Coastal living at its most serene, little beats a long lazy lunch with a view of the ocean. A perfect wind-still day, the sunshine warm enough to warrant shirt sleeves and sunhat, and no hint of winter chill provides an unequalled setting in which to enjoy a feast of braaied yellowtail – flavoured with the zesty brightness of LemonGold® – and paired with creamy whipped feta and warm toasted flatbreads straight from the fire.
Inspired in part by this Ottolenghi recipe for roasted chicken, the combination of sumac and za’atar with the soft acidity of red onion and citrus is the perfect accompaniment for grilled seafood and this marinade will work wonderfully with any firm fish or even shellfish.
We shot this beautiful video – on the most perfect warm winter’s day – at Casa Blu’ in Dwarskersbos. I absolutely love how the footage turned out. It almost feels as if I were cooking somewhere in Greece or Italy.
Whole Grilled Yellowtail with LemonGold®, red onion & za’atar
Yellowtail’s firm flesh and marine flavour make the ideal pairing with the fragrance of sliced LemonGold, red onion, sumac and za’atar spice.
You will need:
- 1 medium-sized yellowtail (3-4kgs), cleaned and butterflied
- 3-4 LemonGold® lemons, thinly sliced
- 1-2 red onions, peeled and thinly sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
- 2 red chillies, finely chopped
- 1 sprig of rosemary, leaves finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon sumac
- 1 teaspoon za’atar
- A pinch of sea salt
- 50ml olive oil plus extra
- 1 LemonGold®, juiced
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix, making sure the LemonGold® and onion slices are thoroughly coated in the olive oil, spices and lemon juice. Spoon the mixture into the belly cavity of the yellowtail and close up the fish. Rub the skin of the yellowtail with a little olive oil and secure the fish in a hinged grid. Braai the yellowtail over hot coals, turning often, until the skin is crisp and the flesh white and flaky.
Creamy Whipped Feta
Salty and creamy with a hint of heat from green chilli and freshness from dill, this easy whipped feta is an addictively delicious spread that works well with grilled meats and vegetables or served simply with flatbreads.
You will need:
- 4 wheels of feta cheese, crumbled
- 4 tablespoons plain full cream Greek yoghurt
- 1 green chilli, roughly chopped
- 1 garlic clove, peeled
- 1 tablespoon of fresh dill, stalks included
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Half a LemonGold®, juiced
Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blitz until smooth. Spoon into a dish and refrigerate until needed. Serve cold with warm flatbreads.
