Bobby Indonesian banana leaf-baked sea bass recipe on Nigel Slater: Eating Together

Bobby Ananta served up Indonesian fish dish of banana leaf-baked sea bass on Nigel Slater: Eating Together.

Nigel says: “This authentic Indonesian fish dish is packed with exotic spices which aren’t available in most shops, but can be found online.”

The ingredients for the spice paste are: ¼ tsp ground white pepper, ¼ tsp ground black pepper, ¼ nutmeg, finely grated, ¼ tsp ground tailed pepper (also known as cubeb berries), ¼ tsp cumin seeds, ¼ tsp aniseed, 1 dried long pepper, ½ tsp coriander seeds, 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped, 7 shallots, finely chopped, 3 red chillies, de-seeded, finely chopped, 2cm piece fresh root ginger, peeled, finely chopped, 1cm piece fresh galangal, peeled, finely chopped, 2cm piece fresh turmeric, fried until golden-brown, ½ tsp ready-made tamarind paste, 4 candle nuts, 1 lemongrass stalk, tough outer leaves removed, soft inner stem chopped and 1 tsp coconut sugar.

For the baked sea bass: 1 large whole sea bass (approximately 2kg), de-scaled, gutted, rinsed inside and out under cold water, 2 limes, juice only, salt, to taste, small bunch lemon-basil leaves, 3 bay leaves and 1 x 70x40cm banana leaf, to wrap the fish.