Caramelised Silver Perch with Spring Onions, Chilli & Black Pepper

Silver perch is a freshwater fish, which means it can have a slightly earthy flavour - exactly what Mark Jensen loves about this traditional dish from southern Vietnam. It’s a regular on the Red Lantern menu, where this dish is cooked and served in a clay pot (available from Asian grocery stores); if you are using one, make sure it’s flameproof and soaked in cold water for 30 minutes before heating. Traditionally, nothing is wasted and the fish head is cooked with the rest of the fish, but