My first solid food was herring roe (with pepper). What was my mother thinking? (Actually, if you want to know, check out her comment to me at the foot of my fish pie recipe.)

DHA, short for docosahexaenoic acid, is one of the most important omega-3 fatty acids needed for optimal health and good brain development. Guess what? Herring roe has 100 times more DHA than non-marine foods such as nuts, seeds, wholegrains and dark green, leafy vegetables and loads more than other fish. So this is good for us adults, and fantastic fodder for our children. Oh, and it couldn’t be easier to prepare.

Ready

• Herring roe
• Butter
• Salt and pepper (optional)

Set

• Saucepan (with lid)
• Plate

Go

1. Lay the roe on the plate.
2. Dot with butter and season accordingly. (If you are cooking for baby, leave the seasoning out unless, like my mother, you think pepper is good for palate stimulation.)
3. Place the plate over a ban of boiling water (perhaps on a little stand) and cover to steam the roe. It won’t take long — just a few minutes, so keep an eye on it.

What you should know

I remember having this with creamy mashed potatoes and thinking it a real treat. For my daughter, I will serve this with some steamed greens and rice (because she loves rice with everything).