What we call leatherjacket in Australia – due to its thick leathery skin – is known internationally as filefish or triggerfish. Leatherjacket is prized for its thick, flaky flesh — making it ideal for this spice-rubbed leatherjacket recipe. The bold harissa and spice paste marries beautifully with leatherjacket, but you could use any firm-fleshed fish, whole or fillets, including oilier ones like mackerel or tuna which will stand up equally well to the rich Mediterranean flavours. Those bold flavours pair well with a medium-bodied red, like Pikes Luccio sangiovese from the Clare Valley. It has good acid to balance the richness of the olive oil and the spice on the nose echoes those in the rub. When you remove the pan from the oven, drape a cloth over the handle as a visual reminder that it’s still hot.

Serves 2

Ingredients
  • 1 x 350g leatherjacket trunks, skin off (12oz)
  • ¼ cup coriander seeds (18g/⅔oz)
  • 3 teaspoons cumin seeds (7g/¼oz)
  • 1½ teaspoons fennel seeds (3g/⅒oz)
  • 3 teaspoons salt flakes (9g/⅓oz)
  • 1 tablespoon harissa (20ml)
    ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for pan-frying (60ml)
  • 1 quantity Tomato Sauce (or 400g tomato passata)
  • Vermicelli rice or burghul with vermicelli, for serving (see video)
Method
  1. Fry the coriander, cumin and fennel seeds in a dry frying pan for a couple of minutes until aromatic then place in a spice grinder with salt and grind to a powder. Mix with harissa and olive oil to make a paste.
  2. Make a couple of deep slashes through to the bone on both sides of the fish. Trim the tail if necessary so it will fit into a frying pan.
  3. Rub paste all over the fish and into the slashes; set aside for 30 minutes or so to come to room temperature.
  4. Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).
  5. Meanwhile, heat a tablespoon or so of oil in an ovenproof frying pan over medium heat.
  6. Add fish and cook for a minute or so each side, until paste is lightly coloured.
  7. Push any spice paste in the base of the pan closely around the fish (so it doesn’t burn) and place the pan in the oven.
  8. Bake for 15 minutes or so, until the thickest part of the fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.
  9. Remove pan from oven, place fish on a warm plate and cover loosely with foil to keep warm.
  10. Meanwhile – remembering that the handle of the pan will be hot – stir tomato sauce or passata through the cooking juices and spice paste remaining in the pan.
  11. Arrange rice or burghul on a platter, top with leatherjackets and some of the sauce and serve remaining sauce on the side.

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Burghul with Vermicelli

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