Pan Fried Herring in Polenta Crust with Summer Veg Salad

Coating the fish in polenta gives it a fabulous crusty texture

Ingredients

• 8 herring fillets
• 500g new potatoes in their skins, scrubbed
• 3tbsp olive oil, plus extra for brushing
• 1 aubergine, sliced lengthways into 8 strips
• 1 courgette, sliced lengthways into 8 strips
• 20 baby plum tomatoes
• 50g polenta
• 1tbsp pesto
• 16 pitted olives

The method

1. Boil the potatoes in a pan of water for around 10-15 minutes, until they are cooked through.
2. While the potatoes are cooking, brush a griddle pan with oil and heat. Add the aubergine and courgette slices in batches and griddle until they are golden and soft. Remove from the pan, drizzle with 1tbsp of the olive oil, set aside and keep warm.
3. Add the tomatoes to the pan and cook until softened, then set aside and keep warm.
4. Pour the polenta onto a plate. Press the herring fillets, flesh side down, into the polenta to coat.
5. Heat another 1tbsp of the olive oil in a non-stick frying pan and fry the herrings, skin side down, until lightly crispy. Turn down the heat and turn over. Cook on the polenta side until golden brown.
6. Drain the potatoes and gently crush with a fork to just break the skins. Add the pesto and remaining olive oil to the potatoes.
7. Arrange the potatoes on four plates. Top with the aubergine, courgettes, tomatoes and olives. Add the herring fillets and serve.

Recipe courtesy of Fish is the Dish. See more recipes at www.fishisthedish.co.uk