Feb-fave family recipe

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Homemade fish fingers with mushy peas

You will find that this becomes a family fave over night – it is well and truly in our regular repertoire ate home. The saltiness of crisp fried fish and the sweetness of mushed-up peas is a perfect combination.

1 cup plain flour
1 heaped teaspoon of pouring salt
1 organic or free range egg
2 cups Japanese breadcrumbs (panko)
600g John Dory fillets, cut into 2 cm wide strips
1 ½ cups neutral oil
Lemon or lime wedges to serve

Mushy peas

300g frozen peas
4 mint leaves torn
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
Salt and finely ground black pepper

Mix together the flour and salt in a flat bowl.

Beat the egg with a little cold water in another bowl, and place the breadcrumbs in another.

Coat each piece of fish with the flour.

Dip both sides in the egg, then coat well with the crumb mixture.

Place on a plate scattered with the breadcrumbs and refrigerate until ready to cook.

To make the mushy peas, combine the peas and the mint in a saucepan of boiling water and cook until the peas are tender. Drain.

Add the vinegar and mash well with potato masher, stab blender or food processor – don’t overdo it; you want the peas to be mushy not pureed.

Season well with salt and pepper.

Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium heat and cook fish until golden brown on both sides.

Divide the fish fingers among four plates and serve with a generous dollop of peas and lemon or lime wedges.

Extracted with permission from:

The Great Aussie Family Cookbook, by Kim Terakes, Viking $35.00

The author of the Great Aussie Barbie Cookbook turns his atttention to feeding the family - the 'minefield' of life with kids!

There are lots of nostalgic food anecdotes from his growing up years, combined with instantly recognisable family situations.

Together they provide humour and add ‘spice’ to a collection of recipes that combine his version of Australia’s favourite family recipes with a fair sprinkling of food from our multicultural heritage.

He even takes care of parties – whether kids, teens and even parent gatherings - with recipes for food that is heartier than the dreaded 'finger' variety!