a simple marinade and a barbecued version of the classic panzanella. It is very important to mix the bread through just before serving as you don’t want it completely soggy.

150ml white or rice wine vinegar

1 tablespoon sugar juice and zest of 2 lemons

500g thick kingfish, trevally or similar skinless fillets 2 teaspoons salt

3-4 small shallots, finely sliced

Combine the vinegar and sugar in a saucepan and heat to dissolve the sugar, then leave to cool. Stir in the lemon juice and zest.

Place the fillets in a container and rub with the salt. Add the shallots, pour over the vinegar mix and cover tightly. Leave in the fridge for about 24 hours, turning occasionally.

EGGPLANT & CAPSICUM PANZANELLA

½ loaf ciabatta bread, thickly sliced

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 tablespoons lemon juice

1 eggplant

2 capsicums, red, orange or yellow

1 clove garlic, crushed

2 tablespoons capers

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

20 olives

24 cherry or 6 small tomatoes, halved or quartered 50g anchovies, drained

½ cup fresh basil leaves

Heat a barbecue or grill to hot. Toast the ciabatta on the hot grill then tear into large chunks and set aside.

Combine the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice in a large bowl. Slice the eggplant into 1cm slices and the capsicums into 2cm slices and toss with the oil/lemon mix. Grill for about 5 minutes on each side until cooked through. Set aside.

Mix together the garlic, capers and remaining lemon juice then whisk in the extra virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Just before serving, slice the fish thinly and arrange on a plate with the shallots. Cut the eggplant and capsicum into pieces, toss together with the dressing, olives, tomatoes, anchovies and basil leaves then toss through the ciabatta and pile on top of the fish. Serve immediately.