Fried dabs with tomatoes and cucumber

Dabs are flat fish of the sole and plaice family.  They have almost no flavour but their main merit is that they are cheap.  To make them into a respectable dish (and it can be done), plenty of flavourings must be incorporated.

Preparation Time: 15 Mins

Cooking Time: 20 Mins

Total Time: 45 Mins

Ingredients

For 2 servings…

2                    Dabs        

1                    Egg          

1 pinch            Salt          

5 tbs               Bran         

3 tbs               Olive oil    

450 gms          Tomatoes  - chopped

1                    Pepper  - green, chopped       

½                   Cucumber  - sliced    

1 pinch            Fennel seeds           

                     Pepper      

For the salad

                     Lettuce     

                     Apple  - chopped     

                     Lemon juice            

                     Olive oil    

                     Garlic  - crushed      

                     Pepper  - black        

                     Salt          

Method

Scrape and wash the dabs and then dry them.

Beat the egg with a pinch of salt.  Spread the bran on a plate.

Pass the dabs through the egg and then roll them in the bran until well coated.

Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and fry the dabs for 2 minutes on each side.  Add the tomatoes, green pepper and cucumber to the fish in the pan with a good pinch of fennel seeds.  Check for seasoning and cook for about 15 minutes.

Serve with a salad dressed with an emulsion of the lemon juice, olive oil, crushed garlic, pepper and salt.

Wine recommendations

A white wine.

Conventional

     Picpoul de Pinet

Interesting

     Entre-deux-Mers

     Jurançon sec

     Pinot Gris

     Vin de pays Charentais blanc