Bass 1, gutted, scaled, filleted and pin-boned Olive oil 2 tbsp Onion 1, peeled and diced Garlic 3 cloves, peeled, halved and sliced Air-dried ham 8 slices, cut into strips Fish stock 300ml Double cream 250ml Courgettes 3, finely sliced with a mandoline Tarragon 1 tbsp, chopped Flat-leaf parsley 1 tbsp, chopped Dill 1 tbsp, chopped Chives 1 tbsp, chopped Lemon 1, finely grated zest and juice Dijon mustard 2 tbsp Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the sauce: heat a medium pan over a medium heat with the oil. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 3 minutes to soften. Add the ham and cook for a further 4 minutes until it’s starting to crisp. Pour in the fish stock, bring to a simmer and let it bubble until reduced by half. Add the cream, bring back to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes until the sauce starts to thicken. Place the sliced courgettes in a bowl and add the herbs, with half of the lemon zest and juice. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and toss well. To finish the sauce, add the remaining lemon juice and mustard and season with a little salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then taste and adjust the seasoning. Set aside while you cook the fish. For the fish: preheat the grill to high. Cut the bass fillets in half to give 4 equal portions and place skin side up on a grill tray. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle on the remaining lemon zest and season with salt and pepper. Grill for 5–7 minutes. Give the courgettes another toss and then drain in a colander set over a bowl to collect the dressing. Remove the fish from the grill and leave to rest and finish cooking on the tray for 1 minute. Spoon the sauce onto 4 warmed plates. Pile two-thirds of the courgettes in the centre and lay a portion of bass on top. Arrange the remaining courgette ribbons on the fish and finish with a spoonful or two of the dressing.

Mains

Bass with air-dried ham, courgettes and lemon

Nathan Outlaw shares his recipe for bass with air-dried ham, courgettes and lemon

Added on October 12, 2016

This bass with air-dried ham, courgettes and lemon recipe from Nathan Outlaw’s new book Everyday Seafood is the perfect Saturday night supper

www.outlaws.co.uk

Serves 4

You will need

Bass 1, gutted, scaled, filleted and pin-boned
Olive oil 2 tbsp
Onion 1, peeled and diced
Garlic 3 cloves, peeled, halved and sliced
Air-dried ham 8 slices, cut into strips
Fish stock 300ml
Double cream 250ml
Courgettes 3, finely sliced with a mandoline
Tarragon 1 tbsp, chopped
Flat-leaf parsley 1 tbsp, chopped
Dill 1 tbsp, chopped
Chives 1 tbsp, chopped
Lemon 1, finely grated zest and juice
Dijon mustard 2 tbsp
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

For the sauce: heat a medium pan over a medium heat with the oil. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 3 minutes to soften. Add the ham and cook for a further 4 minutes until it’s starting to crisp.
Pour in the fish stock, bring to a simmer and let it bubble until reduced by half. Add the cream, bring back to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes until the sauce starts to thicken.
Place the sliced courgettes in a bowl and add the herbs, with half of the lemon zest and juice. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and toss well.
To finish the sauce, add the remaining lemon juice and mustard and season with a little salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then taste and adjust the seasoning. Set aside while you cook the fish.
For the fish: preheat the grill to high. Cut the bass fillets in half to give 4 equal portions and place skin side up on a grill tray. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle on the remaining lemon zest and season with salt and pepper. Grill for 5–7 minutes.
Give the courgettes another toss and then drain in a colander set over a bowl to collect the dressing. Remove the fish from the grill and leave to rest and finish cooking on the tray for 1 minute.
Spoon the sauce onto 4 warmed plates. Pile two-thirds of the courgettes in the centre and lay a portion of bass on top. Arrange the remaining courgette ribbons on the fish and finish with a spoonful or two of the dressing.

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You will need

Bass 1, gutted, scaled, filleted and pin-boned
Olive oil 2 tbsp
Onion 1, peeled and diced
Garlic 3 cloves, peeled, halved and sliced
Air-dried ham 8 slices, cut into strips
Fish stock 300ml
Double cream 250ml
Courgettes 3, finely sliced with a mandoline
Tarragon 1 tbsp, chopped
Flat-leaf parsley 1 tbsp, chopped
Dill 1 tbsp, chopped
Chives 1 tbsp, chopped
Lemon 1, finely grated zest and juice
Dijon mustard 2 tbsp
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

For the sauce: heat a medium pan over a medium heat with the oil. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 3 minutes to soften. Add the ham and cook for a further 4 minutes until it’s starting to crisp.
Pour in the fish stock, bring to a simmer and let it bubble until reduced by half. Add the cream, bring back to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes until the sauce starts to thicken.
Place the sliced courgettes in a bowl and add the herbs, with half of the lemon zest and juice. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and toss well.
To finish the sauce, add the remaining lemon juice and mustard and season with a little salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then taste and adjust the seasoning. Set aside while you cook the fish.
For the fish: preheat the grill to high. Cut the bass fillets in half to give 4 equal portions and place skin side up on a grill tray. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle on the remaining lemon zest and season with salt and pepper. Grill for 5–7 minutes.
Give the courgettes another toss and then drain in a colander set over a bowl to collect the dressing. Remove the fish from the grill and leave to rest and finish cooking on the tray for 1 minute.
Spoon the sauce onto 4 warmed plates. Pile two-thirds of the courgettes in the centre and lay a portion of bass on top. Arrange the remaining courgette ribbons on the fish and finish with a spoonful or two of the dressing.