Three easy ways to cook fish

I know lots of people are scared to cook with fish – they just don’t know what to do. This is a shame, because fish is versatile, healthy, quick and really easy to cook. Swordfish on the BBQ, sole in the frypan, or battered flathead are all fast and easy ways to cook fish as well as tasty ways to enjoy fish.

Swordfish on the BBQ

The key here is to choose a piece of fish that looks like a steak – tuna, some cuts of salmon, swordfish etc are all great.

You can literally just slap it on the grill and cook it, but it is a bit nicer with some oil, salt, pepper and turmeric rubbed over it, and then onto the grill.  The cooking time does depend on how thick the slice of fish is – about 4 minutes on one side, turn it over carefully, and anything between 2 and 4 more minutes should do it. It’s okay to let it rest for a minute like steak, this will ensure it’s cooked well and retains some moisture. A squeeze of lemon, and serve with tzatziki, salad and maybe some tortillas cooked on the grill for a few seconds each side, or some boiled potatoes. The yoghurt in the tzatziki goes really well with the swordfish, but so would any yoghurt-based dip – try a beetroot option instead for something different.

Sole in the frypan

You are looking for a pretty little fillet of fish – whiting, sole, there are heaps of options. I put about one tablespoon of oil in a fry pan, and probably about 20 grams of butter on a low to medium heat, and add the fish. I don’t do anything at all to the fish, just place it in the pan.  Again, the cooking time depends on the thickness of the fish, but it will literally take 3 to 4 minutes – you will see the edges of the fish turn white. Turn over the fish carefully so it doesn’t break up, and then I add some nuts. My favourite combination is about a handful of pine nuts, handful of flaked almonds, and a handful of sesame seeds. Cook these in the butter with the fish. Serve with a salad or steamed veges. My family loves some avocado smashed up with a small tomato diced into small pieces, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Absolutely delicious.

Battered flathead

Is there anything better than battered fish and chips and a gorgeous salad? My grandfather taught me how to cook battered fish (he wasn’t much of a cook, but he did spaghetti bolognaise and fish). Place half a cup or thereabouts of plain flour on a dinner plate, and whisk one egg with a tablespoon of water in a container which will hold one fish fillet. You can pretty much use any type of fish you like, but note that battering and frying takes the focus off the flavour of fish so this is better for some of the cheaper fillets. Dip the fish in the flour first, then the egg, and fry in batches until golden brown. Serve with lemon wedges, salad and chips, and enjoy!