Cod bites with lemon and samphire

THIS is a kind of posh take on fish and chips, using ingredients we definitely need more of in our diets: sea vegetables. The micronutrient value of samphire, which grows on our coasts during the summer months, is incredible, plus it’s cheap if you buy it from fishmongers. There are different varieties of sea vegetables available, including dulse and kelp, and many supermarkets have started stocking marine plants. There are dehydrated versions of seaweed, too. These cod bites are breaded in a spiced flaxseed mix, which gives it a crispy delicious crust.

SERVES 2

400g cod cheeks, cut into 5cm chunks (white fish fillets including cod, hake and pollock also work well if you can’t find cod cheeks)

4 tbsp olive oil 150g skin-on new potatoes, quartered 100g samphire 200g rocket 50g pickled red cabbage (sauerkraut) 1 lemon, cut into wedges Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper FOR THE SPICED FLAX SEED MIX 50g milled flaxseed 2 tsp sweet paprika 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp dried thyme 1 tsp cayenne pepper PREHEAT the oven to 220c/200c fan/ gas 7 and line a baking tray with baking parchment. Mix the flaxseed and spices in a bowl. Coat the fish chunks with half of the oil, then thoroughly coat with the spice mix, sprinkle with a little salt and pepper and lay them out on

the lined baking tray. Bake for 12-14 minutes until the chunks become golden and are cooked through. Meanwhile, bring a pan of unsalted water to the boil, add the potatoes and parboil them for 6 minutes, then drain and set aside. Add the rest of the oil to a frying pan over a medium heat and add the new potatoes without seasoning (the samphire is salty enough). Saute for a few minutes until they form a light golden brown crust. Toss the samphire into the pan with the potatoes for 1-2 minutes to cook it just lightly, then plate onto dishes with the rocket. Serve with the pickled red cabbage, lemon wedges and baked cod bites on top.

DOCTOR’S ORDERS: You can use a piece of wholemeal bread blitzed in a food processor to make crumbs if you can’t find flaxseed.