Cajun-Style Hake With Roasted Pepper Salsa

Preheat the oven to 200°C/ 180°C (fan)/ gas 6

Rinse your brown rice, add it to a pot with plenty of cold water and bring to the boil over a high heat

Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium and cook for 20-25 min or until it's tender with a slight bite

Once cooked, drain, return it to the pot and keep covered until serving

Cut your pepper[s] in half (scrape the seeds and pith out with a teaspoon) and peel your garlic

Add the pepper halves and peeled garlic to a baking tray (or two) with a pinch of salt and a drizzle of olive oil (use tin foil to avoid mess!) and cook for 15-20 min or until softened and starting to brown – this is your roasted pepper & garlic

Once softened, remove from the oven and set aside to cool

Meanwhile, combine your ground cumin and half your ground smoked paprika (you'll use the rest later!) on a plate with your dried oregano, a generous pinch of salt and a good grind of black pepper – this is your Cajun-style seasoning

Cut your hake fillet[s] in half lengthways and pat them dry with kitchen paper

Press the chopped hake into the Cajun-style seasoning firmly to evenly coat all over – this is your Cajun-style hake

Peel and finely dice your shallot[s] and your tomato[es]

Strip your mint leaves from their stems and chop them finely

Chop your coriander finely, including the stalks

Combine the diced tomato and diced shallot in a bowl with your rice vinegar, chopped mint leaves and chopped coriander

Season with a pinch of salt and pepper and set aside – this is your salsa

Once the roasted pepper & garlic has cooled slightly, add the roasted garlic and half the roasted pepper (save the rest for later!) to a food processor with your chilli flakes (can't handle the heat? Go easy!)

Add your mayo and tomato paste with the remaining smoked paprika

Add 1 tbsp [1 1/2 tbsp] [2 tbsp] cold water and season with a pinch of salt and pepper and blitz until smooth – this is your Cajun-style sauce

Chop the remaining roasted pepper finely

Add the chopped pepper to the salsa and mix until fully combined – this is your roasted pepper salsa

Heat a large, wide-based pan (preferably non-stick) with 1 tbsp [1 1/2 tbsp] [2 tbsp] vegetable oil over a medium-high heat

Once hot, add the Cajun-style hake and cook for 3-4 min on each side (your fish is cooked once it turns opaque and flakes easily)

Tip: Do not be tempted to turn the fish early, leave it to form a crispy crust!