Wednesday, February 8, 2012

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.

15 comments:

  1. Bel, I love your fish burgers, much healthier than the conventional meat patties...spicy sounds really good. Beautiful pictures as always.
    Hope you are having a wonderful week :)

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  2. I didn't notice that they took the Fillet o Fish burger off the menu! What a sad thing. Your fish burger on the other hand looks top notch! A great alternative I'd say!

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  3. Oh no! I can't believe they took the Fillet o Fish off the menu, that was one of the few things I liked there...
    Your version looks 100 times better than that though, I would have one of these any day. Looks amazing.

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  4. Fairies having a hissy fit. I love it. I think the "no chewing required" applies to all Maccas and "Hairy Backs" burgers doesn't it? This, however, is one fish burger I'd happily sink my teeth and gums into!
    Go Henry! He's my hero now. I think your house is his happy place.

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  5. "feelay" - tee hee. Love a fish sando (even a Maccas one now and then) but yours looks the height of sophistication! :)

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  6. Really, there's no FoF on the Macca's menu anymore? How strange! Your FoF looks great...another one to add to my dinner rotation. I'm still waiting for a post with Tabitha and Henry chilling out together - one day!

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  7. I haven't had McD's in YEARS...and I never had the filet o fish, though the commercials for it did annoy me to no end all through college. :P

    I'd choose your filet with all it's fresh flavors any day!

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  8. OOO youve really glammed up the fish burger! love it

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  9. Nice to see a real feelay o fish ;) Looks awesome and fresh!!
    Take care..

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  10. Ooo this looks great. I'm always looking for ways to spice up our fish dishes.

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  11. Tabitha's catnip face is quite possibly the cutest thing ever! Love your version of the fillet de fish. So fresh and summery

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  12. awwwww so so cute! I love all the kitty updates at the bottom of your recipes =) and your photos are GORGEOUS!!!

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  13. oh yes, snapper fish burger! I love it. More photos of Tabitha and Henry...please. So fun to read the update of these cute kitties.

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  14. Killer cats learned long ago that when they lay on their back, 5 of their 6 ends are pointy.

    Dogs learns this only when naive & living with cats.

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  15. This beats FOF anytime. I love how crispy the skin is. YUM! And don't do back to Maccas! :P

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