Pan-fried Cod with New Potatoes, Broccoli and a Prawn Bisque Sauce
A celebration of the flavours of the sea, this pan-fried cod recipe from the hit BBC series, Britain's Best Home Cook is served with a flavoursome make-ahead prawn bisque sauce that will truly impress.
Introduction
If you’re short of time, the cod can be served without the prawn bisque sauce. However, the sauce can be made in advance, cooled and stored in the freezer, so it is a good recipe to double up on.
Ingredients
| 600g (1lb 5oz) | new potatoes, halved |
| 300g (10½oz) | tenderstem broccoli |
| 4 tbsp | salted butter |
| small handful of chives, finely chopped, plus extra to serve | |
| 4 × 120g (4½oz) | cod loins, skin on |
| 3 tbsp | olive oil |
| 2 tbsp | fresh lemon juice |
| sea salt and black pepper | |
| For the prawn bisque sauce (optional): | |
| 1 tbsp | unsalted butter |
| 150g (5oz) | raw tiger prawns, shell on |
| ½ | onion, finely chopped |
| ½ | carrot, finely chopped |
| 1 | bay leaf |
| 1 tbsp | cognac or brandy |
| 50g (2oz) | cherry tomatoes, halved |
| 2 tbsp | dry white wine |
| 1 | tarragon sprig |
| 250ml (9fl oz) | fish stock |
| 100ml (3½fl oz) | double cream |
| 1 tsp | fresh lemon juice |
| sea salt and black pepper |
Essential kit
You will need: a blender or food processor.
Method
Prep time: 5–10 minutes, plus cooling. Cook time: 20 minutes, plus 20 minutes for the sauce.
1. To make the sauce, melt the butter in a frying pan over a medium–high heat. Add the prawns and fry for 4–5 minutes, turning now and again, until pink and cooked through. Add the onion, carrot, bay leaf and cognac or brandy and bring to the boil, then immediately add the tomatoes, wine, tarragon, fish stock and cream. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat slightly and simmer for 10 minutes until thick and creamy.
2. Leave to cool for 10 minutes, then purée using a blender or food processor until almost smooth. Strain through a fine sieve into a bowl, pressing through as much liquid as possible. Season to taste with the lemon juice, salt and pepper and set aside.
3. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and put the potatoes in to cook for 15 minutes. Add the broccoli and cook for another 3–4 minutes, until a sharp knife glides into the centre of a potato without resistance and the broccoli is tender but not soft. Drain the vegetables, return to the pan and toss with half the butter and the chives and season with a little salt and pepper.
4. Meanwhile, season the cod on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Add the cod, skin side down, and fry for 3–4 minutes until the skin is crisp. Turn the fish over, add the remaining butter and the lemon juice and fry for another 1–2 minutes until cooked through.
5. Serve the fish with the potatoes and broccoli and some chives scattered over. If you are serving this with the sauce, gently reheat the sauce in a small pan, then pour about three tablespoons of sauce into each wide, shallow bowl. Place the potato, broccoli and cod on top and serve with some chives scattered over.
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