fish fingers

I eat a lot of fish. Partly cos it’s healthy and free on Extra Easy and partly cos it’s delicious and so damn versatile. With stirfrys, with chips (my lazy girl syn free chips of course 😉 ) or in stews, me and fish go back a long way. Probably one of the reasons Oscar likes it so much too. However, although Oscar loves all the fish I’ve ever given him, he just doesn’t like the childhood staple of fish fingers. I think it’s more to do with the breadcrumbs (not a favourite coating of anything for the boy) which means the fish he eats is, well, just fish. Until recently though I’ve always been a bit intimidated by fish. Preparing it, cooking it, I was never sure I was doing it right. It also struck me as a time consuming ingredient, one that need loads of time to prepare. But I’m here to tell you I can prep fish and cook it, from frozen, with the same effort it takes to remove fish fingers from the box and in the same time it takes potato waffles to cook (yeah he has grown up tastes in some respects but he’ll bite your arm off for a potato waffle).

This method could just as easily be used for adults, using bigger portions and more exciting ingredients, but this is how I make fish for a child who wont eat fish fingers.

Start by buying fillets of fresh fish. I choose whatever’s on offer. Favourites so far have included cod, haddock, pollack & salmon. Each portion only needs to be small, so buying big pieces and chopping them up always works out better value. Skin on or skin off it doesn’t matter (after cooking you’ll probably wants to remove the skin for a toddler, although this is hardly time consuming). The only thing is it needs to be bone free. You also need foil.

10424257_10153283607635616_8215247965042340881_n — Start with a rectangle of foil, folded in half, so the shiny side is front and back

Spray one side with FryLight. I use FryLight cos that's what I have in the house but you could also use oil — Spray one side with FryLight. I use FryLight cos that’s what I have in the house but you could also use oil

Add the pieces of fish and season. I use a tiny amount of salt, pepper and a sprtiz of lemon (bottle lemon juice works just as well).Other favourites have included soy sauce and lime juice, particularly with salmon — Add the pieces of fish and season. I use a tiny amount of salt, pepper and a sprtiz of lemon (bottle lemon juice works just as well). Other favourites have included soy sauce and lime juice, particularly with salmon

Fold the foil in two and seal the top by folding it over twice — Fold the foil in two, over the fish, and seal the top by folding it over twice

Fold in the sides twice. This will give you a watertight parcel for the fish to steam in

Do this as many times as you have portions of fresh fish and place in the freezer. Yes these beauties can be cooked from frozen! — Do this as many times as you have portions of fresh fish and place in the freezer. Yep that’s right these beauties can be cooked from **frozen**!

I usually cook mine on a baking tray at gas mark 6/200c for about 25 mins, but your oven may vary. While it's cooking it puffs up to look like a pillow - pretty! — When you need it take it out of the freezer and chuck it on a baking sheet. I usually cook mine at gas mark 6/200c for about 25 mins, but your oven may vary. While it’s cooking it puffs up to look like a pillow – pretty!

To check if it's done you can open one end and see. If not just fold it back up and return to the oven. Careful though - the steam is hot! — To check if it’s done you can open one end and see. If not just fold it back up and return to the oven. Careful though – the steam is hot!

And serve with whatever your child loves best. This evening's offering was flaked up and served with rostis and peas. Last week the salmon was mixed with pasta. Winner! — And serve with whatever your child loves best. This evening’s offering was flaked up and served with rostis and peas. Last week it was salmon mixed with pasta. Winner!

There you go. An easy way to cook and serve ‘real’ fish any day of the week.

Give it a go and enjoy