Recipe

Monkfish with barley, miso, fennel and apple purée

Monkfish is a firm, meaty fish with a sweet and delicate flavour. This recipe makes a lovely posh little dinner. Get yourself a nice piece of monkfish – Ideally ask the fish monger to clean it up, you don’t want any of the belly. If it’s on the bone leave it like that and cook it whole.

Ingredients for barley miso

200g barley 100g green apple, sliced 2 whole lemons

20g white miso Soak the barley in advance, ideally overnight in cold water. To cook the barley, cover with water in a medium pot, add salt and simmer until tender. Try not to overcook the barley, take it off the heat early, strain, and let it cool naturally. You will cook it again when finishing the dish. To make the apple purée, peel and slice green apples, cook in a little water until ready to purée, Mix this with the barley and miso paste. Add lemon zest, salt and pepper. Put aside to heat later. Fennel purée

4 whole fennel bulbs

2 green apples, peeled and sliced 50ml milk

125g cream Finely slice the fennel, using all the stalks and fronds. Gently cook in olive oil and salt, when soft add the apple slices and cook further. Then add milk and cover with a lid when the milk has evaporated. Add your cream and reduce till thick.

Transfer to a blender and blend until smooth. Check the seasoning. Cooking your fish

Take your monkfish out of the fridge 20mins before you want to cook it. This will allow the fish to cook more evenly. Heat a pan and season your monkfish, cook on a medium heat. (Too high and it will burn, too low and it will stew.) Turn regularly to create an even brown colour. Depending on the size of your fish, you might want to place it in the oven to finish.

Finish with lemon juice and a knob of butter. Cook for a further minute and remove from the heat. Rest your fish before serving. Reheat your barley and nd your puree in separate pots. Serve up and finish with fresh chives.

This recipe has been shared by Niall Aird, Head Chef at the brand new Waterfront Restaurant on the Kaiteriteri Beach beachfront.