Roast Snapper Fillet with Cloudy Bay Clams, Baby Peas, Fennel and Crayfish Butter

3:10 pm on 27 August 2010

(Serves 6)

Ingredients

  •  6 x 160gms snapper fillet portions
  • 500gms cloudy bay diamond clams
  • 1 Tbs butter
  • 1 small brown onion (sliced)
  • 1 clove garlic sliced
  • 500gms baby peas
  • 1 head fennel (thinly sliced)
  • 50gms crayfish butter
  • 400ml fish stock
  • 30 potato parisienne
  • 1/2 bunch chervil (de stalked - leaves only)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method

Place a heavy saucepan onto a moderate heat and add butter, then onions, and saute for 1minute. Then add the  sliced garlic. Cook one minute longer and  then add fish stock. Bring this stock mixture to the boil, and then add clams and fennel and cook until clams open. Add peas and crayfish butter. Adjust seasoning. Add potato parisienne  and picked chervil.

To serve: -Ladle the stock/potato/pea mixture into bowl plates and place cooked snapper fillet on top.

Crayfish Butter

Ingredients

  • 1 kg crayfish shells
  • 250gms peeled and chopped carrots
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 head of  garlic chopped in half
  • 1/2 bunch thyme
  • 200ml tomato paste

Method

Place all ingredients into a heavy based saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook over a low heat for 1/2 an hour before removing from the heat. Leave to infuse for several hours before straining through a fine sieve or muslin.