Thomasina Miers’ recipes for cod with courgettes, green olives and lemon, and a blackberry and almond slice

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There is something so simple but so delicious about a parcel of fish.Like unwrapping an edible present, the smell hits you before anything else, which in this case is fennel, thyme and lemon.It is a delicate way to cook fish, so the sauce needs to have some character, and basil, olives and lemon with a slick of olive oil make a beautiful, late-summer seasoning.Round off the feast with a blackberry and crisp almond pastry slice that tastes all the better if you forage your own fruit.The sharp acidity of the lemon and olive herb salsa is stunning with the gently baked fish.

Prep 15 min Cook 1 hr Serves 41 large fennel bulb, trimmed and thinly sliced (using a mandoline, if you have one)3 shallots, peeled and thinly sliced2 tbsp olive oil Sea salt and black pepper 1 large cod fillet (600-700g) 3 courgettes, green or yellow1 lemon 2 tbsp butterFor the salsa1 lemon, thinly sliced75g green olives, pitted and chopped1 handful picked fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped, plus extra to serve 1 handful picked fresh basil, roughly chopped, plus extra to serve 1 tsp honey 2 tsp sherry vinegarHeat the oven to 200C (180C fan)/390F/gas 6.Put the fennel and shallots in a bowl, toss with two tablespoons of oil and season generously.Lay a large sheet of baking paper on a baking sheet.Put the oiled veg into the centre, fold over the sides of the paper to cover, then bake for 15 minutes.Unwrap and stir the vegetables, then cover again and bake for another eight to 10 minutes, by which time the vegetables should be translucent and fragrant.

Unwrap the parcel again, lay the fish on top of the vegetables and season well.Thinly slice the courgettes and lemon and arrange on top of the fish, then season and dot over the butter.Wrap the parcel back up and bake for 15-20 minutes, until the fish is opaque and flaky.Meanwhile, make the salsa.Char the lemon slices in a hot, dry pan until they’re starting to blacken and caramelise, then remove and roughly chop, peel and all.

Transfer to a small bowl, add the chopped olives, herbs, honey and vinegar, and stir.Taste, and add more salt, honey or a dash of vinegar, if need be, to balance the flavours.Once the fish is cooked, baste it with the juices from the package, then cut into four.Serve the fish and veg on warmed plates, topped with the salsa and a sprinkling of fresh herbs.This is lovely served with boiled potatoes to soak up all those flavours.

The almond pastry is crisp and delicious, the insides wonderfully chewy and dense,If you find enough blackberries, make a quick pot of homemade jam for this; if not, shop-bought will do,Prep 5 minChill 45 min Cook 1 hr 30 min Makes 9 squares125g softened unsalted butter60g golden caster sugar 70g soft brown sugar 2 large eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract1 pinch of salt 200g ground almonds 150g blackberry jam, homemade or shop-bought 100g blackberries50g flaked almonds 1 tbsp icing sugar For the pastry 125g cold unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing125g plain flour, plus extra for dusting60g golden caster sugar ¼ tsp salt 60g ground almonds Zest of ½ lemonPut all the pastry ingredients in a food processor and blitz until they just start to come together,Turn the pastry out on to a cool work surface, pat into a ball, wrap in greaseproof paper and refrigerate for 45 minutes to an hour,Meanwhile, in a stand mixer cream the butter and sugars for three or four minutes, until light and fluffy.

Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing each one in well before adding the next, then fold in the vanilla, salt and ground almonds.Heat the oven to 200C (180C fan)/390F/gas 6.Roll out the chilled pastry on a lightly floured surface into a 26cm square.Butter a 26cm x 26cm square baking tin and lay the pastry on top, gently pushing it into the corners and edges.Spread the jam evenly over the pastry, followed by the almond mix, smoothing it out with a palette knife.

Dot the blackberries over the top, pushing them gently into the batter, then scatter over the flaked almonds.Bake for 35-40 minutes, until golden and set, then remove and leave to cool in the tin.Remove from the tin, sift over a little icing sugar, cut into squares and serve.The Guardian aims to publish recipes for sustainable fish.Check ratings in your region: UK; Australia; US.

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Thomasina Miers’ recipes for cod with courgettes, green olives and lemon, and a blackberry and almond slice

There is something so simple but so delicious about a parcel of fish. Like unwrapping an edible present, the smell hits you before anything else, which in this case is fennel, thyme and lemon. It is a delicate way to cook fish, so the sauce needs to have some character, and basil, olives and lemon with a slick of olive oil make a beautiful, late-summer seasoning. Round off the feast with a blackberry and crisp almond pastry slice that tastes all the better if you forage your own fruit.The sharp acidity of the lemon and olive herb salsa is stunning with the gently baked fish

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Inspired by a corn curry from Maharashtra, today’s recipe has the perfect umami flavour: a bit of heat from the chillies, some gentle sweetness from the sugar and lots of sourness from the lime juice, along with the creamy coconut milk and juicy corn. The sharpness of a fresh, herby chutney with salty butter, meanwhile, makes the perfect topping for barbecued corn on the cob. I often cook the corn straight on the hob, which is a bit tricky, but it’s how we did it when I was growing up in India.Prep 10 min Cook 45 min Serves 4-6For the curry4 corn cobs, cut in half widthways2-3 tbsp peanut oil, or sunflower oil 1 tsp cumin seeds 4 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped20 curry leaves 400ml coconut milk 1 tsp saltFor the curry paste40g fresh coriander, leaves and stalks10g fresh mint, leaves only6 garlic cloves, peeled2½cm piece fresh ginger, peeled 4 green chillies, stalks discarded, flesh roughly chopped (remove the pith and seeds if you prefer less heat) 1 medium-sized red onion, peeled and roughly chopped1 tsp cumin seeds 1 tsp black pepper 2 tsp soft brown sugar ½ tsp ground turmeric 4 tbsp lime juicePut the corn pieces in a pan, cover with water and bring to a boil. Cook for 10 minutes, then drain

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The New York Times once described raw tofu as having “the texture and disposition of a particularly upbeat sponge” – sauteeing, the writer decreed, was the only way to render the stuff “acceptable”. As it happens, I often eat the creamy, wobbly silken variety straight from the packet, but I wouldn’t disagree: you don’t have to be vegetarian to enjoy a hot, crisp nugget of deep-fried beancurd.Prep 15 min Cook 15 min Serves 2About 280g firm or extra-firm tofu – if using silken, skip step 3Salt and black pepper 4 tbsp cornflour, or other starch (optional)Neutral oil, for deep-frying For the chilli crisp (if making)1½ tbsp Sichuan peppercorns 3-4 tbsp gochuharu, or other chilli flakes to taste 30g roasted salted peanuts, or soybeans, roughly chopped1 tbsp fermented black beans, finely chopped (optional)250ml neutral oil1 long shallot, or 2 round ones, peeled and thinly sliced 6 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced1 tsp sugar (optional)¼ tsp MSG powder (optional)Firm or extra-firm tofu is the best choice for frying – silken will be creamy inside, and pressed tofu chewier and more meaty. For the neatest results, cut into bite-sized nuggets about 3cm x 2cm. If you value crunch over appearance, break it into bite-sized pieces instead; the rougher edges will crisp up better than perfectly flat surfaces

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Tillingham, Peasmarsh, East Sussex: ‘Not much cooking was going on’ – restaurant review

The restaurant of this farm in breathtakingly beautiful countryside is missing its potentialTillingham is essentially a natural biodynamic wine production business working over 70 acres of gently rolling countryside, near Rye and the Romney Marshes in East Sussex. If only their main trouble was making bottles of chardonnay and pinot blanc, or selling pretty Tillingham tea towels at £36 a pop. But no, Tillingham has (quite literally) many other plates to juggle: it has a fancy restaurant and a vast barn from which they serve pizza, too.There’s also the option to stay over in bell tents, no less, if posh hen weekends or corporate bonding sessions are required. Or in bricks-and-mortar rooms with actual plumbing, if the tent’s compost toilet is not for you

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