Pan-fried skate with capers and cod roe

My fishbox arrived again today with two fresh skate wings inside – and a huge piece of cod roe; I really look forward to the day each month when we will have the freshest fish for supper. This evening’s dish was a tad experimental but it got rave reviews from my husband, who is always a willing guinea pig. Here’s how it all came together.

Ingredients for 2

• 2 fresh skate wings
• 1 chicken-breast-sized piece of fresh cod roe, cut into chunks
• 1 dessertspoon capers, drained
• 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
• butter
• olive oil
• broccoli florets, sliced in half for quick cooking
• curly kale leaves, torn into smaller pieces
• half a (bergamot) lemon
• salt and pepper

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 120’C and gently heat some water in your steamer pan.
2. Add a generous slug of olive oil and a knob of butter to a non stick pan and gently cook the skate wings over a medium heat until turning golden on both sides – about 3 minutes each side.
3. Remove to a baking tray and place in the oven while you do the rest of the cooking – about 15 minutes.
4. In a small non-stick pan heat a knob of butter butter until foaming then add the chunks of cod roe and capers and cook fairly vigorously, turning occasionally and allowing the roes to change colour slowly from pale pink to golden brown.
5. Half way through cooking the roe add the sherry vinegar and continue to cook, turning as needed. The chunks of roe will start to break up and resemble breadcrumbs. Keep cooking.
6. Five minutes before you are due to eat turn the heat up on the steamer and add the broccoli and kale to cook for 4 minutes.
7. Turn the vegetables out into a bowl and dress with olive oil, black pepper and the zest and juice of the lemon. (Luckily, my Riverford box contained some subtle flavoured bergamot lemons.)
8. Toss the greens and pile them onto the plate, top with the skate and then scatter the cod roe on top of that before serving.
9. If you are feeling adventurous, top it all off with some chopped parsley. Supper fit for a king in 20 minutes flat – really delicious!