We try to eat fish at least once a week and one dish that is simple to make but absolutely delicious is fish with charred Mediterranean vegetables. This is ideal if you want something yummy with only about half an hour to prepare and cook.

1 red capsicum, thickly sliced
2 zucchini, sliced lengthways
1 Spanish onion, cut into wedges
2 tbs olive oil
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Kalamata olives
1 tbs balsamic vinegar
2 tbs parsley, roughly chopped
½ cup basil, roughly chopped
Juice of ½ a lemon
400g swordfish or red emperor (you want a fleshy fish rather than a flaky one)

Preheat the grill to high. Place capsicum, zucchini and onion in a bowl with half the oil and toss to coat. Cook on the grill plate for three minutes on each side, or until charred and slightly wilted. Return vegetables to the bowl. Add garlic, olives, balsamic vinegar, parsley, basil, lemon juice and remaining oil, and toss. Cover with cling wrap and set aside. (By covering the vegetables, you allow them to soften.)

Heat some oil in a pan and fry the fish for a couple of minutes on each side, or until cooked. Rest the fish, covered with foil, for approximately half the cooking time.

Serve with the charred vegetables and lemon wedges.

I’ve come up with a recipe that satisfies both our food needs. Like all good lasagne, it takes a bit of time and effort to make but you end up with ample delicious leftovers.

First, make the tomato sauce:

1 tbs olive oil
2 x 400g canned tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tbs rosemary, chopped
¼ cup basil, chopped
1 tbs oregano, chopped
1 bay leaf
Splash of red wine

Fry the garlic in oil until transparent. Deglaze the pan with red wine. Add the other ingredients and simmer gently for 45 minutes to thicken.

While that’s simmering away, start preparing the filling for the layers.

200g pumpkin
½ sweet potato
1 eggplant
2 zucchinis
12 mushrooms, sliced
fresh spinach or silver beet, roughly chopped
250g ricotta
350g mozzarella, grated
50g parmesan, grated
Lasagne sheets

Cut the pumpkin and sweet potato into 5mm slices and parboil. Set aside.

Slice the zucchinis and eggplant lengthways and grill for five minutes on each side. Set aside.

When the tomato sauce is ready, take off the heat, remove the bay leaf and set aside.

In a large ovenproof dish, cover the bottom with layer of tomato sauce and place lasagne sheets on top, covering it to the edges. Cover with a layer of eggplant, then mushrooms, then spinach. Dollop some of the ricotta around and sprinkle with some of the mozzarella.

Place another layer of lasagne sheets in the dish and cover with tomato sauce. Cover with a mixture of pumpkin and sweet potato, then add a layer of zucchini. Dollop with some more of the ricotta around and sprinkle with some more of the mozzarella.

Place another layer of lasagne sheets and cover with tomato sauce and another layer of mushrooms. Dollop the remaining ricotta and sprinkle with a thick layer of mozzarella and the parmesan cheese.

Bake at 140­­-160°C for an hour until cheese is golden with crunchy bits on top.