First make the pickle, heat the 600ml of water up to boiling point with everything except the vinegar. As soon as the water boils remove from the heat and allow to cool
600ml of water
2 cloves
1 cardamom pod
4 black peppercorns
1/2 tsp caraway seeds
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1 bay leaf
1 sprig of tarragon
30g of salt
2
When the mixture is cold, add the vinegar to the pan. Place the sliced cucumbers into a kilner jar and cover with the vinegar mix. Set aside until needed, the longer the better
50ml of white wine vinegar
1 cucumber
3
To make the poaching liqour, sweat off the shallots and garlic - without colour - in a heavy based pan on a medium heat
1 garlic clove
2 large shallots
4
Add the bay leaf, parsley, peppercorns, celery sticks, leek and fish bones. Allow to cook for 2-3 mins, add the wine and reduce until almost dry
1 bay leaf
4 stalks of fresh parsley
4 black peppercorns
1000g of turbot bones
200ml of dry white wine
5
Add cold water and bring to the simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes, skimming constantly. Remove from the heat and leave to stand for 20 mins
2l water
6
Add the lemon juice and pass through a sieve. Check seasoning and store in the fridge until ready to use
1 lemon
7
For the fennel jelly dissolve the agar agar in a little water and mix into the fennel juice. Bring to a boil and then pour into a suitable container to allow to set for 20-30 mins. Cut into a small dice
100ml of fennel juice
1g of agar agar
8
In a wide pan, poach the mackerel fillets in your poaching liquor until cooked. Once cooked, discard the cooking liquor and separate the flesh from the mackerel skin
4 mackerel fillets
9
Put the mackerel flesh in a bowl add the butter, crème fraiche, horseradish, and paprika to taste. Then combine all the ingredients with a fork, until the mackerel has broken up into fine strands and season (similar to a meat rillette)
75g of butter
smoked paprika to taste
3 tbsp of crème fraîche
1/2 tsp horseradish
salt
pepper
10
You want the mixture to be dry enough so you can quenelle it later on - if it isn’t just add a little more crème fraiche. Cover and chill. Once ready to serve, plate with the pickled cucumber