If you pop down to the Charter Market on a Friday you can buy fresh fish from Andrew and Donna who have been supplying Cirencester for over 30 years. They've built up quite a following so you need to make sure you get down there pretty early to have a wide choice!

A few weeks ago I got my hands on their smoked mackerel pate recipe (see pic) and quickly whipped it up one Friday night (rock'n'roll). I'm not a massive fan of faffy food so this simple recipe ticked all my boxes - cheap, quick, easy and super tasty! It would make an ideal snack or starter. See recipe at end of this blog.

Can't wait till Friday for your fish fix? Don't worry we have the great chaps at New Wave, Dyer Street serving us Tuesday to Saturday. Headed up by Ben, you can get fresh fish along with lots handmade products (think creamy fish pie and fish cakes).

Ben is an experienced chef from London so if like me you're new to all things fish he has a wealth of recipes stored in his brain! One recipe that I have done time and time again is his mussels in white wine. I love the flavours, get to drink the rest of the bottle of white wine and it turns out mussels aren't mega expensive. It's a win win. If you've not cooked with mussels before ask the fishmonger for their recommendation on prep. See my adapted and vague recipe at the end of this blog.

Both recipes need a generous helping of homemade bread - we are spoilt for choice in Cirencester for bakers... but that is a whole other blog! 

Hope you get a chance to sample the delicious recipes below. They've become firm favourites in my household.

Hannah, Cirencester Community Development Trust

If you have ideas for this blog please email hannah@cirencester.gov.uk

Smoked Mackerel Pate from Andrew & Donna, Charter Market

Feeds: Plenty!

Cost: Under £5

Shopping List

4 smoked mackerel fillets

50g cream cheese

50g plain yoghurt or Creme Fraise

1 teaspoon Horseradish

Seasoning to taste

Fresh French stick and butter to serve

Method

1. Skin and debone Mackerel (or ask Andrew & Donna nicely!)

2. Roughly flake the flesh with a fork.

3. Mix Cream Cheese, Creme Fraise/ Plain Yoghurt with horseradish.

4. Combine smoked mackerel with the mixture.

6. Spread generously on french stick with butter.

Mussels in White Wine

Feeds: 4

Cost: under £10

Shopping List

Mussels for 4 (cleaned and beards removed)

Bacon Lardons (1 pack)

1 white onion (finely chopped)

White wine (a good splosh)

Cream (a good glug)

1 clove of Garlic (optional)

1 bay leaf

Lemon peel (a bit)

Parsley (a good sprig)

Seasoning

Fresh bread and butter to serve

Method

1. Cook the garlic, onion and bacon lardons in a large pan.

2. Turn the heat to low and add the white wine, bay leaf, lemon peel and seasoning. Bring to a simmer.

3. Add the mussels and put lid on the pan.

4. Leave mussels to steam. Should only take a few minutes - when the mussels open they are cooked.

5. Add the cream and parsley and stir.

6. Serve in big bowls with fresh bread and butter.

NB: Do not eat mussels that have not opened after cooking.