Birthdays, snow and fish

I have found that birthdays and snow - both being cold and being restricted to how far you can go - lead to eating things that you shouldn't.  Whether it's the chocolates bought for birthdays, the cake made to pass the time when the children can't go out or the whole 'being kept at home, so I'll raid the cupboards', it has not been a good time for avoiding the bad things.  The one benefit has been that, once they've gone, they are not likely to be replaced.  Although I do still find it hard not to buy 'goodies' for the children when they are on special offer.  I know that it is unlikely they would choose to stick to a paleo diet when I am not feeding them, but I don't want to bend my principles too much!

However, today we had a fish dish that is fairly simple and because it is finished in the oven, the kitchen can be cleaned up as it's cooking.

Fish with Chilli

15g butter
2 onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 chilli pepper, very finely chopped
1 kg fish fillets, defrosted if frozen
1-2 large carrots, peeled, diced and lightly steamed
1-2 courgettes, diced (peeled if prefered) and lightly steamed
115g fresh or frozen peas, lightly steamed
30g butter

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F.
2. Melt the butter and saute the onions until transparent.  Add the garlic, cumin seeds and chilli pepper and saute briefly.  Remove from heat.
3. Cut the fish fillets into cubes and mix with the onion mixure in an ovenproof dish.
4. Arrange little mounds of carrrots, courgettes and peas around the dish, add 2 tbsp water, dot with butter and bake in the oven for 20 minutes, until the fish is cooked and everything is piping hot.

It looks good in the dish

Not quite so good on the plate!