Pan Seared Striped Bass With Thai Red Curry Sauce And Spicy Eggplant Food

THAI-STYLE CRISPY SEA BASS

Steps:

• Trim and halve the spring onions, finely shred lengthways and place in a bowl of ice-cold water to crisp up. Pick in the coriander leaves, reserving the stalks.
• Place a large non-stick frying pan on a medium-high heat.
• With a sharp knife, score the sea bass skin at 2cm intervals, then rub all over with the curry paste, inside and out, getting into all the cracks and crannies.
• Pack the coriander stalks into the cavities, season with sea salt and black pepper, then place in the hot pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
• Cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until dark golden and cooked through (depending on the thickness of your fish).
• Drain and shake off the spring onions and coriander and pile on to your plates.
• Sit the sea bass on top, spooning over any spicy oil from the pan. Finely grate over the lime zest, and serve with lime halves, for squeezing over.

SEA BASS WITH COCONUT-CURRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and curry powder. Sauté mixture until onions are translucent, about 4 minutes. Mix in coconut milk and stock; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-high and boil until liquid is reduced to thin sauce consistency, about 50 minutes. Add carrots; simmer until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat; keep warm.
• Preheat broiler. Place fish on baking sheet; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil fish until just opaque in center, about 8 minutes. Using metal spatula, transfer fish to plates. Spoon sauce over fish. Sprinkle with green onions.

THAI RED CURRY

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat and fry 1 tbsp ginger and 1 tbsp garlic paste for 2 mins. Add 5-6 tbsp red curry paste, sizzle for a few secs, then pour in 800ml coconut milk.
• Bring to the boil, reduce to a simmer, stir a little and wait for the oil to rise to the surface.
• Add 8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into chunks, and lime leaves, and simmer for 12 mins or until the chicken is cooked through.
• Add 1 tbsp of the fish sauce and a pinch of brown sugar, then taste - if you like it a little saltier, add more fish sauce; if you like it sweeter, add a little more sugar.
• Bring to the boil, take off the heat and add ½ small pack Thai basil.
• Spoon the curry into four bowls and top with 1 red chilli, a thumb-sized piece of ginger and a few extra basil leaves. Serve with jasmine rice.

THAI RED CURRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in saucepan.
• Add onion and saute until golden brown.
• Add curry paste and stir 1 minute.
• (Note: I used two TBS curry paste for this recipe but I like lots of spice so if you like a milder curry, use 1 TBS) Add broth and coconut milk.
• Boil 3 minutes, then stir in lime juice, garlic, ginger, tomato, cilantro, fish sauce and sugar.
• Simmer uncovered until lightly thickened, about 20 to 30 minutes.
• Pour sauce into a blender and blend until smooth.
• Return sauce to pan and re-heat if needed.