
Hake Wrapped in Serrano Ham
15 March 2017
Category
Starter
Serves
4
Ingredients
For the Fish:
4 slices serrano ham
4x 180g fillets hake
skin on
Olive oil
for frying & Salt
For the Risotto:
1 onion
finely chopped
2 cloves garlic
finely chopped
1 level tsp smoked paprika
2 cooking chorizo sausages (approx 140g)
400g Carnaroli risotto rice
1.1 litres chicken stock & Salt
For the Sauce Americaine:
Backbone of 1 hake
Heads & shells of raw king prawns (approx 30)
1 bulb fennel
roughly chopped
2 shallots
chopped
2 cloves garlic
chopped
3 plum tomatoes
chopped
2 star anise
Gernerous pinch saffron
1 tsp coriander seeds
Generous splash of Pernod
175ml white wine
1.1 litres fish stock & Salt
For the white sprouting Broccoli:
16 stems white sprouting broccoli (or tenderstem if not available)
Olive oil
to dress
1 red chilli
deseeded and finely diced
Zest 1 lemon & Salt
For the tempura prawn:
Tempura flour
Ginger beer
cold
4 raw king prawns
peeled & deveined
Vegetable oil
for deep fat frying
Instructions
1For the Fish:,Pre-heat the oven to 150C. Trim the fish to size and square off the serrano ham slies
2Place 1 slice of serrano ham onto a board. Lay one of the hake fillets skin-side down and wrap the ham around to seal on top (it won't be encased but rather wrapped around the middle section of the fillet). Repeat for the remaining ham and fish. Leave in the fridge until ready to cook for serve
3Heat a little oil in a non-stick frying pan. Once the pan is hot place the fish in skin side down first and then colour nicely all over
4Transfer to the oven to finish for approximately 8-9 minutes or until cooked through
5For the Risotto:,In a pan heat the chicken stock so that it is hot and keep warm
6Add the raw cooking chorizo to a food processor and pulse so that it breaks down into a crumbly mix
7Add a good glug of olive oil in a pan. Once hot, add the onions and garlic and sweat down until softened without any colour
8Add the crumbled chorizo and continue to cook to render out the fat
9Add the smoked paprika and saffron and cook for a couple of minutes or until fragrant
10Add the risotto rice and stir well to coat well in the fat, cook for a further two minutes
11Using a ladle gradually add the stock, stirring continuously over a high heat so that the rice cooks evenly. Taste to check and remove from the heat once¾ cooked (the rice still wants to have bite/ be slightly raw)
12Spread onto a tray and leave to cool ready to heat later
13To finish, reheat the risotto with a little more stock. Season to taste and finish with a little freshly grated parmesan
14For the Sauce Americaine:,Fry the prawn shells and hake bone in a little oil until golden
15Add the chopped fennel, garlic and shallots and continue to cook until softened and lightly coloured
16Add the chopped tomatoes and cook out for a few minutes
17Add in the star anise, coriander seeds and saffron
18Deglaze the pan with a generous glug of Pernod. Then, add the gtass of white wine and reduce by a third
19Add the fish stock and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat and leave it to bubble on a gentle simmer for 1 hour
20Once cooked transfer to a blender and blitz to get the mixture as smooth as possible
21Pass through a chinois (fine mesh sieve) using the back of a ladle to help push through all the flavour
22Season to taste and set aside. For service reheat portions as necessary
23For the white sprouting Broccoli:,Toss the broccoli in olive oil until they are well coated. Prep the dressing by mixing the finely diced chilli with lemon zest and olive oil
24Heat a griddle pan over a high flame until very hot
25Once hot add the broccoli to char well - you can use the back of a fish slice or a plate to help press down on top of the broccoli so that it has good contact with the griddle pan). Turn after a couple of minutes and do the same for the other side. (You can do these up before service and only par-cook, finishing them to order),Toss the chargrilled broccoli in the dressing serve 4 on top of your fish fillet
26For the Tempura Prawn:,Add tempura flour to a large mixing bowl. Gradually add the ginger beer whisking until you have a good batter consistency
27Dip the prawns into the batter and then quickly drop into a deep fat fryer (or a pan of hot oil) at 180C,Fry until golden, drain on kitchen paper and season with salt. Serve on top of you chargrilled broccoli.