Fish Yassa

I recently spent two weeks in Gambia with the school where I work, and I loved the food so I decided to have a go at a bit of Gambian cooking. I used salmon for this recipe because it's what I had in the freezer, but any firm fish would work and chicken yassa is also good.

Ingredients (serves 2)

2 medium onions, sliced
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
4 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp dijon mustard
1/2 tbsp lazy chilli
1 cup water
1 vegetable stock cube
2 salmon fillets

* mix together the onion, garlic, vinegar, lemon, mustard and chilli then add the fish and marinate for at least an hour but preferably longer
* remove the fish from the marinade and grill or griddle until lightly browned
* remove the onions from the marinade and lightly fry until golden brown and softened
* add the marinade to the onions and cook for a couple of minutes, then add the water, stock cube and salmon
* cover and simmer for 20 minutes
* serve with rice

Nutritional info
Cal: 305, Fat: 16.3g, Carbs: 13.0g, Protein: 19.5g

Tuna Potato Cakes

Ingredients (serves 2)
450g potatoes, peeled
Knob of butter
Slosh of milk
Tin tuna chunks, drained
4 Anchovy fillets (optional)
1/2 onion, finely chopped
Salt/pepper

* boil the potatoes for 25 minutes or until cooked
* mash with the butter and milk, and season well
* mix the onion, tuna and anchovy into the potato
* shape the potato mix into cakes and coat with a little flour
* fry until golden

Teriyaki salmon

Ingredients (serves 2)
2 salmon fillets
3 tbsp Soy sauce
1 tbsp mirin
1/2 tsp grated ginger
1/2 tsp honey
1 clove garlic, crushed

* mix the soy sauce, mirin, ginger garlic and honey in a flat dish
* add the salmon fillets and leave to marinade for at least half an hour
* heat and lightly oil a griddle pan, then griddle the salmon until cooked through
* while the salmon cooks, heat the left over marinade in a small pan until reduced and thickened and pour over the salmon to serve. 

I served the salmon with egg noodles, which I stir fried with some thinly sliced carrot, courgette, onion and some cashew nuts and seasoned with soy sauce and chilli. Also good are bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, broccoli or water chestnuts. 

Smoked Salmon Pasta

A quick dinner idea.

Ingredients (serves 2)
150g tagliatelle
1 pack smoked Salmon trimmings
1/2 pack soft cheese with garlic and herbs
Splash of milk

* Cook pasta according to instructions
* Meanwhile, heat soft cheese in a small pan, adding as much milk as necessary to achieve a sauce-like consistency
* Add the salmon trimmings to the sauce and heat through
* Drain the pasta and mix with the sauce

In praise of tinned fish

I always have tins of fish in my store cupboard as they are so useful for quick, easy meals.

Tuna is really versatile, as a sandwich filling, topping for a jacket potato, pasta sauce ingredient - the possibilities are endless!

I love anchovies, especially on pizza but they are also essential in a nicoise salad and work really well in bolognese sauce.

Sardines or pilchards in tomato sauce are my quickest lunch option. Warmed up, with a bit of sweetcorn and pepper, they are great on toast and that's what I had today.

Nicoise Salad

Another light and easy lunch idea. I think a proper nicoise is meant to have potatoes and green beans, but I don't bother with them when it's for lunch. I expect there should also be some form of vinaigrette dressing, but I don't like salad dressings. I do like anchovies though.

Ingredients
Salad (own preference)
Hard boiled egg
Tin of tuna, drained
Anchovies

Assemble salad ingredients and top with fish and egg.