Spicy fish burgers - tribute to the filet de fish

Confession time: The other day, I had some McDonald's fries. It had been over 12 months since my last fry at Maccas, and it's been over a year since I last had a burger there.  The fries were okay, as was the hot fudge sundae that accompanied them, but honestly, I really didn't feel like having a burger or wrap or 'chicken' nuggets at all, so I think I've turned a corner when it comes to traditional fast food. And please don't get me started on that 'other' burger joint (rhymes with hairy backs) that makes my skin crawl every time I walk past - when pigeons stroll in and start pecking at the scraps on the floor, well, time to call the Food Authority...

I did notice, though, that the Filet-o-Fish isn't on the menu anymore. I used to like the FoF, with its tender feelay on a bun that was so soft that you didn't need to use your teeth to chew it; you just needed to mash your tongue against it and it would dissolve like fairies having a hissy fit. And occasionally, there'd be a small bone in the fish feelay, just to wake you up as you dozily swallowed another mouthful of barely chewed burger bun.

Here's an alternative fish burger with a hint of spice and hardly a bone to be found. On a bun that begs a strong set of teeth to get through. Now that's a burger!

Spicy Fish Burgers

serves 2

Ingredients

1 clove garlic, crushed

1/2 tblsp olive oil

1/2 tsp hot chilli sauce (sriracha)

1 tblsp lime juice

salt and pepper

1 tsp olive oil, for pan-frying

2 snapper fillets, skin on

2 ciabatta or crusty bread rolls, halved

butter lettuce and/or radicchio leaves

4 tblsp tzatziki or plain yoghurt

Method

1. Mix the garlic, oil, hot sauce, lime juice and salt and pepper together in a bowl. Add the fish fillets and coat well.

2. Heat additional olive oil in a large frying pan over high heat. Place the fish skin-side down in the pan and cook for 4 minutes. Turn and cook the other side for another 2 minutes, until cooked through.

3. Spread the bread rolls with tzatziki, then add lettuce leaves and top with the cooked fish. Serve.

recipe adapted from donna hay (Jan 2012)

Ingredients, including hot sauce, crushed garlic, olive oil and lime.

Some baby cherry tomatoes as a side salad.

The snapper fillets are coated in the marinade.

Simply serve the fish on the bread rolls.

I actually used some toasted 'pizza bread', which comes sprinkled with herbs.

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A Tabitha vs Henry Update!

Even though he's a killer, Henry is a really playful cat. He's always rolling on his back. It's pretty funny to watch. And he loves my backyard for rolling, for some reason.

Tabitha is the complete opposite, a totally serious cat whose idea of fun is getting stuck into the catnip (when Henry's not around).

Kinda hoping that opposites attract and they will become friends, but it's looking unlikely.