Cook Book Club: August

Thistles and Kiwis,

Wellington right now is obsessed with burgers. Wellington on a Plate, featuring the Burger Wellington competition, takes up most of August. Regular readers will know I have tried three so far, the most disappointing being a fish burger. So…for this month’s August Cook Book Club challenge, bready things, I thought why not do my own burger? And, why not have a go at one from one of my favourite cook books, Julius Roberts The Farm Table?

As luck would have it, he actually has a recipe for Crispy Fish Baps with Minted Pea & Tartare Sauce which sounded just the thing, given my recent disappointing one. I got some gurnard from Wellington Seamarket (who actually have three of their own burgers in the competition), and found some mint in the garden.

I started off with making the tartare sauce, from Greek yoghurt, mayonnaise, dill, capers and I used dill pickles instead of cornichons as that is what I had. The next step was the peas – just frozen peas, smashed with butter, seasoning, lemon rind and finely chopped mint.

Then it is just a question of preparing the fish, slicing into smaller pieces (to make assembling the bun easier in my opinion) and dipping in egg and panko, before frying. Take a roll, slice open, toast if you like, spread with the tartare sauce, pea mixture and fish along with a good squirt of lemon. Actually, assemble anyway you like.

Verdict? Excellent, great layering of flavours. Karl’s verdict ‘yes do again’ which as he is not a great fish eater, is great praise indeed.

Thanks to Jo of Brookford Kitchen Diaries for hosting and the suggestions and of course, join in yourself. The next theme is salads in October. Jo is away next month.

Thistles and Kiwis is a Wellington, New Zealand based blog written by Barbara, who likes cats, summer and good food. Thistles and Kiwis can be found on Facebook and Instagram @thistlesandkiwis

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Published by Thistles and Kiwis

Loves summer, sunshine and cats. Beginner gardener, likes eating, cooking and reading about food

30 Comments

  2. This sounds absolutely delicious! I love the idea of recreating a disappointing fish burger and turning it into something even better. The minted peas and tartare sauce sound like the perfect combination with the crispy fish. Definitely a “yes, do again” recipe!

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. Love the idea of your home-made tartare and the peas . . . totally different to what you could buy in any shop . . . went ‘shopping’ at your fish market > loved the look of your groper and monkfish also . . .

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. I have mentioned before that you are an excellent food stylist. This time, your description is so mouthwatering that I wished I could have enjoyed one of your fish burgers too!

    Liked by 1 person

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  11. I’ve had trouble posting my comment, Here goes again, anyway love your fish burger, I could become addicted to those.

    Liked by 1 person

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  15. Pingback: This week's small pleasures.

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