Golden and crunchy

Guess what we're having for dinner? Two guaranteed to get a yay and a victory fist pump from my boys is cottage pie, and lemon-seasoned fish fingers.

Tonight I made cottage pie (I generally do it with cubed chuck steak, but this time, on request because we hadn't had it for a while, I used the traditional lamb mince).

Last week, though, I wheeled out a favourite from their preschool days. Lemon-seasoned fish fingers.

Two things the meals have in common is they're golden and crunchy. The lovely mashed potato with bread crumbs and grated parmesan from the oven, or the seasoned bread crumbs from the wok.

I like to give my kids fish once a week, but they're not mad keen on it. They'll eat it, but you have to ride 'em a little. Not with this meal though.

Recipe: Lemon-seasoned fish fingers

Ingredients

• 1 cup bread crumbs
• .75 kilograms boneless fish fillets (orange roughy is perfect, ling is also very good. I prefer orange roughy because of the texture, its more sustainable fishing status, and because it's a member of the slimehead family)
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Grated zest of one lemon
• 2 cups canola oil

Method

Combine bread crumbs, lemon zest, salt and garam masal. Spread this out evenly on a dinner plate.
Beat eggs in a bowl
Slice fish fillets into thickish fingers
Dip the fish fingers into the egg, then roll them in the bread crumbs so they have a nice even covering
In a wok for frying pan, bring oil to a high heat just before smoking
Deep fry three or four fish fingers at a time until they are golden brown (texture like sun)

Serve with steamed rice and stir-fried or steamed vegetables.

This is one of those meals that has something for both kids and adults. I found it a good way of introducing my boys to some new flavours. It's also fun to make, with a little fish finger production line, with someone dipping the fish in the egg, someone rolling the fish in the crumbs, someone laying it out neatly ready to be fried.

Another key to gradually expanding children's taste boundaries is condiments and sides. Children can find a big, busy plate quite confusing and daunting... but that is another blog post I think.