Nile perch is a good white-fleshed fish that lends itself to all sorts of preparations. You can pan-fry it, for example, and serve it with a shallot and white wine cream sauce; today I’m suggesting you dress it up with a crust of fragrant herbs, a bit like a crumble. A simple recipe that’s tasty and light.

Here’s an excellent fish ball recipe to keep in your recipe notebook: it’s simple and full of flavor, with no frying. They’re incredibly tender, and kids love them. You can serve them mini-size as an appetizer, in their sauce as a starter, or as a main course with bulgur or rice.

Who said you can’t make a delicious meal from pantry staples? This recipe was such a hit at home that I had to share it. As for the ginger, here’s my no-waste tip: I always buy a nice big root, peel it, cut it into 1-2 cm pieces and freeze them in a bag, spacing the pieces well apart, so I always have some on hand.