BBC

Mackerel pasty with watercress

These delicious mackerel pasties served with a fresh cucumber salad are perfect for summery lunch.

Ingredients

4 medium mackerel, butterflied, pin bones removed
salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 good-quality pork sausages, filling squeezed out, skins discarded
1 bunch fresh tarragon, chopped
1 bunch fresh flatleaf parsley, chopped
500g/1lb 2oz all-butter puff pastry
2 free-range egg yolks, beaten
½ cucumber, peeled, halved lengthways, seeds scooped out, sliced
pinch sugar
2 tbsp cider vinegar
½ tsp salt
2 bunches watercress
1 tbsp olive oil
squeeze lemon juice

Preparation method

Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
Season the mackerel with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Mix the sausagemeat, tarragon and half of the parsley together in a bowl.
Spread the mixture over the cut side of the mackerel, then fold each mackerel in half along the spine. Chill in the fridge.
Meanwhile, cut the puff pastry into four pieces and roll each piece out to a 5mm/¼in thickness.
Wrap each fish in a piece of pastry, leaving the mackerel tail poking out, trim any excess and crimp the edge like a pasty.
Brush the top of the pasties with the beaten egg and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the pastry is cooked through and golden-brown.
Mix the cucumber, sugar, vinegar and salt together in a bowl and set aside for five minutes, stir in the remaining parsley.
To serve, toss the watercress with the olive oil and squeeze of lemon juice. Serve the pasties with the watercress and cucumber salad alongside.

By Mark Sargeant

From Saturday Kitchen Best Bites

30 mins to 1 hour preparation time

10 to 30 mins cooking time

Serves 4

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