Serve this dish with half the mousse and save the rest for later!
Jamie Oliver 2004Learn more about Jamie's new book, Jamie's Great Britain, on www.jamieoliver.com
Directions for: Grilled Sardines, Crispy Halloumi, Watercress Salad & Figs, Thick Chocolate Mousse
Ingredients
Sardines8 whole sardines (approx. 85g each), scaled and gutted
4 clove of garlic
1 lemon
1 fresh red chilli
a small bunch of fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tsp fennel seeds
Salad2 Tbsp flaked almonds
1 100 g mixed bag of prewashed rocket and watercress
1 50 g pack of alfalfa shoots
5 or 6 sprigs of fresh mint
1 pomegranate
1 Tbsp white wine vinegar
Halloumi1 250 g pack of halloumi
2 Tbsp sesame seeds
3 clove of garlic
Figs4 figs
runny honey
2 sprig of fresh mint
Seasoningolive oil
extra virgin olive oil
sea salt & black pepper
Mousse2 100 g bars of good-quality dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids)
a small knob of butter
2 Tbsp golden caster sugar
double cream
1 tsp vanilla paste or extract
2 large eggs
a splash of brandy, Baileys, Grand Marnier or Armagnac
cocoa powder, for dusting
1 orange, clementine or a handful of strawberries
To Serve1 6 pack of wholemeal pita breads
1 lemon
a bottle of chilled ros wine
PreparationDirections
Sardines Salad Halloumi Figs Seasoning Mousse To Serve Preparation1. Get all your ingredients and equipment ready. Turn the oven on to 220C/425F/gas 7. Put a medium saucepan on a medium heat and fill halfway with hot water.
2. Leave the chocolate bars in their wrappers and smash them against the counter. Get a large serving bowl and 2 mixing bowls out. Tip the chocolate chunks into a heatproof mixing bowl with the butter, then place over the pan of simmering water and leave to melt, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, add 2 tablespoons of sugar to the nice serving bowl with 300ml of cream and 1 teaspoon of vanilla paste or extract and whip until silky with soft peaks. Separate the eggs, adding the yolks to the whipped cream and the whites to the empty mixing bowl. Gently mix through, then put aside. Add a pinch of salt to the whites and whisk really well until stiff. By now the chocolate
3. Put a medium frying pan on a medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons of almonds and toast, tossing occasionally until golden, then tip into a small bowl and put the frying pan back on a low heat.
4. Put the sardines into a large roasting tray. Crush over the 4 unpeeled cloves of garlic. Sprinkle over a pinch of salt & pepper. Finely grate over the zest of 1 lemon, then squeeze in all the juice and add the halves to the tray, cut side up. Drizzle over a little olive oil. Finely slice 1 fresh
5. Cut the halloumi into 8 chunks. Scatter over the sesame seeds and press them into the halloumi. Put a lug of olive oil into the hot frying pan. Squash a few unpeeled cloves of garlic and add to the oil. Turn the heat up to medium. As soon as the garlic starts sizzling, add the halloumi to the pan. Leave to cook for 2 minutes, until golden, then flip over and turn the heat down. Tip any seeds
6. Splash all the pitta breads on both sides with cold water and stack them on the bottom shelf of the oven to warm through.
7. Tip the salad leaves and alfalfa on to a platter. Finely slice the leaves from 5 or 6 sprigs of mint and scatter over, along with the toasted almonds. Halve a pomegranate, then hold 1 half cut side down in your hand and bash the back with a spoon so the seeds fall over the salad. Pour 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil into a small jug. Squeeze in the juice from the remaining pomegranate half. Add 1 tablespoon of white wine vinegar, mix, then take to the table with the salad to dress at the last minute.
8. Cut a cross in the top of each fig, then pinch the bottoms so they burst open. Pop them on a little serving board with a small bowl of runny honey in the centre. Pick over the leaves from a couple of sprigs of mint. Drizzle over a little extra virgin olive oil and add a pinch of salt. Cut the
9. Take the tray of sardines to the table with the warm pitta breads and the pan of golden halloumi. Scatter the chopped parsley over the the halloumi and serve with wedges of lemon for squeezing over and some chilled ros. When youre ready, take the mousse out of the freezer,
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