Englishfishmornay Recipes

MORNAY SAUCE RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat a medium sized saucepan over medium-high heat and when hot, add the butter. When the butter melts, add the flour and start whisking. You want to be careful not to let the butter burn or the flour to turn brown. It's only going to take a minute to a minute and a half for the roux to start turning a pale yellow.
• Slowly add the milk in a stream while constantly whisking and whisking some more. Bring the sauce to a boil and immediately lower the heat to a simmer and continue cooking for 3 to 4 minutes, being careful not to let the sauce burn by whisking frequently.
• Remove the pan from the heat and add the nutmeg, season with salt & pepper and stir. You now have a bechamel sauce.
• Still off heat, add the grated cheese and whisk until all the cheese melts into the sauce. It should be thick and smooth.
• Taste and adjust seasoning with salt & pepper and you now have Mornay sauce.

ENGLISH FISH MORNAY

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large pan, fry the onions until tender (about 2 minutes).
• Add the flour and cook for a full minute, add the milk and milk. Reduce the heat and whisk. Add the mustard and mix through.
• Add the fish and simmer for 5 minutes stirring carefully. Add the cream and pour into a well buttered pie plate or shallow ceramic baking dish.
• Top with the potato topping very carefully in small spoonfuls (so it doesn't sink to the bottom).
• Top with the cheese and breadcrumbs and bake for 40 minutes at 180oC (360F).
• Serve with bread and butter and steamed seasonal veggies.
• To make topping:.
• Mash the potatoes in a large bowl with the milk and butter. I like to use my hand beater to get it really smooth.

TRADITIONAL BRITISH FISH AND CHIPS

Steps:

• For the twice-cooked chips: Peel the potatoes and cut them into approximately 5/8-inch-thick chips (i.e. 5/8-by-5/8-inch-by-potato length). Store them in water.
• Fill a large pot halfway with the oil or fill a deep-fat fryer with oil. Heat to 275 degrees F. Thoroughly drain the chips and add them to the oil, working in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. Fry the chips until they are soft enough to squeeze but not yet browned, about 10 minutes. Once all the chips have been blanched, spread them on a sheet tray and store them in the fridge overnight.
• When ready to serve, heat the oil to 375 degrees F and fry the blanched chips, in batches if necessary, until golden brown and crispy on the outside and still fluffy on the inside, about 5 minutes.
• For the seasoned flour: Mix the flour, salt and black pepper in a large bowl and set aside.
• For the beer batter: Thoroughly mix the flour, paprika and salt in a large bowl. Whilst constantly whisking, add enough beer to stiffen up the mix. Whilst still continuing to whisk, add cold water until the batter resembles heavy cream consistency and contains no lumps.
• For the fish: Fill a large pot halfway with oil or fill a deep-fat fryer with oil. Heat the oil to 375 degrees F. Fillet the fish into six 8-ounce portions, removing any bones, skin or blood lines that are present. Dip the fish into the seasoned flour, tapping off any excess. Dip the fish into the beer batter, briefly allow the batter to drain off, and then gently place the fish into the oil, allowing the fish to float away from you. Cook, in batches if necessary, until golden brown and trying to float, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Remove the fish from the oil with a spatula and allow to drain on a cooling rack before serving on a bed of chips with lashings of kosher salt and malt vinegar.

SALMON MORNAY

Steps:

• Melt butter in medium saucepan, add onion and celery.
• Stir constantly over medium heat for about 3 minutes or until onion is soft.
• Add flour, stirring constantly over medium heat for 1 minute or until mixture is bubbly.
• Gradually stir in combined milk and cream- stir constantly over high heat until mixture boils and thickens.
• Remove from heat, add cheese, corn and salmon - stir gently until cheese is melted.
• Spoon mixture into ovenproof dish, sprinkle with combined breadcrumbs and extra cheese.
• Bake in moderate oven for about 15 minutes or until mornay is heated through and bread crumbs have browned. Leaving the lid off for all or part of the time will help them brown better.
• Serve on plain rice.

CHEESY TUNA MORNAY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. Drain.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour until smooth. Gradually mix in milk so that no lumps form. Stir constantly until the mixture boils, then mix in half of the cheese. Add the peas, corn and macaroni. Drain the tuna, leaving a small amount of liquid to keep it moist. Flake with a fork and stir into the cheese mixture. Transfer to a casserole dish and top with the remaining cheese. Sprinkle breadcrumbs over the cheese.
• Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until sauce is bubbly and cheese is browned.