The head chef of the Hix Oyster & Fish House in Lyme Regis demystifies piscine cuisine by sharing some tried and tested methods for cooking fish.
Poaching
This produces meltingly tender results. You can poach fish in a classic court-bouillon, or in olive/rapeseed oil flavoured with fennel seeds, garlic and shallots. Bring the cooking liquor up to a gentle simmer, lower in the fish and remove from the heat. The fish will continue poaching in the hot liquor, and will be ready when the flesh is opaque.
Grilling
Best for small fillets of fish such as mackerel and sardines, this method produces a nice, crisp skin. Brush the fillets with olive oil, perhaps adding lemon juice and herbs, and rub the skin with salt. Lay on an oiled baking sheet, skin-side up, and grill for 4-5 minutes until the skin is crisp. Rest for 2 minutes, then push the tip of a sharp knife into the flesh – if it goes through easily, the fish is done.
Pan-frying
This is a quick method for cooking fillets of fish. Use a heavy-based frying pan, preferably non-stick. If you don’t have one, it is best to dust the fish with seasoned flour to prevent it from sticking. Make sure your pan is hot, so that you get a good, crisp skin. Fry skin-side down for most of the cooking time, then flip it over for the final 30 seconds to finish.
Currying
This is a great way to cook fish that is not fresh from the boat that day, or to use up different cuts of fish or shellfish. Fish, unlike meat, doesn’t need slow cooking. Drop the fish pieces into a gently simmering curry sauce. Put the largest pieces of fish in first, 1-2 minutes before the smaller pieces. As a rough guide, it takes around 5 minutes for a 100g piece of fish to cook through, whereas a 450g whole fish would take 15 minutes.
Roasting
To achieve crisp skin and succulent flesh, you should roast fish in a hot, preheated oven. It can be difficult to gauge the time needed as the weights of fish vary widely, especially with whole fish, but a 500g fish such as john dory will take about 8 minutes. Test if it is cooked in the same way as you would for grilled fish (left).
Hix Oyster & Fish House, Cobb Road, Lyme Regis, Dorset
T: 01297 446910
www.hixoysterandfishhouse.co.uk