Have an action-packed mealtime with these incredible superhero themed fish recipes

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes

Serves 4+ as a party snack

Ingredients:

• 1 can (170g) of crab meat
• 250g fresh mussels
• 250g squid (ask the fish monger to slice this into rings of 2/3-inch-thick)
• 250g of cooked and peeled king prawns
• 4 tbsp mayonnaise (or enough to cover all of the crab meat)
• ½ red chilli, diced
• 1 clove of garlic, diced
• 2 lemons, 1 cut into wedges, 1 juiced
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp butter
• Salt and black pepper to season crackers

Equipment:

This dish is all about the presentation. To make your platter look like a Captain America shield you will need…

• A large red plate
• A smaller red plate
• A star cookie cutter

Method

1. Mix the crab meat with the mayonnaise and a squeeze of lemon juice. Add salt and pepper to season. Spoon mixture into star shaped cookie cutter and place in the fridge to set.
2. Clean and de-beard the mussels. If any mussels are opened, tap them lightly on a hard surface. If they don’t close, discard them. Cover the base of a pan with water and heat on the hob until steaming. Add fresh mussels and cover with a lid. Allow to steam until they open, this should only take 3-4 minutes. Strain the mussels from the pan and allow to cool (remember to discard any that don’t open).
3. Heat oil in a large frying pan over high heat until smoking. Carefully add squid in a single layer, then add butter, garlic, and chilli. Cook, tossing frequently, until squid is opaque and cooked through, about 1 to 2 minutes (do not overcook as this will make the squid tough). Season with salt and pepper.
4. Place the smaller red plate on top of the larger. Remove the crab meat from the fridge and set in the centre. Place the mussels around the crab meat, in a circular fashion. Season with lemon juice, salt and pepper. Place the prawns around the mussels, once again, forming a circle. Finally place the squid rings onto the lower plate, so that they form a band of white.
5. Serve with lemon wedges and crackers (for the crab meat).

Batman fish cakes

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 45 minutes

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 600g potatoes, peeled and chopped into quarters
• 2 x 120g cans sardines in spring water
• 4 tbsp chopped parsley
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 3 tbsp mayonnaise
• 4 tbsp Greek yogurt (use a fat-free brand to make this a healthier option)
• 1 tbsp plain flour
• 1 egg, beaten
• 85g white breadcrumbs, made from day-old or toasted bread
• 1 tsp olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Equipment:

To make your fishcakes look like a batman logo, you will need a batman cookie cutter. You can purchase one here.

Method

1. Boil the potatoes in salted water until tender; this should take no more than 20 mins.
2. Drain the sardines and mash them in a bowl.
3. Chop approximately three table spoons of parsley; add the yogurt and half of the lemon juice.
4. Drain the potatoes, then mash until smooth. Gently mix in the sardines and yogurt mixture and season.
5. Lightly dust the work surface with flour. Divide the mixture into around 8 small piles, and use the cookie cutter to cut out the batman shape.
6. Coat a baking sheet in olive oil.
7. Dip the fishcakes into the egg and then roll them in the breadcrumbs. Place onto the baking sheet.
8. Bake for 20 minutes until golden.
9. Mix the mayonnaise with the remaining parsley, lemon juice and seasoning as required.
10. Serve the fishcakes with the mayonnaise, salad and lemon wedges.

Hulk ceviche

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: NA

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 250g cooked prawns, diced
• 1 lime plus zest
• 1 avocado, diced
• ¼ of a cucumber, diced
• 1 small green chilli, diced
• 1 large bunch coriander, chopped
• Black sesame seeds (for garnish)
• 100g of thinly sliced beetroot (for garnish)

Equipment:

To make your ceviche look like the hulk, you will need a hulk cookie cutter. You can purchase one here.

Method

1. Combine the prawns, lime, avocado, cucumber, chilli and coriander in a mixing bowl, and then leave to marinate in the fridge. The mixture should be quite thick, and the time in the fridge will help you to shape your figure.
2. Using scissors or a craft knife, cut out the hulk’s trousers from your beetroot slices
3. Once the mixture has marinated, push the mixture into your hero moulds. Carefully remove the moulds, and add your beetroot trousers. Finally, sprinkle some black sesame seeds onto their heads for hulk hair. Enjoy!

Thor’s hammer prawn croquettes

Prep time: 45 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 250g cooked, peeled prawns
• 300g cooked mashed potato
• 50g plain flour
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 50g breadcrumbs
• 1 red onion, finely diced
• 1tbsp fresh mixed herbs, chopped
• 1 lemon, zest
• 1tbsp sunflower oil
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• 4 tbsp reduced-fat seafood sauce
• Paprika, to garnish
• Cress, to garnish

Method

1. Heat the sunflower oil in a pan, add the onion and cook gently until the onion is softened.
2. Take 200g of the prawns and chop (leave the remainder whole for a garnish). In a bowl, mix together the chopped prawns, potato, herbs, lemon zest and cooked onion. Season with salt and pepper and mix well.
3. Divide the mixture into 12 balls. Roll each ball to form a log shape. Pop them on a plate, cover then place in the fridge for 30 minutes to firm up.
4. Place the flour, eggs and breadcrumbs into separate bowls. To coat the croquettes roll them in the flour, then the egg and finally the breadcrumbs.
5. Heat the oil in a deep fat fryer or a large deep pan until hot. Deep fry them for 3 minutes (alternatively, place them in a preheated oven for 8 minutes at 180°C/fan 160°C/Gas Mark 5)
6. Serve the croquettes with the reserved prawns, seafood sauce sprinkled with a little paprika and cress.

Hake Wolverine claws kebabs

Ingredients:

• 250g hake, prepared
• 1 lime, juice
• 15g ginger, finely diced
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 2 tsp Chinese rice wine
• 3 tbsp oyster sauce

Method:

1. Cut the hake into even sized pieces (not too small).
2. Mix all the other ingredients together for a marinade.
3. Toss the hake in the marinade and leave for 30 minutes.
4. Thread the hake on wooden skewers which have been soaked in cold water.
5. Brush the hake with a little oil and place on the BBQ or under the grill, cook for approx two minutes on either side.
6. Once cooked, slide each ‘claw’ between your fingers and make your meanest face!

Batman versus Superman Onigiri

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes

Makes two ‘figures’

Ingredients:

• 100g smoked mackerel/teriyaki mackerel
• 200g sushi rice (also known as glutinous rice)
• 250ml water
• 1 stock cube for seasoning (vegetable or chicken)
• 2 large nori strips (seaweed)
• Black and white sesame seeds for garnish

Method

1. Rinse the sushi rice in cold water 3-4 times or until the waters runs clear. Rinsing the starch out may seem like a hassle but it will make the onigiri easier to work with. Once rinsed thoroughly, add the stock cube, water and rice in a pan and bring the water to a the boil. Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat and stir occasionally until the rice has absorbed all of the water.
2. Whilst your rice is on, you can use a craft knife or a pair of scissors to cut the superhero masks and cape out of the nori strips. For stencils, see bottom of this document.
3. Once the rice is ready, take the pan off of the heat and transfer the rice into a bowl and leave it to cool. Stir the rice occasionally whilst it cools to prevent it from clumping together too much.
4. When the rice is no longer warm to the touch, you can start to make your figures. Grab a handful of rice in the palm of your hand, and press it down to make a thick circle. Add a piece of mackerel into the middle, and then roll the rice around the mackerel in your hand. Keep rolling the ball around in your hand to get a good shape, though bear in mind that the longer you handle the rice, the sticker it gets. To add your seaweed decoration, simply wet the nori slightly to add your masks.

Fun tips: You can use this method to make nearly any character and can easily substitute the white rice for brown, or fill the characters with a mix of seafood and veggies.

For more seafood recipes and cooking ideas, visit the website www.fishisthedish.co.uk.