Print Options:

FRIED ROCK COD WITH TOMATO SALSA

 2 ROCK COD FILLETS
 2 MEDIUM ZUCCHINI
 1 RED SPRING ONION OR RED ONION
 2 A VARIETY OF RIPE TOMATOES
 CHILI FLAKES TO TASTE
 1 tbsp RED WINE VINEGAR
 FRESH BASIL AND MINT
 PEANUT OIL
 ½ cup SEMOLINA FLOUR
 ½ cup WONDRA FLOUR
 1 LEMON
1

PEEL AND ROUGHLY CHOP THE ONION. PLACE IN A BOWL WITH A GENEROUS PINCH OF SALT, SEVERAL GRINDS OF BLACK PEPPER AND CHILI FLAKES. (OR A SEEDED HOT CHILI PEPPER, SEEDED AND THINLY SLICED. ADD A TBSP OF RED WINE VINEGAR. CUT UP THE TOMATOES AND THE NECTARINE AND ADD TO THE BOWL. DO NOT MIX YET.

SCRUB THE OUTSIDE OF THE ZUCCHINIS WITH A VEGETABLE BRUSH. TRIM THE ENDS. SLICE LENGTHWISE INTO QUARTERS, THEN INTO EIGHTHS. CUT CROSSWISE INTO QUARTERS. TOSS IN A COLANDER WITH A FEW TBSPS OF SALT. ALLOW TO SIT FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES BEFORE FRYING.

MIX THE SEMOLINA AND WONDRA FLOURS TOGETHER AND SPREAD ON A DINNER PLATE.

POUR ENOUGH PEANUT OIL TO A LEVEL OF TWO INCHES IN YOUR PAN OR WOK. HEAT TO 350ยบ.

DREDGE THE ZUCCHINI BATONS IN THE FLOUR MIXTURE, SHAKE OFF EXCESS AND FRY HALF AT A TIME, MAKING SURE THE PIECES STAY SEPARATE. AS SOON AS THEY TURN LIGHT BROWN, THEY'RE DONE. REMOVE WITH A SLOTTE SPOON AND DRAIN ON A WIRE RACK OVER A FLATTENED PAPER BAG. KEEP WARM IN A LOW OVEN ON A BED OF PAPER TOWELS.

SEASON THE COD FILLETS WITH SALT AND PEPPER. DREDGE IN THE FLOUR MIXTURE AND SLIDE INTO THE HOT OIL. FRY FOR 2 MINUTES, THEN GENTLY TURN THEM OVER AND FRY ANOTHER 2 MINUTES. WHEN THE SKIN TURNS LIGHT BROWN AND CURLS UP A BIT, THE FISH IS DONE. REMOVE TO THE WIRE RACK SO THE OIL RUNS OFF.

TOSS THE SALSA WITH THE FRESH HERBS AND A SPLASH OF OLIVE OIL.

SERVE WITH TOMATO SALSA, ZUCCHINI BATONS AND LEMON WEDGES.

SERVES 2