Colin Fassnidge's Fish Ragu Recipe

Published on 29 June 2026

Colin Fassnidge shares his delicious snapper ragu, as seen on TVNZ's Off the Grid with Colin and Manu.

Serves: 2-4

Ingredients:

  • 1 fresh snapper fillet, cut into large pieces
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 red chilli, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 tbsp chilli oil
  • 250g tomatoes, chopped
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 can beer
  • Salt & pepper

Method:

In a pot heat the oil and fry the onion, chilli, garlic until onion is soft.

Add the tomatoes, soy sauce and beer. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 15 minutes.

Add the fish to the pan and gently poach in the ragu until cooked through.

Serve with crispy bread or rice and enjoy!

Award-winning chef Dean Thompson from Schnappa Rock cooked alongside Colin and Manu during filming. "The addition of beer to the ragu didn't surprise me at all, says Dean. "It's the sort of thing chefs do when they're cooking in the moment with what's on hand. Some of the best meals come from not overthinking it. They're made with fresh ingredients, a bit of instinct and whatever you've got available. That's genuine cooking, and it's probably my favourite way to cook."

"Watching Colin and Manu cook was a real nod to Northland and the way we like to cook at Schnappa Rock. It was all about keeping things simple, using fresh local ingredients and letting the fish do the talking. They treated the seafood with real respect. There was no need to overcomplicate it, just good techniques, fresh produce and confidence in the quality of the ingredients."

"Meeting Colin and Manu, and having them visit Schnappa Rock and Tūtūkākā, was definitely a career highlight for me. As a chef, it was pretty special to cook alongside people you've watched and admire. But just as importantly, it was an opportunity to show them a part of New Zealand that I'm incredibly proud of. Being able to share Tūtūkākā, our local seafood and a bit of genuine Northland hospitality was something pretty special."

The Whangārei episode of TVNZ's Off the Grid with Colin and Manu originally aired on 12 July 2026 on TVNZ 1 and is available to watch on TVNZ+. Discover their itinerary and recipes at the links below.

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