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Steamed bass grouper with sugar snap peas and lemon

Steamed bass grouper with sugar snap peas and lemon

“Bass grouper’s gelatinous texture makes it the perfect steaming fish. Don’t let your fishmonger tell you bass grouper is hapuku, it’s not.” – Steve Hodges

Steamed bass grouper with sugar snap peas and lemon

Serves 6
2   preserved lemon quarters, rind removed and rinsed, flesh discarded
1.2 kg   piece of bass grouper, skin on, pin boned and cut into 6 portions
300 gm   sugar snap peas or snow peas, ends trimmed
To serve:   lemon-infused extra-virgin olive oil


1 Using a sharp knife, remove pith from lemon rind; cut rind into thin strips. Scatter half the rind on the flesh-side of the grouper, season with salt and black pepper and cover with baking paper. Place fish into a steamer skin-side up and steam for 6-7 minutes or until almost cooked through, then remove and stand in a warm place.
2 Meanwhile cook sugar snap peas in boiling salted water for 1-2 minutes or until crisp and bright green. Drain and divide peas and remaining preserved lemon rind among plates. Remove and discard fish skin and baking paper. Arrange fish on plates, drizzle with olive oil, adjust seasoning and serve immediately.


Drink Suggestion Crisp, young Hunter Valley semillon.

RECIPE Steve Hodges, Fish Face PHOTOGRAPHY William Meppem STYLING Rodney Dunn


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