Growing up, the highlight of summer at the beach was gathering tuatua and pipis or mussels off the rocks and making fritters on the barbecue. Always to be sandwiched between buttered white bread with a squeeze of lemon juice and a slathering of mayo.
INGREDIENTS
2 kilograms tuatua or clams
Batter
½ cup plain flour
1 teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon baking powder
2 spring onions, finely chopped
2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
2 large eggs, size 7
2 tablespoons sweet chilli sauce
1 teaspoon
Worcestershire sauce
finely grated zest 1 lemon
sea salt and ground pepper
To cook and serve
neutral oil for cooking
Tartare Sauce (see recipe below)
lemon wedges
white bread and butter (optional)
Tartare Sauce (gf) (v)
½ cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons finely chopped gherkins
1 tablespoon grain mustard
1 tablespoon chopped capers
finely grated zest 1 lemon
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon dried tarragon
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon sea salt
METHOD
Put the shellfish in a large saucepan. Cover and place over a high heat and steam until they start to open, removing them to a sieve set over a bowl. Take out the meat and set aside to cool.
Batter: Combine the flour, salt, baking powder, spring onions and parsley in a large bowl. Whisk the eggs, both sauces and the lemon zest together then stir into the flour mixture to make
a thickish batter. Stir in the cooled tuatua.
To cook and serve: Heat a sauté pan with a little oil and cook spoonfuls of the mixture over a medium heat until puffed and golden and the fritters are firm to the touch. Serve piled up on a plate with the tartare sauce, lemon wedges and a stack of buttered fresh white bread.
Makes about 10 fritters depending on their size
Tartare Sauce (gf) (v)
Stir all the ingredients together in a bowl.
Makes about ¾ cup
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Issue 128
This winter issue of dish is about comfort and connection. Celebrating the best of New Zealand and Australian produce, it brings together recipes from some of our most-loved chefs, including Moroccan Chicken Soup, Mint-glazed Roasted Leg of Lamb, Slow Cooker Braised Red Wine and Miso White Chocolate Cheesecake. Find plenty to carry you through the colder months, from flaky sausage rolls and mushroom pie, to soul-soothing pasta, nostalgic baking, weekend market inspiration and dinner party menus. There’s a spotlight on the Outstanding Food Producer Awards, recipes from Caroline Griffiths’ Midnight Spaghetti, and a deep dive into the difference between Kiwi syrah and Aussie shiraz.