Australian Herring are a small fish previously known as Tommy Ruffs, they have a slightly oily flesh which marries well with the stronger flavours in this recipe and the fresh acidic orange salad. Tapenade is a paste from Provence in southern France – capers are called tapenas in the Provençal dialect. It’s very versatile, delicious spread on bread or croutons with an aperitif or used to add a salty punch to any dish.
INGREDIENTS:
2 large red capsicums
24 x 50g Australian Herring fillets, skin on, bones removed
Extra virgin olive oil, for pan-frying
Crusty bread, for serving
Tapenade
100g pitted black olives
2 tablespoon salted capers, rinsed and dried
6 Anchovy fillets (see notes)
2 cloves garlic, crushed
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
Orange Salad
1 head frisee lettuce
1 orange, segmented
1 golden shallot, finely sliced
2 tablespoons hazelnut oil
Salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
METHOD:
Roast capsicums over a flame, or in a 250ºC oven for about 30 minutes, until skin turns black all over; place in a plastic bag until cool enough to handle then peel, discard seeds and membrane and slice into strips.
Meanwhile, make Tapenade: process olives, capers, anchovies and garlic in a food processor then, with the motor running, slowly pour in the oil and blend until well combined.
Make Orange Salad: combine all ingredients well, including juice leftover from segmenting orange, and set aside.
Lay the fish on a chopping board, skin-side down. Smear lightly with Tapenade and top half the fillets with capsicum then with remaining fish, skin-side up, to form a ‘sandwich’.
Heat a non-stick frying pan, add a little oil and pan-fry fish for 1-2 minutes each side, until flesh flakes easily when tested with a fork. Serve with Orange Salad, remaining Tapenade and crusty bread.
NOTES:
If available, use Ortiz brand anchovy fillets as they have a much better flavour and are less salty.
ALTERNATIVE SPECIES:
Australian Salmon, Blue Mackerel, Mullet.