To Dress Shad is a traditional British recipe, based on Mrs Beeton's recipe of 1861, for a classic dish of cleaned and scaled shad that's marinated in oil and barbecued or griddled until cooked through. The full recipe is presented here and I hope you enjoy this classic British version of: To Dress Shad.
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This is a traditional British recipe redacted from the redoubtable Mrs Beeton's 1861 volume Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management, the classic Victorian cookbook.
Original Recipe
311. INGREDIENTS.—1 shad, oil, pepper, and salt.
Mode.—Scale, empty and wash the fish carefully, and make two or three incisions across the back. Season it with pepper and salt, and let it remain in oil for 1/2 hour. Broil it on both sides over a clear fire, and serve with caper sauce. This fish is much esteemed by the French, and by them is considered excellent.
Time.—Nearly 1 hour.
Average cost.—Seldom bought.
Seasonable from April to June.
Modern Redaction
Ingredients:
1 shad
olive oil
salt and black pepper, to taste caper sauce, to serve
Method:
Scale, gut and wash the fish then dry carefully. Make two or three incisions across the back then season with salt and black pepper. Place in a shallow dish, drizzle the oil over and inside the fish then set aside to marinate for 30 minutes.
Pre-heat your barbecue, add the fish and cook on both sides until well browned and cooked through; alternatively cook on a griddle pan. Serve hot, accompanied by caper sauce.
