Macadamia-Crusted Fresh Market Fish with Lemon-Dill Butter

The rich, buttery crunch of the macadamia crust echoes the toasted brioche notes of the wine, while the lively lemon sauce and delicate fish highlight the sparkling Rosé's crisp apple and wild strawberry flavours.

Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 10 minutes | Servings: 2 Estimated Net Carbs: 4g per serving

Ingredients

For the Fish:

• 2 thick, fresh white fish fillets (snapper, tarakihi, or blue cod work beautifully)
• 50g macadamia nuts, very finely chopped or crushed
• 30g ground almonds (almond flour)
• 1 free-range egg, lightly beaten
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp butter (for frying)
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the Lemon-Dill Butter Sauce:

• 40g butter
• 1 clove garlic, finely minced
• Zest and juice of half a lemon
• 1 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped

To Serve:

• green beans, woody ends trimmed

Method

1. Prepare the Crust: In a shallow dish, combine the crushed macadamia nuts, ground almonds, a generous pinch of sea salt, and black pepper.
2. Coat the Fish: Pat the fish fillets completely dry with a paper towel. Dip each fillet into the beaten egg, allowing any excess to drip off, then press firmly into the macadamia mixture until evenly coated on all sides.
3. Pan-Sear the Fish: Heat the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Once the butter is foaming, carefully add the fish fillets. Cook for 3–4 minutes on each side, or until the crust is a deep golden brown and the fish is cooked through and flakes easily. Remove from the pan and set aside to rest.
4. Cook the Greens: While the fish is resting, quickly steam or pan-fry the beans until tender-crisp (about 3–4 minutes).
5. Make the Sauce: Wipe the fish pan clean and return it to a low heat. Melt the remaining 40g of butter. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant (do not let it brown). Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, and fresh dill.
6. Serve: Plate the rested fish fillets alongside the fresh asparagus. Generously drizzle the warm lemon-dill butter sauce over both the fish and the greens.

Pour a chilled glass of Whitehaven The Daughters Cuvée 2022, and enjoy!