insideKENT Magazine Issue 98 - May 2020 | Page 26

FOOD+DRINK STAY HOME & COOK! CONT. Hake with Oyster Sauce, Wild Garlic and Asparagus Recipe by Ben Hughes benhughespopup.co.uk The whole idea behind the way we cook is to use what is available, when it is available. Embracing the flash points of the season, and enjoying them for the brief periods they’re available locally. Right now, this dish is perfect with the last of the wild garlic with the first of the season’s asparagus, a burst of flavour as we move out of the hunger gap towards a bountiful spring. I love to eat this dish with some crusty bread to mop up the sauce! Any questions regarding cooking, just contact me! benhughes_popup Ingredients: • 2x 150g portions hake, skinless • 2x oysters (ask your fishmonger to shuck them into a pot, liquid included) • 300ml double cream • 100ml white wine • 1 small white onion • 1/2 clove garlic • 6 wild garlic leaves • 10 asparagus spears • 50g butter • English rapeseed oil 5. Blitz and pass through a sieve, reserving the strained liquid for later 6. Bend the asparagus until it naturally snaps. 7. Place the hake in the oven for 10mins or until a cocktail stick can be inserted and the same resistance is felt on the stick throughout. 8. Blanch the asparagus in salted water for 2-3mins until tender. Method: 1. Heat the oven to 200. To plate the dish: 2. Place the hake on a tray and place 25g of butter on each one, add a little drizzle of English rapeseed oil. Place the wild garlic leaves on each plate, create a nest with the asparagus, put the hake on top and then pour warm oyster sauce all over the top. 3. Dice the onion and garlic, sweat on a low heat until translucent. Turn up the heat, add the white wine and reduce by half. 26 4. Add the oysters and cream. Bring to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes.