Name: Kingfish crudo, burnt ruby grapefruit, pickled fennel and anchovy
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 2 ruby grapefruit, peeled and segmented; 3 radishes, very thinly sliced on a mandolin; 12 nasturtium leaves; 125 gm Ortiz anchovies; 125 ml (½ cup) extra virgin olive oil; Juice of 2 lemons; Pickled fennel; 3 baby fennel bulbs, fronds reserved for curing mixture; 150 ml rice wine vinegar; 110 gm (½ cup) white sugar; Cured kingfish; 60 gm (½ cup) salt flakes (McConnell uses Murray River salt); 90 gm white sugar; 2 tbsp coriander seeds, roasted and lightly crushed; 2 tbsp fennel seeds, roasted and lightly crushed; Fronds from 3 heads of baby fennel, coarsely chopped; Juice of 2 lemons; 500 gm kingfish fillet, skin off, blood line removed

Kingfish crudo, burnt ruby grapefruit, pickled fennel and anchovy

Recipe for kingfish crudo, burnt ruby grapefruit, pickled fennel and anchovy by Sean McConnell from Monster in Canberra.

Serves 6

Prep

40M

Cook

Total

45M

“Since day one, we’ve always tried to feature raw or cured seafood on the bar menu,” says McConnell. “The clean and delicate flavours are the perfect way to start a meal. I use Hiramasa kingfish, farmed in South Australia. It’s a super-consistent product and is readily available all year round.” Begin this recipe at least three days ahead to pickle the fennel.

Ingredients

2 ruby grapefruit, peeled and segmented

3 radishes, very thinly sliced on a mandolin

12 nasturtium leaves

125 gm Ortiz anchovies

125 ml (½ cup) extra virgin olive oil

Juice of 2 lemons

Pickled fennel

3 baby fennel bulbs, fronds reserved for curing mixture

150 ml rice wine vinegar

110 gm (½ cup) white sugar

Cured kingfish

60 gm (½ cup) salt flakes (McConnell uses Murray River salt)

90 gm white sugar

2 tbsp coriander seeds, roasted and lightly crushed

2 tbsp fennel seeds, roasted and lightly crushed

Fronds from 3 heads of baby fennel, coarsely chopped

Juice of 2 lemons

500 gm kingfish fillet, skin off, blood line removed

Method

Main

1.For pickled fennel, halve fennel lengthways, remove cores, then thinly slice lengthways on a mandolin and place in a preserving jar. Stir vinegar, sugar, 225ml water and a pinch of salt in a saucepan over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves, bring to a simmer, then pour over fennel. Cool to room temperature, then seal and refrigerate for at least 3 days. Pickled fennel keeps in a sealed container for two months and develops in flavour with time. This recipe makes more than you need, but it’s handy to have in the fridge.

2.For cured kingfish, combine ingredients except kingfish in a bowl. Place kingfish in a deep tray or dish, pour salt mixture over, turn fillet to coat, then cover and refrigerate for 4 hours. Rinse off curing mixture, pat kingfish dry with paper towels, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until required. This step can be done up to a day in advance.

3.Place grapefruit segments on an oven tray and caramelise the surface with a blowtorch (or do this under a hot grill). Slice kingfish across the grain into 5mm slices and arrange on serving plates or a platter. Scatter with grapefruit, nasturtiums, radish, anchovies and a little pickled fennel. Mix olive oil and lemon juice in a bowl, season to taste, drizzle over kingfish and serve.