Baked Garden Haddock with Cheese

A cold winters’ morning, the frost so thick on your windshield you honestly debate the use of a chisel. You slowly beat back old man winter and victoriously arrive at your destination…work. After having “one of those days” you make your way back through the winter tundra that is now your neighbourhood. Slowly trudging back to your castle, in the dark, with enough time to do battle with the remnants of the winter storm left on your driveway. You finally enter your front door to hear a cry from the kitchen; “You know how we said we would try to eat healthy, we’re having fish!”

 

You think to yourself “I’m going to need a hunk off of Jaws after what I’ve been through today.”

 

How do you describe nourishment? To some, it is simply the nutritional value of foods, the more nutrient dense, the more nourishing. When diving a little deeper and covering nourishing the soul, its definition would expand to include the pleasure derived from the smell of grandma’s cookies, or the emotional attachment most of us have to the familiar scent of a roasting turkey. Few would argue the emotional value of turkey on Christmas or Thanksgiving. The haddock on feature this week is sure to fuel your body and soul on any cold, dark evening at home.

 

Recipe:

 

1 Fillet of haddock

1 Medium onion – sliced

1 medium tomato – sliced

3 sprigs of thyme, or a large pinch of dried

200g shredded cheddar or marble cheese.

1 sheet tin foil – about 3 times the width of the fillet

 

Directions:

Place one layer of onion on the bottom of your tin foil sheet.

Lay haddock on top of onion.

Layer sliced tomato directly on haddock.

Top the tomato with thyme and shredded cheese.

Carefully fold packet closed, and ensure as tight a seal as possible as to allow liquid to steam inside of packet.

Cook in a pre heated 350 degree oven for 15 – 20 minutes.

 

Fish is generally known to be light and flaky, however using vegetables and spices to bulk up the flavours have been done since the art of cooking was established. Spices boost flavour and add a nutritional element that few people are aware. It goes without saying that different spices offer different vitamins and minerals however do not be mistaken, beyond the flavours they offer an additional kick of nutrition which never hurts any of us this time of year.

 

This week, or if you ever feel the need for a nourishing dish for the body and soul, try cooking up this satisfying seafood. The blend of flavours and textures seem as if they are specifically created for cold weather comfort sent straight from the sea. One pot, or one packet, wonders are a great go to for weekday fare, or any day when time is at a premium.