Monkfish with Parma ham recipe

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Monkfish with Parma ham is a brilliant combination of delicate white fish with a salty, crisp ham topping. Just perfect for a special night in.

Monkfish with Parma ham
(Image credit: www.timeincukcontent.com)
  • healthy
Serves2
SkillEasy
Preparation Time10 mins
Cooking Time25 mins
Nutrition Per PortionRDA
Calories383 Kcal19%
Sugar2.4 g3%
Fat23.2 g33%
Saturated Fat3.8 g19%
Salt1.69 gRow 4 - Cell 2
Protein39.7 g79%
Carbohydrates2.8 g1%
Salt1.69 gRow 7 - Cell 2

This monkfish with Parma ham is a simple but really delicious dish, perfect for sharing with someone special.

The deliciously mild monkfish combines so beautifully with the salty, flavourful Parma ham. The textures are a brilliant juxtaposition too - the soft fish and the crispiness of the ham - they're a terrific pairing. All you need to add is a potatoes. You can keep things really simple with steamed or lightly crushed new potatoes, or go for crispy roast potatoes. This makes a great romantic dinner for two because it's simple to create but looks (and tastes) as good as fancy restaurant food.

Ingredients

  • 2 x 175g (6oz) monkfish fillets
  • 4 slices Parma ham
  • 1-2 twigs fresh rosemary
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 100g (4oz) asparagus spears
  • 100g (4oz) baby sweetcorn, halved lengthways

WEIGHT CONVERTER

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Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas 5. Season the monkfish with salt and freshly ground black pepper. 
  2. Lay two overlapping slices of Parma ham on a chopping board. Scatter over some chopped rosemary leaves, then place a monkfish fillet over the top and wrap it up. Repeat with the other fillet. Tuck a couple of extra sprigs of rosemary between the ham layers.
  3. Heat 1 tbsp of the olive oil in a frying pan and fry the monkfish fillets for 2-3 mins. Transfer to a small roasting tin and roast in the oven for 10 mins.
  4. Toss the asparagus and baby sweetcorn in another tablespoon of the oil and place around the monkfish. Roast for a further 10-15 mins until the fish is firm to the touch and the vegetables are just tender.
  5. Slice each monkfish fillet into three and arrange on top of the roasted vegetables. Drizzle over the rest of the olive oil and serve immediately.

Top tip for making monkfish with Parma ham

We've served this with asparagus and baby corn, but you can work with whatever is in season. Sugar snap peas, French beans or long stem broccoli would work well too.

Is monkfish expensive?

Monkfish is one of the more highly prized fish and usually has a price tag to match. Like most fish, it's usually cheaper - as well as often being better quality and more environmentally friendly - to buy it frozen. One of the reasons people like monkfish is because the taste and texture are reminiscent of lobster, which is even more expensive.

Is monkfish ethical?

According to the Marine Conservation Society's Good Fish Guide, monkfish has mixed sustainability ratings depending where and how it is caught. To make sure the fish you buy is as sustainable as possible, look for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)'s blue tick logo on the packaging. 

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Jessica Dady
Food Editor

Jessica Dady is Food Editor at GoodtoKnow and has over 11 years of experience as a digital editor, specialising in all things food, recipes, and SEO. From the must-buy seasonal food hampers and advent calendars for Christmas to the family-friendly air fryers that’ll make dinner time a breeze, Jessica loves trying and testing various food products to find the best of the best for the busy parents among us. Over the years of working with GoodtoKnow, Jessica has had the privilege of working alongside Future’s Test Kitchen to create exclusive videos - as well as writing, testing, and shooting her own recipes. When she’s not embracing the great outdoors with her family at the weekends, Jessica enjoys baking up a storm in the kitchen with her favourite bakes being chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, and a tray of gooey chocolate brownies