Meagre in olive and caper sauce

30min preparation
Serves
Complex.

Intro

Step
1

Drain the olives and pat dry. With a sharp knife, make three or four cuts in each olive from end to end, then cut each segment away from the stone as carefully as you can.

Step
2

Put the meagre fillets into a steamer (if you do not have one, put them into a colander over a pan of boiling water and cover with a pan lid). Steam for about 10–12 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish, until firm.

Step
3

Meanwhile, bring a little water to the boil in a small pan, add the chopped celery and simmer for a minute or two, just to soften. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper. Add the onion to the same water, and again, blanch for a few minutes to soften, lift out with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper. Heat a little extra virgin olive oil in a pan. Add the blanched celery and onion and cook gently until they begin to colour, then add the olives and capers.

Step
4

After a few minutes add the tomato purée, vinegar, sugar, and fish stock, stir, and bubble up until the liquid reduces and thickens a little. Put one of garlic cloves on a chopping board and crush into a paste with the back of a large knife, put a handful of parsley leaves on top and chop finely.

Step
5

Put the fish fillets on a serving plate, pour the sauce over them and sprinkle some parsley and garlic on top.

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