Whole roasted trout with salsa verde, roasted new potatoes and lemons

This light dinner is full of flavour and the beautiful colours make it a very attractive centrepiece at dinner parties.

Ingredients

• 1 large shallot, roughly chopped
• 6 anchovies, roughly chopped
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp roughly chopped mint leaves, stalks reserved
• 2 tbsp roughly chopped dill, stalks reserved
• 2 tbsp roughly chopped tarragon, stalks reserved
• 2 tbsp roughly chopped flatleaf parsley, stalks reserved
• 2 tbsp roughly chopped watercress, stalks reserved
• 2 tbsp torn fresh basil
• 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
• 2 tbsp capers, drained
• 3 lemons, halved
• 1.5kg/3lb 5oz whole trout, cleaned and gutted
• 400g/14oz new potatoes, par boiled
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation method

1. Preheat the oven to 210C/425F/Gas 7 or use a very hot pizza oven.

2. Place the shallot, anchovies, mustard and all the chopped herbs into a food processor with a pinch of salt and pepper and blend to a fine purée. Add the olive oil and blend once more.

3. Add the capers and the juice of half a lemon. Pulse for a few seconds until still slightly chunky.

4. Put the trout onto a large roasting tray along with the halved lemons and par boiled potatoes.

5. Put a couple of spoonfuls of the salsa verde into the cavity of the trout along with the reserved herb stalks. Drizzle with olive oil and season well with salt and black pepper.

6. Place in the oven and roast for 15-20 minutes, or until just cooked through.

7. Serve the trout with the roasted new potatoes, lemon and a drizzle of the remaining salsa verde.