One-pot basa & Mexican-style rice

A simple one-pot dinner: smoky stock, tomatoes, and Mexican-style rice baked with basa. Served with lime mayo, crispy onions, and lime wedges for a bright finish.

Great

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

Before you begin: this recipe takes around 5–10 min to prep, so get your casserole dish and all your ingredients ready then wash your fruit and veg. Note: Make sure your dish is oven-proof and safe to use on the hob. Don’t have one? Start cooking in a large, wide-based pan then transfer to an oven-proof dish and cover tightly with foil.

Step 2

Now, let’s get started! Preheat the oven to 220°C / 200°C (fan) / gas 7. Boil a full kettle. Heat a large, wide-based, hob-safe, oven-proof casserole dish with a matching lid with a drizzle of vegetable oil over a medium–high heat.

Step 3

Peel and roughly chop the shallot(s). Deseed your pepper(s) (scrape the seeds and pith out with a teaspoon) and chop roughly. Add the chopped shallot and chopped pepper to the dish.

Step 4

Dissolve your vegetable stock mix in 300ml [450ml] [600ml] boiled water. Stir the chipotle paste (can handle the heat? Go easy!), tomato paste, roasted garlic paste and a generous pinch of salt into the stock – this is your smoky stock.

Step 5

Add half your ground smoked paprika (you’ll use the rest later) to the dish with the basmati rice.

Step 6

Add your smoky stock with your chopped tomatoes, give everything a good mix up and bring to the boil over a high heat. Once boiling, top with the basa fillet(s) and sprinkle over the remaining ground smoked paprika and a pinch of pepper.

Step 7

Cover with a lid and put the dish in the oven for 25–30 min or until the rice is cooked and the fish is cooked through – this is your one-pot basa & Mexican-style rice. Tip: Your rice is cooked once it turns opaque and flakes easily.

Step 8

Combine your mayo and the juice of half your lime(s) with a pinch of pepper – this is your lime mayo. Chop the remaining lime(s) into wedges.

Step 9

Use this time to clear up, set the table, have a cup of tea or simply chill.

Step 10

Serve the one-pot basa & Mexican-style rice and drizzle over the lime mayo. Garnish with your crispy onions and remaining lime wedges. Set the dish in the centre of the table, ready to share and let everyone dig in!