Baked Fish with Romesco Sauce

Romesco is a nut and red pepper-based sauce from Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain that goes beautifully with fish, chicken or even spread in sandwiches. The Sautéed Spinach with onions and garlic adds moisture, texture and complimentary flavours to the dish. You can also add ½ cup of steamed brown rice as well. It doesn't take long to make, approximately 30 minutes all up, so it is perfect as a week day meal.

This recipe is low saturated fat, low sodium, low sugar, and high protein.

Ingredients

• 2 x thick white fish fillets, 400g (we used rockling)

Romesco Sauce

• 200g red capsicums (aka sweet peppers), we used from jar
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• Pinch smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp. red wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 slice wholemeal bread
• 1 tbsp. flaked almonds
• 1 tbsp. sugar
• 3-4 tbsp. tomatoes (we used diced in a can)
• Pinch chilli powder or paste
• S & P to taste

Spinach

• 200g baby spinach, fresh
• ½ onion, sliced
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• ¼ cup water
• 1 tbsp. butter
• S & P to taste

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180C (350F).
2. In a stick blender or processer place garlic capsicums, paprika, vinegar, tomato, oil, chilli, bread and sugar and blend for 30 seconds. When half blended add the almonds and blend again.  This needs to be a chunky sauce so don’t over blend. Set aside until ready to heat.
3. Spray fish with olive oil spray, season with a little salt and pepper.  Place on a baking tray lined with baking paper.  Cook in oven for 12 mins, depending on the thickness of the fish, turning half way.
4. Meanwhile heat non-stick fry pan with a tsp. olive oil and sauté onion for 5 mins or until softened and cooked.  Add garlic and spinach.  Spinach will look like a lot but once cooked it will reduce down to nearly nothing, add some water to help reduce down..  Keep stirring.  Once reduced down, add butter and keep cooking until butter has been incorporated, season with S & P to your taste.
5. Fish should be cooked now, take out and place foil on top to keep warm.
6. Heat your Romesco sauce in microwave for 11/2 mins.
7. Lay spinach in middle of each plate in the middle, place fish on top and Romesco sauce on fish.
8. Serve immediately.