Monkfish with Iberico ham, peas, broad beans, morels and English asparagus recipe
 Monkfish with ham is a dinner party classic. This version bursts with the flavours of a bountiful spring. One to be savoured. 1 tbsp olive oil1 shallot, finely chopped100g/3½oz button mushrooms, finely chopped1 garlic clove, finely chopped250g/9oz butter, cut into cubes, at room temperature10g/¼oz chopped flatleaf parsley 1 tbsp olive oil 1 shallot, finely chopped 100g/3½oz button mushrooms, finely chopped 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 250g/9oz butter, cut into cubes, at room temperature 10g/¼oz chopped flatleaf parsley 100g/3½oz morel mushroomsolive oil, for frying2 shallots, finely chopped100ml/3½fl oz white wine250ml/9fl oz chicken or fish stock, plus splash of stock to cook the asparagus100g/3½oz broad beans100g/3½oz peas12 spears asparagussalt4 fillets monkfish (about 130-150g/4½-5½oz each)50g/1¾oz Iberico ham, thinly sliced1 lemon, juice only 100g/3½oz morel mushrooms olive oil, for frying 2 shallots, finely chopped 100ml/3½fl oz white wine 250ml/9fl oz chicken or fish stock, plus splash of stock to cook the asparagus 100g/3½oz broad beans 100g/3½oz peas 12 spears asparagus salt 4 fillets monkfish (about 130-150g/4½-5½oz each) 50g/1¾oz Iberico ham, thinly sliced 1 lemon, juice only Method For the parsley butter, heat the olive oil in a pan and fry the shallot, mushrooms and garlic until they are softened. Set aside to cool. Mix the shallot and mushroom mixture in a bowl with the butter and chopped parsley. Set aside.For the monkfish, preheat the oven to 230C/450F/Gas 6 and clean the morels thoroughly. Heat a dash of olive oil in a saucepan and fry the shallots and morels for 2-4 minutes. Add the white wine and chicken or fish stock and cook for about 6-8 minutes, or until the volume of liquid has significantly reduced.Add the broad beans and then the peas and stir through a little of the parsley butter.Place the asparagus in a pan with a little olive oil, salt and a splash of stock and put a lid on. Cook for 2-4 minutes – it will steam in its own juices. Heat a dash of olive oil in an ovenproof pan and cook the monkfish until nicely browned all over. Transfer to the oven to cook for four minutes. Once out of the oven place a slice of ham on top of each portion of fish so that it starts to melt while resting. Leave to rest for at least four minutes.To serve, spoon the buttery peas and broad beans onto each plate, then the asparagus and morels. Place the monkfish on top. Save the juices from the morels and the asparagus pan. Add another splash of olive oil and lemon juice to the pan juices and use this as a sauce. Serve any remaining parsley butter on the side. For the parsley butter, heat the olive oil in a pan and fry the shallot, mushrooms and garlic until they are softened. Set aside to cool. For the parsley butter, heat the olive oil in a pan and fry the shallot, mushrooms and garlic until they are softened. Set aside to cool. Mix the shallot and mushroom mixture in a bowl with the butter and chopped parsley. Set aside. Mix the shallot and mushroom mixture in a bowl with the butter and chopped parsley. Set aside. For the monkfish, preheat the oven to 230C/450F/Gas 6 and clean the morels thoroughly. Heat a dash of olive oil in a saucepan and fry the shallots and morels for 2-4 minutes. Add the white wine and chicken or fish stock and cook for about 6-8 minutes, or until the volume of liquid has significantly reduced. For the monkfish, preheat the oven to 230C/450F/Gas 6 and clean the morels thoroughly. Heat a dash of olive oil in a saucepan and fry the shallots and morels for 2-4 minutes. Add the white wine and chicken or fish stock and cook for about 6-8 minutes, or until the volume of liquid has significantly reduced. Add the broad beans and then the peas and stir through a little of the parsley butter. Add the broad beans and then the peas and stir through a little of the parsley butter. Place the asparagus in a pan with a little olive oil, salt and a splash of stock and put a lid on. Cook for 2-4 minutes – it will steam in its own juices. Place the asparagus in a pan with a little olive oil, salt and a splash of stock and put a lid on. Cook for 2-4 minutes – it will steam in its own juices. Heat a dash of olive oil in an ovenproof pan and cook the monkfish until nicely browned all over. Transfer to the oven to cook for four minutes. Once out of the oven place a slice of ham on top of each portion of fish so that it starts to melt while resting. Leave to rest for at least four minutes. Heat a dash of olive oil in an ovenproof pan and cook the monkfish until nicely browned all over. Transfer to the oven to cook for four minutes. Once out of the oven place a slice of ham on top of each portion of fish so that it starts to melt while resting. Leave to rest for at least four minutes. To serve, spoon the buttery peas and broad beans onto each plate, then the asparagus and morels. Place the monkfish on top. Save the juices from the morels and the asparagus pan. Add another splash of olive oil and lemon juice to the pan juices and use this as a sauce. Serve any remaining parsley butter on the side. To serve, spoon the buttery peas and broad beans onto each plate, then the asparagus and morels. Place the monkfish on top. Save the juices from the morels and the asparagus pan. Add another splash of olive oil and lemon juice to the pan juices and use this as a sauce. Serve any remaining parsley butter on the side.