BeebRecipes.co.uk
Archive of BBC Food Recipes

Sourdough cod cheeks with spicy pea salsa

Prep time less than 30 mins
Cook time less than 30 mins
Serves 4
From James Martin: Home Comforts
This sophisticated dish takes a lesser known part of the fish and jazzes it up as a sensational starter. Equipment and preparation: for this recipe you will need a food processor.

Method


  1. For the cod cheeks, blend the bread to crumbs in a food processor, then add the lemon zest and pulse again to combine. Tip the mixture into a shallow bowl and clean the food processor.

  2. Sprinkle the flour onto a plate and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Beat the eggs in a bowl.

  3. In batches, dust the cod cheeks in the flour, then dip them in the beaten egg, then roll them in the breadcrumb mixture until completely coated. Place each breaded cod cheek on a plate. Cover with cling film and chill in the fridge until needed.

  4. For the salsa, blend the peas, mint, chillies, lime juice and crème fraîche in the food processor to a rough paste. Tip it into a serving bowl, cover and chill until needed.

  5. Heat the oil (and dripping, if using) in a deep-fat fryer to 190C. Alternatively, heat the oil in a deep, heavy-based saucepan until a breadcrumb sizzles and turns golden-brown when dropped into it. (CAUTION: Hot oil can be dangerous. Do not leave unattended.)

  6. Carefully lower the cod cheeks into the hot fat in batches, and fry for 2-3 minutes, or until golden-brown and cooked through. Remove from the oil using a slotted spoon and set aside to drain on kitchen paper. Repeat the process with the remaining cod cheeks.

  7. To serve, pile the breaded cod cheeks onto a serving platter. Place the lemon wedges and the bowl of pea salsa alongside.

Ingredients

For the cod cheeks

  • 150g/5½oz stale sourdough bread, roughly chopped
  • 1 unwaxed lemon, finely grated zest only, plus extra lemon wedges to serve
  • 75g/2½oz plain flour
  • 3 free-range eggs, lightly beaten
  • 20 cod cheeks, cleaned, membranes removed (available from fishmongers or online specialists)
  • vegetable oil (or vegetable oil mixed with beef dripping), for deep-frying

For the salsa

  • 300g/10½oz frozen peas, defrosted
  • 3 tbsp roughly chopped fresh mint leaves
  • 2 green chillies, de-seeded and roughly chopped
  • 2 limes, juice only
  • 100g/3½oz crème fraîche
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper

Shopping List

Sourdough cod cheeks with spicy pea salsa

Fruit and vegetables

Tins, packets and jars

Cooking ingredients

Dairy, eggs and chilled

Meat, fish and poultry

Other


This link may stop to work if/when the BBC removes the recipes
This site is under development - You can use it, but some things are not completed and may not be quite right!