Don’t pack the barbecue away yet, you really should make this first. The smoky potato salad is good even if the fish is not your thing.
Wine Suggestion: a new find from Portugal: the Companhia de Vinhos Invencival “Natural Mystic”. An Alvarinho, Arinto, Loureiro blend from the far north, this is light and fresh and yet rounded and full flavoured standing up to the barbecued fish flavours and adding it’s own extra bit of pizzazz for a great combo.
BBQ Bream with Smoked Potato Salad – serves 2 (with salad leftover)
- 2 whole bream, gutted and fins and other sharp bits removed
- 1 lemon, halved
SPICE RUB FOR THE FISH:
- 3 sprigs of rosemary, leaves chopped
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp flaky sea salt
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp fennel seeds, lightly ground
- 1 ½ tsp garlic powder
FOR THE SMOKED POTATO SALAD:
- 800g cooked new potatoes
- 3 tbsp mayonnaise
- 3 tbsp crème fraîche
- 6 celery sticks, finely chopped
- 50g cornichons, sliced
- 2 tbsp dill, roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
You will need to get a charcoal barbecue nice and hot to cook on.
Prep the fish first by placing on a board and slashing through the skin a few times on both sides.
Put all of the spice rub ingredients into a shallow dish, big enough to hold the fish, and mix together. Put the fish on top and rub the spice rub all over the fish and and into the cuts you made.
Lay the fish onto a hot barbecue and leave for 5-6 minutes to allow the skin to crisp up. Turn carefully and repeat on the other side.
Carefully remove the fish from the barbecue and leave to rest for a few minutes. Squeeze over the lemon halves.
Put the potatoes directly onto the cooling embers. Meanwhile, mix the rest of the potato salad ingredients together in a a large bowl and season. Add the smoked potatoes and toss to coat.
Serve the fish with the warm potato salad.
(Original recipe from Outdoor Cooking by Tom Kerridge, Bloomsbury Absolute, 2021.)
Jono & Jules do food & wine 