Roast mackerel with beet & spelt salad

• whole raw beetroot↗300g g

  scrubbed

• olive oil↗2 tbsp tbsp
• large garlic cloves↗3

  crushed but left in their skins

• ready-cooked spelt250g pouch g

  (or cook your own, see tip)

• clear honey↗2 tsp tsp
• sherry vinegar↗3 tbsp tbsp
• toasted pine nuts↗1 tbsp tbsp

  or flaked almonds

• pitted black olives↗50g g

  roughly chopped (I use the dry Provencal type for texture)

• whole cleaned mackerel↗2
• hot smoked paprika↗½ tsp ½ tsp
• cumin seeds↗1 tsp tsp

  crushed

• ground coriander↗1 tsp tsp
• small pack dill↗

  roughly chopped

• coriandersmall pack small pack

  roughly chopped (optional)

• small red onion↗1

  finely sliced

• thick creamy yogurt↗

  to serve

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Cut the beets into wedges and toss with 1 tbsp oil plus some seasoning in an oiled, medium roasting tin. Roast for 40 mins, adding the garlic to the tin with 20 mins to go, until tender and caramelised.

2. 2

   Cook the spelt following pack instructions. Whisk together the remaining oil, the honey and vinegar. Toss this, plus the spelt, nuts and olives, into the beetroot and set aside to cool.

3. 3

   Line a large baking tray with foil. Slash the fish a few times down to the bones on each side and place on the foil. Mix the spices with seasoning, then rub them all over the fish. Raise the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7 and roast the fish for 15-20 mins or until golden and the dorsal fin at the back pulls away easily.

4. 4

   Just before serving, fold the herbs and red onion into the salad. Season to taste and serve with the fish and a dollop of the yogurt.