Tag: fish

Here we have a butterflied, salted and dried Indian mackerel, known as aji no himano in Japan. Traditionally eaten for breakfast, however, I ate it for a late lunch today. It was accompanied by smoked salmon skin, crisped up in an air fryer, and some fried rice. The mackerel process is relatively simple once butterflied, and would work just as well on filleted mackerel or sardines. I soaked 4 in 100ml of 10% alcohol (sake or 1 part gin/vodka diluted with 3 water) for about 15 minutes.

And I just happened to have everything to hand in the fridge/freezer for a fish and chips meal this afternoon.

Ensenada fish tacos for Valentine's lunch. Thanks to super friendly and helpful Gabriel @casa.azul.brighton for the blue masa harina. They turned out great after my rather shoddy first attempt with masarepa. I hope to get a bit more knowledge on this deep and eclectic cuisine, it's quite a lot though! While reading around, I learned a little bit about a very interesting British author called Diana Kennedy, who lived until 99, in Mexico since the 1950s.

Salmon on offer as is often the case in the winter, so I picked up a couple, cured and smoked them. Beech, cherry and hickory smoke for 12hrs. We ate one for NYE and the rest will go in the freezer. I made cream cheese and some crackers (not pictured) to go with them. Once I'd stripped the rest of the flesh after filleting them, the head and bones were roasted (12 mins air fryer max) and made into stock with a slice of konbu for some extra umami.

Japanese stewed sardines picnic on Brighton beach yesterday. The oysters (not pictured) were also excellent. The cocktail is a barbotage: fizzy white wine, simple syrup, (super) lemon juice.

Lovely Sunday afternoon dinner. BBQ grilled sea bream and razor clams, rice and salad with red mizuna (mustard greens), red lettuce, chives, spring onions from the greenhouse. Campari soda on the side to add a touch of class.