Family Meal Recipe - 2. Mackerel with Vinaigrette

Ingredients (for 6):

• Mackerel, 200 g each - 6
• Ripe tomatoes - 3
• Small dried chilies - 3
• Extra-virgin olive oil - 200 ml, plus 1.5 tbsp
• Pickled capers - 2 tbsp
• Sprigs fresh thyme - 6
• Black olive paste - 2 tsp
• Fresh basil - 3 sprigs

Procedures:

1. Cut the fins from the fish with kitchen scissors. Cut out the gills.

2. Slit the fish down the middle, leaving two halves joined by the head. Snip out the backbone with scissors.

3. Cut a small cross into the bottom of each tomato, then blanch them in a pan of boiling water for 30 seconds.

4. Plunge into a bowl of iced water.

5. Skin the tomatoes.

6. Cut in half, scoop out the seeds and cut into 5-mm cubes.

7. Slit the dried chilies in half and remove the seeds.

8. Finely shred them.

9. Put the diced tomato into a bowl, add the first quantity of olive oil, the shredded chili, capers and thyme sprigs.

10. Season with salt and pepper.

11. Loosen the black olive paste with most of the remaining olive oil.

12. Place a large frying pan over a medium heat, add a little oil and put the fish in the pan skin side down. Fry the fish for 3 minutes, or until golden underneath.

13. Cook on the second side for 3 minutes, then lift the fish onto a serving plate, flesh facing upwards. It should be golden and juicy.

14. Pick the smallest leaves from the basil sprigs. Spoon the tomato vinaigrette over the fish, scatter with the basil leaves then add a few spots of black olive paste.