TOMATO CAPER SAUCE WITH PARMESAN FISH

This sauce is essentially a ‘cooked salsa’ to serve on fish, chicken or even beans, rather than as a pasta or pizza sauce (although go right ahead!).

It’s a summer flavour bomb and goes with everything. Most memorable for me growing up was this sauce served on blue cod, so that’s what I’m giving you here. If you like, make a bigger batch of the sauce and keep it in the fridge or freezer to have on hand for a quick meal.

Serves 4

Plain flour, for dusting the fish 4 blue cod fillets

3 eggs

¼ cup (60ml) milk Chopped fresh herbs (such as parsley, thyme or oregano), to taste ½ cup (40g) finely grated parmesan

Butter or olive oil, for frying

TOMATO CAPER SAUCE 2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, finely chopped

2 slices pancetta or streaky bacon 4 large tomatoes, chopped

5 garlic cloves, crushed

1 teaspoon lemon zest

½ teaspoon paprika

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional 2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 cup (250ml) water

1 cup (250ml) white wine

1 cup combined oregano and parsley leaves, finely chopped 100g butter, chopped

¼ cup (50g) capers

To make the sauce, heat the oil in a large, deep frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, then add the pancetta and cook until crispy.

Add the tomatoes, garlic and lemon zest. Cook for a few minutes, until the tomatoes have reduced down a little, then add the spices, tomato paste, water, wine and half the herbs. Simmer for about 10 minutes, until it thickens. Add the butter and stir until melted and combined.

Remove from the heat and add the remaining herbs and capers (if you want, you could fry the capers in a little butter until crispy first). Season with salt and pepper to taste and set aside.

Season the flour with salt and pepper then use to lightly dust the fish. I do this by placing a few tablespoons of seasoned flour to a bag, then adding the fillets and shaking gently to coat evenly.

In a shallow bowl, lightly whisk the eggs and milk together, then stir in the herbs and parmesan.

Heat the butter or olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Dip the fillets into the egg mixture and place into the pan (you may need to spoon a little of the herbs and cheese left in the dish on top of them). Cook for about 5 minutes each side, until lightly golden brown and just cooked through.

Reheat the sauce and serve with the fish on top.

Note: You could swap the blue cod for monk fish, or talk to your fishmonger for other alternatives.