Ingredients
Roasted Potatoes:
- 600g/1.2 lb baby potatoes, smaller ones up to 3.5cm/1.5" halved, larger ones quartered
- 1 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Puttanesca Sauce:
- 1 medium fennel, fronds reserved for garnish, halved, cut into 0.5cm / 0.2" half moon shapes
- 1 1/2 cups (200g) cherry or grape tomatoes (1 punnet)
- 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives
- 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 3 tbsp baby capers (or regular, roughly chopped)
- 3 anchovy fillets, finely minced (can reduce to 1)
- 400g/14oz canned crushed or diced tomato
- 1/2 tsp chilli flakes (red pepper flakes), mild spiciness (can reduce or omit)
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Fish:
- 4 x 160 - 180g / 6oz barramundi fillets, skinless, or other firm fish fillets about 2.5-3cm / 1" thick
- 1/2 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Finishing / Serving:
- 1 loosely packed cup basil leaves, roughly chopped (or substitute with 2 tbsp roughly chopped parsley)
- Warm crusty bread, for mopping
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 220°C/390°F (200°C fan-forced) to prepare for roasting.
- Roast Potatoes: In a large bowl, toss baby potatoes with extra virgin olive oil, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated. Spread them out in a rimmed baking tray (at least 2cm high or about 9x13 inches). Roast for 20 minutes to get them tender and slightly golden.
- Prepare Puttanesca Sauce: While the potatoes roast, combine fennel slices, cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, minced garlic, capers, anchovies, canned tomatoes, chilli flakes, dried oregano, salt, and pepper in the same bowl used for potatoes. Stir well to mix all the flavors.
- Add Sauce to Tray: Remove the tray from the oven and pour the puttanesca sauce ingredients over the roasted potatoes. Toss gently to combine the potatoes with the sauce. Return the tray to the oven and roast for another 10 minutes to let the flavors meld.
- Season Fish Fillets: Pat dry the fish fillets with paper towels. Season both sides evenly with salt and pepper.
- Bake the Fish: Arrange the seasoned fish fillets on top of the puttanesca potato mixture in the tray. Drizzle 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil over the fish. Return to the oven and bake for 15 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork and is just cooked through.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the tray from the oven. Drizzle a little extra olive oil over the top, scatter chopped basil leaves and reserved fennel fronds for fresh garnish. Serve hot alongside warm, crusty bread ideal for mopping up the delicious juices.
Notes
- Potatoes: Cut no thicker than 1.75cm/2/3" to ensure they cook evenly. Regular potatoes can be used, peeled or unpeeled, cut into small cubes.
- Fennel: Remove stalks and fronds, reserving the fine fronds for garnish. Slice the bulb vertically, removing any browned base, then cut into thin half-moon slices about 0.5cm thick.
- Anchovies: Provide a deep savory umami flavor that enhances the sauce. Use 3 for noticeable taste; reduce to 1 if preferred milder. Substitute with 1 tsp fish sauce or 1/4 tsp extra salt if avoiding anchovies.
- Fish Fillets: Any firm white fish ~2.5cm thick works well, including cod, snapper, halibut, ocean trout, etc. Thaw frozen fish fully and pat dry before using. Avoid oily or very lean fish for best results.
- Leftovers keep up to 3 days refrigerated. Not recommended for freezing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Mains
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Western