… up until a couple of years ago I could only find one teeny patch of wild garlic in the local bluebell woods, it was so lonely and sorrowful that I felt guilty plucking it from the ground and would only cut a few precious leaves from the plant but then one day The Viking came rushing in from a leisurely drive through the country lanes exclaiming that he’d found a huge patch of the stuff flowing freely along a local bank of roadside trees. I was a little sceptical at first and I remember it being quite late in the season but we went off to investigate none the less and not only had he discovered a crop of the beautiful stuff but it turned out to be far more expansive growth than at first he thought… I knew we were in the right place yards before we parked as the fug of garlic wafted into the open car windows and there, running up the banks of a little wood on both sides of the road must be at least an acre of wild garlic… so much of the stuff in fact that I could have quite easily gone wild garlic mad. Luckily we live quite remotely and it’s likely this patch of glorious green will remain untouched each spring for many years to come but if you ever visit this part of the world and the right time of the year I may just share my secret location with you…
baked haddock with wild garlic and pea puree
if you’re unlucky enough to follow me on instagram or twitter you’ll know that I recently had the honour of attending a Norwegian Sea Food 8 course meal celebrating the end of the skrei season… if cooked with this wonderful fish before but I was inspired by the wonderful cooking of Simon Hulstone, the chef cooking for us at the skrei dinner, to create this dish of fish served with a puree of wild garlic and peas… the puree is outstandingly divine and I could eat it by the spoonful and it makes me feel very close to nature that both the peas and wild garlic and from fields around belleau cottage…
for the wild garlic puree
3 or 4 bunches of wild garlic – roughly 100g
80g frozen peas
a little butter and seasoning
for the haddock
2 smoked haddock fillets
half a fennel bulb – thickly sliced
plenty of butter
a sprig or two of lemon thyme
salt and pepper
pre-heat the oven to 1890C
place the haddock, fennel, thyme and plenty of knobs of butters into an oven-proof dish, season well and cover with foil. when the oven is up to temperature bake for roughly 8 mins then remove the foil baste the fish with the juices and then bake for a further couple of minutes
steam the peas and wild garlic for roughly 6 minutes until very tender – set aside in a large bowl with a large knob of butter and season well – blitz with a hand-blender
as you can see i’ve served these with some mini roasties but feel free to serve with anything that pleases your fancy…
eat and of course, enjoy!
I was listening to a section on the Kitchen cafe about uses for wild garlic (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03zr32s) when I clicked on this. WEIRD (but cool) now if only I could find some…
Come to Lincolnshire. Xx
Well, I was ogling this place the other day…http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-43067945.html?premiumA=true
That's just down the road …
Don't tempt me!!
…and both of you were kind and generous enough to share the location with me, for which I am truly grateful! It has become a much anticipated seasonal delight; I find myself using it in all sorts of dishes. xx
thanks Elaine… it is always a special time when you know the season is approaching!
Loving the suggestion of pureeing wild garlic with peas, what a great idea Mister BK
thanks Danny… it tasted awesome and combined with the heap of butter I used to bake the fish it was the tastiest thing i've eaten in a long while!
So fabulous, I've just sent a link to my son, (don't tell anyone, but we have wild garlic growing, like a weed, in the garden). I found a beautiful bank here in Brittany the other day, I'm thinking I may make some pesto and take a few jars home.
You are right about fish. There is just something wonderful when it's really fresh, thank you for the lovely comment on my Sea Bass. Jude s
I would love to find a patch of wild garlic near me – I don't think I've ever tasted it! Unfortunately Lincolnshire is a bit far to travel!
Haddock and wild garlic…heaven. I do just adore the smell of wold garlic when it's in situ, but unfortunately, my small daughter prefers her wild garlic raw, straight as she picks it, which can be a little bit overpowering…
This is a dish I need to have after all the rich fatty things I ate over the weekend! Good honest vegetables and herbs and a nice clean piece of fish! Super meals, Dom!
Thanks. I can't believe you have them growing in the garden!
Never too far Corina. Do you have a local wood or shady patch of trees. That's where they'll be.
I remember going for a walk with my mum once and coming across this dreadful stench of garlic. But once cooked it's very mellow.
Agreed Susan. I ate cake all weekend!
On the look out for wild garlic! Love the look of that pea and garlic mash and there is that fennel rearing its head again.
this looks so good, haven't seen any here, only wild onions
I've never come across wild garlic in my part of the world, and now approaching the fag end of autumn, I don't suppose I'll be finding any sometime soon! Very sad, as this looks wonderful – could I get away with spinach and crushed garlic cloves instead? or is the flavour profoundly different?
I really enjoy simple dish like this way. Looks good too.
Hope you're going to have a fabulous week ahead.
Blessings, Kristy
I would roast the garlic first to make it soft and mellow then blitz with the spinach and pea. Wild Garlic has a gentle garlic flavour. X
You know me. I'm obsessed with fennel and fish.
This sounds right up my street! I would very happily sit down to a big bowl of this – alas, wild garlic doesn't grow in Shetland! I've never, ever tasted it. I wonder if I could convince my veg box growers to start growing it? Lovely dish Dom!
Thanks Elizabeth. The perfect reason to come visit me!
My PERFECT meal Dom, so wild garlic allowing, I expect you to make this for me one day soon! LOVELY ingredients and I am a huge fan of wild garlic as well as fish! Karen
Thanks Karen… it was a perfect meal. When you come visit we'll make this!… I need to go an pick some more WG this weekend and freeze it!
Thanks so much for posting this recipe, Dominic. I was thinking about what to use wild garlic for the other day, given they had some at the Farmers' Market – it's not easily foraged in central Edinburgh… I adore smoked haddock, and the thought of combining this with the garlic and pea flavours is making me drool. I may try using a Finnan haddie, which has a fantastic smokey flavour to complement the garlic. Cheers again, Chris.
You are so lucky to have wild garlic to pick! This is such a wonderful combination that perhaps I could substitute regular garlic or shallots. It would be perfect followed by one of those mini bundt cakes below 😉
A pleasure Chris, the Finnan Haddie sounds gorgeous!
Thank you… I think you should slow roast the garlic first to get that mellow taste and then blend with spinach and peas perhaps?
I was wandering around the old grounds of the hospital I work at the other day and could really smell garlic- fortunately I was given a foraging book so will be heading back to find some! The dish looks really tasty, great colours!
mmmmm yes please, another delish meal from you x
Nice post , i hope everyone will like your post
I have loads growing in the back garden and in the woods it grows like a weed. I can post you some bulbs down, if you want to start growing your own? You can e-mail me via m'blog if you want me to get some organised for you 🙂
Dom, this is EXACTLY my kind of food – love any type of fish, wild garlic and fennel are both delicious, and it sounds like the flavours would be so fresh and vibrant – I wish I could eat this right now! Gorgeous!
How perfect is this?! Sounds and looks deliciously divine! Wonderful combination of flavours. Mmmmmm
Great, thanks, I'll try that.