FISH
45
Paella
I
ngredients
200g (7oz) white long grain rice
600ml (1 pint) hot chicken stock
2.5ml (1/2 tsp) turmeric
salt and pepper to taste
1 red pepper, seeded and sliced
100g (4oz) prawns, peeled and
cooked
100g (4oz) peas
100g (4oz) cockles, cooked
100g (4oz) mussels, cooked
100g (4oz) whole baby sweet
corn, halved
225g (8oz) chicken, cooked and
chopped
Fish
Serves 4
Fish cooks very well by micro wave as it stays moist and the lingering fish smells left in con-
ventional ovens are avoided.
WHEN IS FISH COOKED?
Fish is cooked when it flakes easily and becomes opaque.
For fish with a strong odour, eliminate the smell after cooking by placing 600 ml
(1 pt) of boiling water and 1 sliced lemon in a large bowl, cook on
SIMMER
power for 20
mins. Wipe out oven with a dry cloth.
WHOLE FISH
If cooking 2 whole fish together, they should be arranged head to tail for even cooking. Large
whole fish must have the tail and head shielded halfway through cooking with smooth pieces
of tin foil secured with cocktail sticks.
ARRANGING
Thin fillets of fish i.e. plaice,
should be rolled up prior to
cooking to avoid
overcooking on the thinner
outside edge and tail. Fish
steaks should be arranged in
a circle, thicker part to the
outside. Cover with cling film
or lid.
LIQUID
Fresh fish should always be
sprinkled with 30 ml (2 tbsp)
of lemon juice, white wine or
water. When cooking Frozen
fish, add liquid as above for
even cooking. Do not
sprinkle salt onto fish before
cooking as this may make
the fish dry.
NOISE
During cooking, popping
sounds may be heard. This is
due to moisture trapped
between the flesh,
particularly with oily fish such
as salmon and mackerel.
This can be minimised when
cooking if the skin and flesh
is pierced several times with
a cocktail stick.
1. Place the rice in a large bowl and add the stock,
turmeric and seasoning.
2. Cover, place on glass turntable and cook on
MEDIUM
power for 14-15 minutes, until the
rice is tender, stir 2-3 times during cooking. Drain.
3. Stir in the pepper, prawns, peas, cockles, mussels,
baby corn and chicken.
4. Cook on
HIGH
power for 10 minutes, stirring halfway
through cooking.
Dish: large bowl