It’s Monday night. I haven’t gone grocery shopping since last week and I’m lazy. There aren’t any leftovers except for a small container of basmati rice, but there are frozen hake fillets in the freezer and a head of broccoli in the fridge.

Who’s hungry? Vincent and I. That means tonight’s recipe serves 2 people.

Ingredients:

• Woolworths frozen hake fillets
• Ladismith Spreado butter
• Robertsons veggie spice
• Robertson Portuguese chicken spice
• Broccoli
• Spar Cheddar cheese
• Spar Feta cheese with herbs
• White wine (to drink while cooking and eating)

Let’s get cooking!

First, switch on the oven grill.

While things are heating up in the kitchen, melt about four big spoonfuls of butter in the microwave.

Then, whip out your go-to oven-safe container which is also coincidentally just big enough for two hake fillets.

Sprinkle copious amounts of whatever spices you have available that might compliment fish onto the frozen fillets. I used Robertsons Portuguese Chicken spice. Yes, it says “chicken” on the bottle but it’s so lemony that it’s perfect for fish too!

Now, pour half of the melted butter onto the fillets. You’ll notice the butter immediately coagulates due to science. Don’t stress, it will melt again in the oven, also due to science.

Turn the fillets around and do the same on the other side. First spice, then butter.

It’s grill time! Pop the fish in the oven for about 15 mins. Remember, when grilling it’s best to keep the oven door slightly ajar. Check on your fillets regularly. Cooking time will vary due to the thickness of the fish fillets and your oven’s wrath.

While you marvel at how easy that was, pour yourself a glass of white wine. Tonight, I’m having Riebeek Cellars Collection Chenin Blanc.

Now, boil some water on the stove. Don’t fill the pot with too much water. We’re just going to steam broccoli.

Get your handy bamboo steamer out and pop it on top of the open pot.

Rinse the broccoli and then break it into florets. Just small enough to fit into the steamer, allowing the lid to close.

Sprinkle some good old veggie spice onto the broccoli before closing the lid and letting it steam. Steaming time depends on how crunchy you like your veg, so check regularly by poking it with a fork.

Round about now, take your fab hake fillets out, flip them over, and re-drench them in the melted butter using a spoon.

After another 5-10 mins, or when you’re happy with your fish’s level of grilledness, your broccoli should be tender too. So take the fish out and take the steamer off the hot pot.

Serve and tuck in

Throw everything on a plate. Pour the remaining spicy melted butter sauce over everything. Grate cheddar cheese over the broccoli while it’s still warm, or crumble feta cheese over it. I obviously did both.

Get the print-ready recipe here: