Trout and Spelt Berry Salad

Trout and Spelt Berry Salad

Step 1

Soak the spelt berries overnight in water. Drain, rinse and simmer for one hour or until cooked (soft with a pleasantly chewy bite). Drain and allow to cool before placing in a large salad bowl.

Step 2

In a large hot pan over a medium heat, gently soften the cubed fennel in several tablespoons of olive oil. Once soft and lightly browned, remove the fennel from the oil and drain on kitchen paper. Add the fish fillets flesh side down and cook for a minute before turning to cook skin side down for 4-5 minutes or until the skin is crispy and the flesh almost cooked through. Once the fish is cooked, allow to cool slightly skin-side down on some kitchen paper.

Step 3

Meanwhile prepare the other elements of the salad. Finely slice the shallots and place in a small bowl with vinegar to soften. Rinse the samphire and steam for 3-4 minutes or until lightly cooked. Cool in cold water and set aside. To segment the grapefruit, run a sharp knife around the inside  of each half and to loosen each segment before scooping out with a spoon and into a large salad bowl with the spelt.

Step 4

Remove the shallot from the vinegar and toss into the salad bowl with the fennel cubes. Mix the remaining vinegar with two parts olive oil into a dressing, add the finely chopped dill, season with sea salt and crushed pink peppercorns and sharpen with lemon juice to taste. Dress the salad lightly with some of the dressing, reserving at least half of it.

Step 5

Top the salad with the cooked samphire, watercress and parsley leaves. Flake the trout flesh into the salad. You can chop the crisped skin into the salad also if you like. Serve with the remaining dressing on the side.