Seeing as we’re giving away 500g of free haddock fillets with all orders over £60 until Sunday 15 April it’s only right that we offer you some ideas for how to cook the stuff, right? Right.
We’re all for keeping it simple – a fussy hand spoils the simple pleasures of fish more often than not. The best course of action is to let the ingredients do the work, and with our super-fresh smoked haddock you’re on the right road before you’ve even lifted a finger.
Whether you’re after a spicy main course, a velvety soup or a warming one-pot meal, you’ll find something to light your fire here.
Smoked haddock gratin
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Serves: 6
A comforting one-pot dish comprising smoked fish, bacon, potatoes and creme fraiche
Ingredients
- small knob of butter
- 4 rashers smoked streaky bacon
- 1 onion, finely sliced
- Half a small pack thyme, leaves only
- 1kg baking potatoes, washed and sliced
- 350g skinless smoked haddock, cut into large chunks
- 300ml half-fat creme fraiche
- Crisp green salad, to serve
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Heat the butter in a shallow flameproof casserole dish and sizzle the bacon until it changes colour. Add the onion and thyme and fry with the bacon for 5 mins until the onion is starting to soften. Lower the heat, add the potatoes to the onion and cover the pan. Steam-fry the potatoes for 25-35 mins until they soften, stirring occasionally to stop them sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- When the potatoes are ready, stir through the haddock, crème fraîche and a good grinding of black pepper, and mix until everything is combined. Flatten down with a fish slice and bake in the oven for 40 mins until golden. Serve with a green salad.
Kedgeree
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Serves: 4
A simple dish of smoked haddock and spiced rice that began life as breakfast in India in the days of the British Raj
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp each cumin and fennel seeds, lightly crushed
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 200g basmati rice
- 150g frozen garden peas
- 300g undyed smoked haddock fillets, skinned
- 15g butter
- 2 medium eggs
- 5 tbsp single cream
- Small handful chopped fresh flatleaf parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a medium non-stick saucepan over a low heat and sauté the spices and onion for 5 minutes, until softened.
- Rinse the rice under cold running water until the water runs clear, then tip into the saucepan and stir until coated in the oil. Pour over 400ml cold water and scatter with the frozen peas. Arrange the whole haddock fillets on top and place the butter over the fish. Bring to the boil, then cover with a tight-fitting lid and cook over the lowest heat possible for 12 minutes.
- Meanwhile, place 2 eggs in a small pan of cold water. Bring to the boil and boil for 6 minutes. Remove and set aside to cool slightly. Remove the shells and cut the eggs into quarters.
- Remove the lid from the kedgeree pan and turn the heat right up to drive off any excess moisture. Lower the heat and flake the fish with a fork, stir in the single cream and warm through. Season well with salt and pepper to taste. Top with the egg quarters and parsley, if using, to serve.
Cullen skink
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Serves: 4
A classic Scottish soup with smoked haddock, leeks and potato
Ingredients
- FOR THE STOCK
- 75g butter
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 leeks, roughly chopped
- 2 onions, peeled, roughly chopped
- 2 fennel bulbs, roughly chopped
- 250ml oz white wine
- 500g smoked haddock
- 750ml water
- FOR THE SOUP
- 75g butter
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 leeks, finely chopped
- 2 shallots, peeled, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled, crushed
- 300g potatoes, peeled, chopped
- 500m double cream
- 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
- pinch freshly grated nutmeg
Instructions
- For the stock, heat the butter and vegetable oil in a large pan and gently fry the leeks, onions and fennel for 3-4 minutes, or until softened.
- Add the white wine to the pan and bring to the boil. Add the smoked haddock, pour in the water and bring back to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes, skimming off any scum that rises to the surface, until the haddock is cooked through.
- Strain the haddock, reserving the cooking stock. Chop the haddock into bite-sized pieces.
- For the soup, heat the butter with the vegetable oil and fry the leeks, shallots and garlic for 3-4 minutes, or until softened. Add the potatoes and the chopped smoked haddock to the pan.
- Add the reserved cooking stock and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Stir in the cream and briefly blend the soup with a stick blender.
- Serve the soup with crusty bread and sprinkle with the chopped fresh parsley and a sprinkling of freshly grated nutmeg.
