Celebrity chef

Matthew Drennan

delicious. magazine’s editor has worked as a chef, a food writer and stylist, and launched Ready, Steady, Cook magazine. Matthew has also written five cookery books (two of which won the Gourmand world cookery book award) including Weber’s Fresh On The Grill and Classic Irish.

Serves 2

Smart fish and chips recipe

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Ready in about 40 minutes

3 large baking potatoes
Good splash of vegetable oil
Splash of olive oil
2 thick fillets cod, about 225g each
Plain flour, for dusting
Handful of baby gherkins, drained and cut into quarters
Handful of capers, drained
Juice of 1 lemon
Handful of chopped fresh parsley
Small handful of snipped chives
Couple of good dollops of mayonnaise

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1. Preheat the oven to 220°C/fan200°C/gas 7. Cut the unpeeled potatoes into thick slices, then cut each slice into thick chips. Cook in a pan of boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Drain and spill on to kitchen paper to get rid of excess water. Put into a large roasting tray and drizzle with a good glug of vegetable oil. Toss the chips well so they are coated all over. Pop into the oven for 25-30 minutes, tossing once, until golden.
2. About 15 minutes before the chips are done, heat a large, heavy-based pan with olive oil. Dust the fish all over with flour and cook, skin side down, for 4-5 minutes, then carefully turn over and cook for a further 5-6 minutes until just tender. (Pop into the oven for 5 minutes if the fish is quite thick.) Remove from the pan and put on to two warm plates.
3. Add the gherkins and capers to the pan and fry for 1 minute. Add the lemon juice and sizzle over a high heat for about 30 seconds. Remove from the heat and throw in the herbs. Put a dollop of mayonnaise on each piece of fish and spoon over the gherkin sauce. Divide the chips between plates and serve.

Nutritional info

Per serving (with mayonnaise): 774 kcals, 42g fat (6g saturated), 54g carbs, 48.3g protein, 2.7g sugar. Per serving (without mayonnaise): 636 kcals, 26.8g fat (3.5g saturated), 53g carbs, 48.1g protein, 2.5g sugar

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