Well, with my track record of falling into holes, walking into lamp posts and generally bumping into things, it´s probably a good thing that there are no local ice rinks for me to run amok in!
Best to stick to Skate (ray) of the edible variety. Here´s a super simple dish, which is quick to cook if the skate is already prepared. If not, check out this “how to” post. Aside from using the biggest frying pan you can get your hands on, it´s all plain sailing. Or skating…
Ingredients (per person)
- 1 whole skate wing (or half if it´s as enormous as the one I bought)
- Half a cup of raw peeled prawns (or you can use cooked)
- Flour for dusting
- Salt & Pepper
- Lemon
- One clove of crushed garlic
- Olive oil and butter for frying (or you can use just oil)
Dust the skate wing in seasoned flour and fry gently on both sides until lightly browned. Remove and keep warm while you fry the garlic and prawns until the prawns are cooked through and pink (if raw) or just warmed through if already cooked.
Squeeze a little lemon juice into the pan with the prawns and garlic and the oil/butter then pour over the skate to serve. Easier than a triple salchow. Whatever that is.
If, like me, you prefer a walk in the bright Winter sunshine to skating, hope you enjoy this shot of the beach at Bexhill on New Year´s Day morning where we walked with the dogs. Yes….we´re back in England to finish of the last bits of work in House No 2!
Chica Andaluza 
Certainly the best way of skating. Nice idea with the prawns and a lovely shot of the English seaside.
Yes, much safer than balanced on blades! The seaside was looking especially lovely yesterday morning…
Yes, much better than skating on ice, something I’ve never managed to do! I’ve never eaten skate either but have been told I’d like it because I don’t like fish bones, so maybe I’ll try this because it sounds delicious. It looks as though you had a lovely sunny morning on the beach. Happy new year!
Yes, skate is so easy to eat as it´s cartilage, not bones and the meat just slides down and off. Such sweet tasting fish too!
I used to ice skate – but my knees would let you know how well 😦
I like skate – no bones. It’s ages since I ate it so thank you for reminding me about it.
Happy New Year – and I hope you enjoyed your walk on what was a beautiful, if cold, day.
Eek – poor knees, I don´t think mine would be up for it anymore! The walk was glorious – no wind and beautiful, cold sunshine.
I’ve never seen skate here but this sounds wonderful so I will search for it a little harder.
Sometimes it´s called Ray….
In our kitchen, there is a very good stainless-steel frying pan with a badly-pitted cooking surface – the result of Hubby’s best friend (a chef, no less!) making skate in browned butter one night. To this day, I have no idea how the pan got ruined…Our chef-friend is no longer with us (cancer), but we keep the JP Memorial Pan in a place of honor…
And that was the last time skate was prepared in our kitchen!
Thanks for the memory, Tanya – even if I won’t be cooking it anytime soon 😀
Ah, thanks for sharing the story – I can understand why you keep that pan! Chefs are notoriously tough on their kitchen equipment 😉
I have the same accident prone issue! I’ve twice walked into our staircase and bruised my bruise! I have to try skate next time we are in the UK 🙂
Best we don´t go skating together I think!
Wow! This is easy, Tanya! I’ve seen skate and wondered how it should be prepared and had no idea it could be this simple. Thanks to you, I now have another fish to buy at the fishmonger’s. Do you sense the fear in the seas? Soon, no fish will be safe from my skillet!
No “sleeping with the fishes” for you – it´s the fish who need to be afraid, very afraid 😉
I’m rubbish at ice skating too…but this looks lovely. I’m thinking it would be delish with potted shrimp too! Love potted shrimp.
BTW I’ve linked to your blog today to share your inspiration:
http://pendlestitches.wordpress.com/2013/01/02/id-like-to-thank-my-editor/
You are a very gracious lady!
I’m in good company! 😉
Oh my, potted shrimp – and you´re in a great part of the world for them!
I am blessed. We had them for New Year’s Eve with lovely crusty bread. Sigh! So lovely.
You deserve them 🙂
Aw shucks! 😉
I never have nor do i have any intention of skating on ice at all.. I am more than happy with a walk on the beach, and seafood for dinner! c
Far more sensible, although I know you have to deal with your fair share of ice out there on those prairies!
I step carefully, and run like a girl!! arms out flapping!! so i don’t slip.. don’t tell anyone!! c
Your secret is safe with me! I throw a ball like a girl, so maybe we could start a team!
I was always the last to be chosen, just so’s you know.. c
Oh me too – but I was always first to be chosen for organizing the parties!
That’s a great recipe – less is so often more 🙂
Absolutely – especially when the fish is so super fresh!
Ooh yes, don’t hurt yourself. Better to eat it rather than do it. 🙂
You´re right – no dangerous sports for me!
I was just about to ask when you were headed back to England when I scrolled the rest of the way down and saw the beautiful beach shot of Bexhill! The beach and seafood sounds like a grand way to start the new year. Love the colors of the pink shrimp and the skate. Happy New Year, Tanya!
Thanks Betsy – yes, we´re back, and working hard again 🙂
I enjoy recipes like these and with a small number of ingredients, each flavour gets to shine!
There´s a great new Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall programme called something like “Take 3 good things” and chefs create beautiful dishes from a few very simple but top quality ingredients. Just goes to show, you don´t always need lots of bells and whistles to make something taste great!
I’ll have to keep my eye out for that programme when I’m in the UK.
Yum…looks good! I’ve not really found skate to even try! You’re a smart lady, stick to a more delicious approach to skating!! Happy New Year!
It seems to be quite hard to get hold of in some places. Do hope you get a chance to try it some day Linda!
I don’t think I’ve ever seen skate Tanya, but what you’ve done with it sounds (looks!) fantastic! And now, back in England, and on a sunny beach no less! Wishing you and that Big Man of yours big love, good health, much happiness, and continued good adventure!
Thanks for your lovely wishes Spree!
Hola chica! Una receta estupenda. Nunca he tomado raya, quizás con tu receta me ánimo 🙂
Te lo recomiendo – aquí se encuentra raya mucho en las pescaderías. No es lo más barato pero muy, muy rico!
Hmm, I have trouble doing a gentle curve when on skates, never mind the triple salchow: I’ll ‘ooh’ and ‘aah at the Winter Olympics for that and stay with the fish: have not cooked it awhile but your dish looks wonderfully simple and appetizing. And a whole sunlit beach [in England!!!!!] to enjoy with the dogs, all on your own: a Yule present and a half!!
It was a fabulous walk although it was getting crowded by the time we left! I´ve only skated a vfew times (many years ago) and a few glasses of mulled wine helped to relax me 😉
Five minutes later am back!! My next blog post came from South Africa and also included a wonderfully photographed 3 1/2 hour beach walk. I’m an IT illiterate, so can’t put the link down, but the email address for this, one of my fave sites, is simply ‘Notes from Africa’ [Lisa], a great place for photos, books, history and all else interesting!
Do you have a blog yourself – can´t see a link to one? Anyhow, am off to check out the one you recommend!
No, I’m still the proverbial cuckoo in everyone’s nest! A ‘little complicated’ stuck out here in the country: a number of friends are very encouraging and offering to help technically – perhaps in six months time 🙂 ! Sorry about the impulsive gesture of the link – but the two walks came one after the other: one in wintery England, the other in summery South Africa and the two beaches somehow looked similar 🙂 ! Oh, Lisa is awfully ‘good value’; I ‘joined’ because of geography and stayed for pure enjoyment!!
Well I can understand why you like her blog – and I like that you are a little cuckoo…you can pop in an out of our nests!
Skate wing–first I’ve heard of it. We’ll keep an eye out for it at the fishmonger. Beautiful photo and I hope all goes well with house #2!
In London you´ll probably come across it – sometimes they´re enormous and you can cut them in half. Very delicious!
I feel a television show coming on…”The yo-yo renovators”…I reacon you are up for it! Although I won’t be eating any skate and prawns any day soon, Steve has rekindled his love of fishing and is tentatively going out in his inherited aluminium dinghy and we have stingrays out in the river as well as prawns (apparently…we are new to exploring this part of the river) and so who knows WHAT he will come home with. Most probably blowfish BUT there is a chance of a lot more so I might be cooking him this meal at some time in the future 🙂
I love that Steve can go fishing so close to home and fingers crossed for a lucky haul for him!
Lets just hope that they release a few more salmon from the salmon farm around the corner…there aren’t easier fish to catch! 😉
That would be a lucky break for Steve!
Oh, I haven’t eaten skate in many years – your meal looks beyond SCRUMITY! Think I should invite myself over next time you make it. 😀
Enjoy finishing up house 2.
🙂 Mandy xo
You are welcome any time Mandy!
😀 xo
Skate was one of my mum’s favourite fish, she would always order it if it was on the menu in the fish and chip shop! It’s an old fashioned favourite, love the way you’ve cooked it in this recipe xx
Yes, I remember she loved it! You don´t see it so often now in fish and chip shops though 😦
Morning! Just wanted to let you know that your recipe has been featured over at BritMum’s (The UK’s largest online network of Bloggers) in the January Healthy Food Round up! Best wishes. Emma 🙂
Well thank you very much!
Oh, I love shrimp recipes!! I saw shrimp today in the seafood section, I’m going to run back tomorrow and try this recipe out.
Hope you do get to give it a go!