The Cookbook Challenge No. 24: Seafood

I picked this cookbook up for a bargain recently.  I really loved the concept of the book - how to create a perfect meal from a few well-chosen standby pantry items.  I don't know about you, but I love it when my cupboard is full.  Filled with all my everyday items like tinned tomatoes, artichokes, lentils and chickpeas.  I love knowing I have flour and caster sugar on hand just in case I get in the mood to bake.  I love shopping each week for fresh fruit and vegies and creating something from it all when I get home from work.  It's like a little mini mystery box challenge from Master Chef in my very own kitchen every night. 

This particular recipe came out of the Grains and Cereal's chapter and uses Weet-Bix.  I don't eat Weet-Bix myself, however I do occasionally have a hankering for Vita-Brits and they can be often found in my cupboard.

Crispy Fish Fingers

Cookbook:  Out of the Pantry

Author:  Trish Heagerty

4 Weet-Bix

zest of 1 lemon

1 cup loosely packed parsley

1 red chilli, chopped (optional)

1/2 cup plain flour

2 eggs, lightly whisked

700g firm white fish fillets, cut into thick strips (I used John Dory)

Put the Weet-Bix in a blender and blend until breadcrumb consistency.  Pour into a shallow bowl and add the lemon zest, parsley and chilli.  Place the flour in a separate shallow dish, and the egg in another.  Dip the fish into the flour, shaking off any excess, dip in the whisked egg and then coat with the Weet-Bix mixture.  In an oiled frying pan over medium heat, cook the fish for about 3 minutes on each side, until golden.

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I've often used crushed corn flakes as an alternative to bread crumbs, but never Vita-Brits, and to be honest, I'm not quite sure they worked in this case.  I found the flavour a little overpowering with the fish.  Maybe Weet-Bix would have been more suitable.  Or maybe this crumb mixture on chicken might have worked better - I'm not sure.  I did love the ease of this recipe though.  So quick and simple to put together which is perfect for dinner after work, and much lighter (and healthier) than the battered fish you'd probably pick up from the fish and chip shop on the way home after a long day.

Hmmm.....don't think I'd have won that Master Chef Challenge!