Monkfish Masala with red lentils, pickled carrots and coconut garnish

Ingredients

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Ingredients For the pickled carrots

  •   3 carrots, peeled and sliced
  •   1 tbsp fenugreek seeds
  •   1 tsp Ajwain seeds
  •   1 tsp Ajwain seeds
  •   1 tsp black mustard seeds
  •   1 tsp black mustard seeds
  •   1/2 tsp onion seeds
  •   1/2 tsp onion seeds
  •   1 tsp cumin seeds
  •   1 tsp cumin seeds
  •   1/3 tsp chilli flakes
  •   1/3 tsp chilli flakes
  •   1 tsp salt
  •   1 tsp salt
  •   Vegetable oil – enough to cover the carrots

For the monkfish

  • g rock salt
  • g monkfish fillets
  •   4 tbsp Masala spice mix
  • g butter

For the red lentils

  •   Splash of vegetable oil
  •   1/2 onion, peeled and chopped
  •   1 tbsp mild curry powder
  • g dried red lentils
  • ml chicken stock
  •   1/2 red chilli, finely chopped
  •   2 heaped tablespoons chopped coriander
  •   Juice of half a lime
  •   Salt

For the coconut garnish

  • ml can full-fat coconut milk
  •   1 kaffir lime leaf

Pinch of salt

  •   1/2 fresh coconut, flesh only, thinly sliced into strips on a mandolin

To serve

  •   Coriander shoots (sprouted coriander seeds) to garnish

Method

  • 1

    Step 1

    For the pickled carrots - Preheat the oven to 90˚C or the lowest setting. Spread the carrot slices out on a baking tray, and put in the oven overnight, until dried out. Pack the carrot slices into a until dried out. Pack the carrot slices into a sterilised airtight jar. Mix all the spices and salt with enough vegetable oil to cover the carrots, pour over vegetable oil to cover the carrots in the jar and seal. Leave for a couple of weeks (longer if you can) in a cool place before serving.
  • 2

    Step 2

    For the monkfish Sprinkle the salt over the monkfish fillets and leave for 5-6 minutes to draw out the moisture. Rinse the salt off thoroughly under cold running water. Wrap the monkfish in a clean tea towel and leave overnight in the fridge. Spread out the spice mix on a plate and roll the monkfish fillets in the mixture. Seal each the monkfish fillets in the mixture. Seal each fillet in a vacuum food bag and cook for minutes in a water bath at 63˚C. Alternatively, wrap each fillet in heatproof clingfilm. Heat a saucepan of water until it reaches 63˚C on a cooking thermometer, and cook for 11 minutes, keeping the temperature constant. Melt the butter in a frying pan over a medium heat until foaming. Remove the fish from the bags or clingfilm and then sear on each side for 2-3 minutes until golden brown each side for 2-3 minutes until golden brown and crisp all over.
  • 3

    Step 3

    For the red lentils Heat a splash of vegetable oil in a saucepan and sweat the onion over a gentle heat for 4-5 minutes until softened. Stir in the curry 4-5 minutes until softened. Stir in the curry powder, then add the lentils, stir well cover with the stock. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, cover with the stock. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the lentils are tender. When the lentils are cooked, stir in the chilli, coriander and lime juice and season to taste with salt. Set aside.
  • 4

    Step 4

    For the coconut garnish Pour the coconut milk into a saucepan and add the lime leaf and salt. Simmer over a medium heat for about 15-20 minutes until a medium heat for about 15-20 minutes until reduced by half. Heat a frying pan until hot and toast the coconut strips for about 2 minutes until brown and fragrant.
  • 5

    Step 5

    To serve Spoon the lentils onto each serving plate. Carve each monkfish fillet in half and place Carve each monkfish fillet in half and place one piece of monkfish on top of the lentils and the other piece next to them. Drizzle over a bit the other piece next to them. Drizzle over a bit of the reduced coconut milk, then garnish with the toasted coconut strips, pickled carrots and the toasted coconut strips, pickled carrots and coriander shoots.

Ingredients

  • 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 1 tbsp fenugreek seeds
  • 1 tsp Ajwain seeds
  • 1 tsp Ajwain seeds
  • 1 tsp black mustard seeds
  • 1 tsp black mustard seeds
  • 1/2 tsp onion seeds
  • 1/2 tsp onion seeds
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1/3 tsp chilli flakes
  • 1/3 tsp chilli flakes
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Vegetable oil – enough to cover the carrots
  • 300 g rock salt
  • 130 g monkfish fillets
  • 4 tbsp Masala spice mix
  • 25 g butter
  • Splash of vegetable oil
  • 1/2 onion, peeled and chopped
  • 1 tbsp mild curry powder
  • 225 g dried red lentils
  • 500 ml chicken stock
  • 1/2 red chilli, finely chopped
  • 2 heaped tablespoons chopped coriander
  • Juice of half a lime
  • Salt
  • 400 ml can full-fat coconut milk
  • 1 kaffir lime leaf
  • 1/2 fresh coconut, flesh only, thinly sliced into strips on a mandolin
  • Coriander shoots (sprouted coriander seeds) to garnish