Roast Monkfish

My Mum came over last weekend to see The Merchant Of Venice at The Globe for which I'd bought tickets for her birthday. On Saturday night we went for a great curry at Bawarchi in Kensal Rise (one of my favourite Indian restaurants in London). Then on Sunday, Mum wanted to go to the Queen's Park farmer's market so I bought some food for lunch. I went for some Monkfish as Mum loves fish but doesn't get to eat it at home all that often (or at least without my Dad complaining about the smell). We had it with new potatoes and green beans followed by pineapple and mint upside-down pudding.


Roast Monkfish (serves 2)

2x 200g monkfish fillets, skinned and pink membrane removed (ask the fishmonger to do this. Foolishly I didn't)
Rosemary, one spring
Thyme, couple of springs
1 tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove
New potatoes (enough for two)
Green beans (enough for two)
Handful of flatleaf parsley, roughly chopped

1) Pre-heat the oven to 200c. Put the potatoes onto boil for 15-20 minutes. Then heat the olive oil in a frying pan, add the thyme leaves, rosemary, unpeeled garlic clove and the monkfish and brown on all sides for four minutes.
2) Tip the whole lot into an oven-proof dish and roast for 10-12 minutes until it is cooked through. While this is cooking you can put your green beans on for five to seven minutes, depending on how well you like them to be cooked.
3) Remove the fish from the dish, put it on a plate and cover with foil. Now squeeze the garlic out with the back of a fork and add this with a handful of chopped parsley to the potatoes. Then pour over the juices from the fish and lightly crush with the back of a fork. Spoon the potatoes onto a plate, put the monkfish on top and serve with some green beans on the side.

I made this while Mum was out weeding the garden. I wasn't going to use the herbs but as while I was out in the back I picked some and put them in with the fish. As monkfish is quite meaty it can take some robust herbs. I think I do prefer more delicate fish than monkfish but the flavours were good and it was a nice late summer lunch.