Delaney Mes: Hook yourself a feast of fish (+recipes)

Smoked paprika fish, avocado, black bean and corn salad. Photo / Michael Craig

Keep it simple to get the best flavours.

A lot of people say they can't cook fish but really it's one of the simplest things to cook. And if you're friends with someone who is keen on fishing and doesn't mind the gutting and filleting, even better. Plenty of great fish is available to buy at supermarkets and fish markets everywhere.

People are often intimidated by the idea of cooking salmon but it's a delicious one to master and can be done very simply. I've always loved salmon - we used to have it for dinner to treat ourselves on food shopping day at one of my old flats in Wellington.

Recently I was lucky enough to head to Marlborough with Regal Salmon to visit the NZ King Salmon operations. Kasey and Karena came too and we began the trip well with a water taxi from Picton to the Clay Point salmon farm in the Marlborough Sounds.

We spotted a pod of dolphins and the water taxi driver happily detoured so we could get as close as possible. At the farm we learned about the feeding processes while admiring the stunning view.

We headed over the hill to Takaka bright and early the next morning to visit the hatchery - not before stopping off for a sticky bun and an excellent coffee in Riwaka. The breeding process was fascinating and, again, we had some stunning weather. The big, beautiful salmon make for excellent eating.

In our factory visit, we dressed in hairnets and plastic dresses and got to inspect the bright orange flesh up close.

It's easy enough to get one piece per person for dinner but it's also surprisingly easy to cook a whole side of salmon in the oven with a few herbs and a bit of fresh lemon.

Likewise, smoked salmon is a favourite of mine - especially at brunch with scrambled eggs or with cream cheese on a bagel. It's also great on a platter if you have friends over for a few drinks.

All these recipes are pretty simple and exactly the kind of eating I like doing as the weather warms up. Pan-frying is a simple way to cook fish and makes a quick dinner. They're easy to prepare after work and, as usual, I've tried to keep dishes to a minimum. Although I've said to cook them all in a frying pan, you could easily do these recipes on a barbecue, which might make for a nice change from sausages next time you're having one.

These are all healthy and delicious meals and are made even better if you have a friend with a lemon tree. Or a fishing rod.

Recipes

Try out Delaney Mes' delicious recipes at bite.co.nz - links below

Photos / Bite magazine

• Crispy Skinned Salmon with Israeli Couscous and Greens

• Polenta Crumbed Calamari Salad with Aioli and Dates

• Spiced Tarakihi with Black Beans and Avocado Salad