Sourdough cod cheeks with spicy pea salsa

This sophisticated dish takes a lesser known part of the fish and jazzes it up as a sensational starter.

Equipment and preparation: for this recipe you will need a food processor.

Ingredients

For the cod cheeks

• 150g/5½oz stale sourdough bread, roughly chopped
• 1 unwaxed lemon, finely grated zest only, plus extra lemon wedges to serve
• 75g/2½oz plain flour
• 3 free-range eggs, lightly beaten
• 20 cod cheeks, cleaned, membranes removed (available from fishmongers or online specialists)
• vegetable oil (or vegetable oil mixed with beef dripping), for deep-frying

For the salsa

• 300g/10½oz frozen peas, defrosted
• 3 tbsp roughly chopped fresh mint leaves
• 2 green chillies, de-seeded and roughly chopped
• 2 limes, juice only
• 100g/3½oz crème fraîche
• salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation method

1. For the cod cheeks, blend the bread to crumbs in a food processor, then add the lemon zest and pulse again to combine. Tip the mixture into a shallow bowl and clean the food processor.

2. Sprinkle the flour onto a plate and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Beat the eggs in a bowl.

3. In batches, dust the cod cheeks in the flour, then dip them in the beaten egg, then roll them in the breadcrumb mixture until completely coated. Place each breaded cod cheek on a plate. Cover with cling film and chill in the fridge until needed.

4. For the salsa, blend the peas, mint, chillies, lime juice and crème fraîche in the food processor to a rough paste. Tip it into a serving bowl, cover and chill until needed.

5. Heat the oil (and dripping, if using) in a deep-fat fryer to 190C. Alternatively, heat the oil in a deep, heavy-based saucepan until a breadcrumb sizzles and turns golden-brown when dropped into it. (CAUTION: Hot oil can be dangerous. Do not leave unattended.)

6. Carefully lower the cod cheeks into the hot fat in batches, and fry for 2-3 minutes, or until golden-brown and cooked through. Remove from the oil using a slotted spoon and set aside to drain on kitchen paper. Repeat the process with the remaining cod cheeks.

7. To serve, pile the breaded cod cheeks onto a serving platter. Place the lemon wedges and the bowl of pea salsa alongside.

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