We cooked this the night that further restrictions were placed on Ireland. We were a bit unsure how it would all work and if we would still be able to get fresh produce in the local shops or if we’d be stuck with supermarkets. Yesterday we heard that we’d be home for another few weeks but thankfully we can still get fresh fish and almost anything else we need (except plain flour!) from our local shops. We served this with some steamed waxy potatoes.
Wine Suggestion: Light, white and minerally. Our choice is the Allo by Quinta Soalheiro from northern Portugal made from Alvarinho for texture and body, and Loureiro for the fruity, aromtic white flowers. All at 11.5% abv.
Fennel, Pernod and red mullet parcels – serves 4
- 2 fennel bulbs, sliced thinly
- 2 tbsp chopped herb fennel leaves
- 180ml dry white wine
- 2 tbsp Pernod
- 1 tbsp butter
- 4 fillets of red mullet or sea bass
Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5.
You need large 4 pieces of double thickness tin foil – probably bigger than you think. Divide the sliced fennel between the sheets – keep the edges turned up so you don’t lose anything. Divide the rest of the ingredients between the parcels and lay the fish fillets on the top with the fennel leaves sprinkled over. Season everything well with salt and pepper.
Fold the foil up around the ingredients to make parcels, twisting the edges together to seal, make sure you leave some air inside.
Place the parcels on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for about 15 minutes or until the fish flakes easily. Remove the fish and ingredients from the parcels and arrange on warm plates. Pour the juices from the parcels over the top.
(Original recipe from Herbs by Judith Hann, Nourish, 2017.)