Learning to Cook

I have always been surrounded by wonderful cooks and bakers. While this has been delightful for my taste buds, I always wondered if I would ever be able to cook like them. When I lived in Brazil, I was forced to learn how to cook because the ingredients at my disposal were so different. The experience was, at first, frustrating. But, once I began to experiment, the world of cooking opened up to me. My recipe box is now brimming, and I thought others might be interested in trying some of the recipes I have found. I haven’t tried them all yet, but I plan to in the future! I hope you enjoy, and please feel free to add your own suggestions/comments.
Showing posts with label Fish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fish. Show all posts

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Salmon with Sweet Chile Sauce

Serve with soba noodles tossed with low-sodium soy sauce and dark sesame oil. Add steamed broccoli florets on the side.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 fillet, 1 tablespoon sauce, and 1 teaspoon green onions)
Ingredients

* 4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets, skinned
* 1 teaspoon ground coriander
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* Cooking spray
* 2 tablespoons honey
* 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
* 2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce
* 1/2 to 1 teaspoon Sriracha (hot chile sauce, such as Huy Fong)
* 4 teaspoons thinly sliced green onions

Preparation

1. Sprinkle fish evenly with coriander and salt. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add fish to pan; cook 4 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork or until desired degree of doneness.

2. Combine honey, juice, soy sauce, and Sriracha; drizzle over fish. Sprinkle with green onions.
Nutritional Information

Calories: 262 (36% from fat)
Fat: 10.5g (sat 2.5g,mono 4.6g,poly 2.5g)
Protein: 31.2g
Carbohydrate:9.5g
Fiber: 0.1g
Cholesterol: 80mg
Iron: 0.6mg
Sodium: 460mg
Calcium:18mg

Jackie Mills, MS, RD, Cooking Light, DECEMBER 2008

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Margarita Shrimp Salad

The flavors of a margarita - tequila, orange and lime - are blended in a tossed salad of fresh shrimp, diced avocado and sliced red onion, spiked with a creamy, spicy sour cream dressing. Don't shy away from avocados because they're high in calories - avocados are rich in good, heart-healthy fat, as well as vitamin E, folate, potassium and other important nutrients.

Makes 4 servings, about 2 cups each
ACTIVE TIME: 30 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 30 minutes
EASE OF PREPARATION: Moderate

1 pound medium shrimp (30-40 per pound), peeled and deveined
1/4 cup tequila
2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest
1 teaspoon freshly grated lime zest
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup thinly slivered red onion
Creamy Lime-Chile Dressing (recipe follows)
4 cups torn romaine lettuce
2 medium endives, cored and torn into pieces (2 cups)
1 orange, peeled and cut into segments
2 ripe Hass avocados, peeled, pitted and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 tablespoon lime juice (see Tip)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Lime wedges

1. Toss shrimp, tequila, orange zest, lime zest and salt in a medium bowl. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Place onion in a small bowl, cover with cold water and some ice; let stand for 10 minutes, or until ready to use.
2. Meanwhile, make Creamy Lime-Chile Dressing.
3. Toss romaine, endive, orange segments and the drained onion in a large bowl. Add the dressing and toss to coat. Divide among 4 plates. Toss avocados with lime juice and divide among the salads.
4. Drain the shrimp, reserving the marinade. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and sauté until pink and firm, 2 to 3 minutes. Divide among the salads. Add the reserved marinade to the pan and bring to a boil, stirring; spoon over shrimp. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: 1/2 fruit, 1 1/2 vegetable, 3 1/2 very lean protein, 4 1/2 fat

TIP: Tips: To juice a lime:
A lime at room temperature gives the most juice (11/2-2 tablespoons). Before juicing, roll the lime on the counter, pressing down with your hand. If the recipe calls for both zest and juice, grate the zest before squeezing the juice.

To segment an orange:
After zesting, use a small sharp knife to remove any remaining peel and all the bitter white pith. To make attractive segments, work over a bowl to catch the juice and slice between each segment and its surrounding membrane.

From: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/margarita_shrimp_salad.html

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Grilled Halibut with Grilled Red Pepper Harissa


Ingredients

1 red jalapeño chile
1 garlic clove, peeled
4 5- to 6-ounce halibut or mahi-mahi fillets
2 large red bell peppers, quartered lengthwise, seeded
Olive oil for brushing plus 1/4 cup
2 teaspoons ground cumin, divided
2 teaspoons ground coriander, divided
1 lemon, halved

Preparation

Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Thread jalapeño and garlic clove onto metal skewer. Brush jalapeño, garlic, fish, and red bell peppers with oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sprinkle fish with 1/2 teaspoon cumin and 1/2 teaspoon coriander. Grill fish, bell peppers,jalapeño, and garlic until vegetables are tender and charred and fish is just cooked through, about 4 minutes per side for fish and 8 minutes per side for vegetables. Grill lemon, cut side down, until charred, about 3 minutes. Transfer fish to plate and tent with foil to keep warm.

Peel charred parts of skin from bell peppers and cut stem from jalapeño, and transfer to blender, discarding peel and stem. Add garlic clove, remaining 1/4 cup oil, 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin, and 1 1/2 teaspoons coriander to blender. Process until coarse puree forms. Season sauce generously to taste with salt and pepper.

Place 1 fish fillet on each of 4 plates. Squeeze grilled lemon over. Spoon sauce over fish and serve.

Fish Fillets in Parchment with Asparagus and Orange


Ingredients

4 15x15-inch squares parchment paper
4 5-to 6-ounce fish fillets (such as halibut or cod; each about 1 inch thick)
12 fresh tarragon leaves
2 tablespoons butter, cut into 4 pieces
1 pound slender asparagus spears, trimmed, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
4 tablespoons orange juice

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°F. Place parchment squares on work surface. Generously butter half of each parchment square; top buttered half of each with 1 fish fillet. Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper; top each fillet with 3 tarragon leaves, then 1 piece of butter. Arrange asparagus around each fish fillet; pour 1 tablespoon orange juice over each. Fold parchment over fish and asparagus, folding and crimping edges tightly to seal and enclose filling completely. Place on 2 rimmed baking sheets, spacing apart. do ahead Can be made 4 hours ahead. Chill.

Bake fish packets 17 minutes. Slide packets onto plates and serve.

Indian-Spiced Fish with Cucumber Relish


Ingredients

1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt
4 teaspoons minced peeled fresh ginger, divided
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 5- to 6-ounce halibut steaks or mahi-mahi fillets (each about 3/4 to 1 inch thick)

1 1/2 cups diced English hothouse cucumber
2 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar*
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro


Olive oil
Fresh cilantro sprigs

Preparation

Whisk yogurt, 2 teaspoons ginger, garlic, curry powder, cumin, and cayenne pepper in medium bowl to blend. Add fish and turn to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight, turning fish occasionally.

Mix cucumber, vinegar, chopped cilantro, and remaining 2 teaspoons ginger in small bowl. Season lightly to taste with pepper. (Relish can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate, stirring occasionally.)

Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Brush grill rack with olive oil. Scrape off excess yogurt marinade from fish; sprinkle fish with salt and pepper. Grill fish until just opaque in center, about 6 minutes per side. Transfer fish to plates. Spoon cucumber relish alongside; garnish with cilantro sprigs.

*Also known as sushi vinegar; available at Asian markets and in the Asian foods section of most supermarkets.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Sizzled Citrus Shrimp


This quick Spanish-inspired saute is a lesson in simplicity. All shrimp really needs to dazzle is lots of garlic and a splash of lemon. Serve as a main dish or as a tapa (appetizer).

Makes 4 servings, about 3/4 cup each

ACTIVE TIME: 15 minutes (including peeling shrimp)

TOTAL TIME: 40 minutes

EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy

Marinade & Shrimp
3 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons dry white wine
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound medium shrimp (30-40 per pound), peeled and deveined

Sauce
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1. Combine lemon juice, wine, 2 teaspoons oil and garlic in a medium bowl. Add shrimp and toss to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 15 minutes, tossing occasionally. Drain well, reserving marinade.
2. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and cook, turning once, until barely pink, about 30 seconds per side; transfer to a plate. Add bay leaf, crushed red pepper and the reserved marinade to the pan; simmer for 4 minutes. Return the shrimp and any accumulated juices to the pan; heat through. Season with salt, sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 171 calories; 6 g fat (1 g sat, 3 g mono); 172 mg cholesterol; 4 g carbohydrate; 23 g protein; 1 g fiber; 315 mg sodium; 270 mg potassium.

Nutrition bonus: Vitamin A (15% daily value), Vitamin C (15% dv).

0 Carbohydrate Servings

Exchanges: 3 very lean protein, 1 fat

Friday, May 2, 2008

Shrimp Skewers with Mango Dipping Sauce


Set the finished skewers atop hot cooked rice tossed with chopped fresh cilantro. If using wooden skewers, soak them in water while you prepare the ingredients.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes (about 12 ounces)
1 pound peeled, deveined large shrimp
1 medium red onion, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces (about 1 cup)
1 medium green pepper, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces (about 1 cup)
Cooking spray
1/4 cup fresh lime juice, divided
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup mango chutney
1/4 cup chopped green onions
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon bottled minced garlic


Preparation
Preheat broiler.
Thread tomatoes, shrimp, onion, and pepper alternately onto each of 8 skewers. Place skewers on a wire rack coated with cooking spray; place rack on a roasting pan. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons juice; sprinkle with black pepper and salt. Broil 4 minutes or until shrimp are done, turning once.

Combine remaining 2 tablespoons juice, chutney, and remaining ingredients in a small bowl, stirring well. Serve sauce with skewers.

Yield
4 servings (serving size: 2 skewers and about 1/4 cup sauce)

Nutritional Information
CALORIES 217(10% from fat); FAT 2.4g (sat 0.5g,mono 0.4g,poly 1g); PROTEIN 25.4g; CHOLESTEROL 172mg; CALCIUM 98mg; SODIUM 522mg; FIBER 3g; IRON 3.8mg; CARBOHYDRATE 24.8g



Alison Lewis , Cooking Light, JULY 2006

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Lemon-Garlic Shrimp & Vegetables



Here’s a healthy twist on shrimp scampi. We left out the butter and loaded the dish up with red peppers and asparagus for a refreshing spring meal. Serve with quinoa, whole-wheat couscous or linguine.

Makes 4 servings

ACTIVE TIME: 35 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 35 minutes

EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy

4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 large red bell peppers, diced
2 pounds asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch lengths
2 teaspoons freshly grated lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound raw shrimp (26-30 per pound), peeled and deveined
1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add bell peppers, asparagus, lemon zest and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until just beginning to soften, about 6 minutes. Transfer the vegetables to a bowl; cover to keep warm.
2. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons oil and garlic to the pan and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add shrimp and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Whisk broth and cornstarch in a small bowl until smooth and add to the pan along with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until the sauce has thickened slightly and the shrimp are pink and just cooked through, about 2 minutes more. Remove from the heat. Stir in lemon juice and parsley. Serve the shrimp and sauce over the vegetables.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 226 calories; 7 g fat (1 g sat, 4 g mono); 174 mg cholesterol; 14 g carbohydrate; 28 g protein; 4 g fiber; 514 mg sodium; 670 mg potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C (210% daily value), Vitamin A (80% dv), Folate (53% dv), Iron (25% dv).
1 Carbohydrate Serving
Exchanges: 2 vegetable, 3 lean meat, 1 fat

from: http://eatingwell.com/recipes/lemony_shrimp_vegetables.html

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Bolinhos de bacalhau (codfish balls)

1 pound salt cod
2 cups of mashed potatoes
2 tbsps of finely chopped parsley
2 large eggs
oil for frying

Soak salt cod overnight and during the morning, changing water three times. Drain, remove skin and any bones and cut in small chunks. The next step is poaching the cod. In Boston, I learned a great trick from Julia Child, who used to call her fritters Aunt Priscilla's Codfish Balls (there's a Portuguese connection somewhere...) I always do it her way now. Simmer a small onion, thinly sliced, with a bay leaf and 4 peppercorns in 2 cups of water. After 5 minutes, add the cod and 2 cups of water. When it simmers, cover the pan and remove from heat, so the cod doesn't toughen. You can keep the cod in this liquid in the refrigerator until ready to use it.

To form the bolinhos: drain the fish and flake it well into a bowl. Add 2 cups of mashed potatoes; beat two eggs with a pinch of salt and add them to the fish and potatoes. Some cooks like to separate the eggs, adding first the yolks, then the beaten whites. Add the parsley (and if you want, 1 small chopped onion), salt and freshly grated pepper to taste. Wait about 1/2 hour to form the balls; they should be about 1 1/2 inches. Use good, fresh oil for frying (set deep-fryer temperature at 375°). Dry in paper towels. Serve with a good batida and some very cold beer!

From: http://www.maria-brazil.org/bolinhos_de_bacalhau.htm

Moqueca (easier version)

2 lbs. of fish filets, cut in large portions
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 large tomatoes, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1 red pepper, diced
3 cups coconut milk
2 Tbsp of dendê (palm) oil
juice of one lime
1 bunch cilantro
2 Tbsp of green onions, chopped
2 Tbps of parsley, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Marinate the fish filets with salt, pepper and lime juice for 1/2 hour. Sauté garlic, onion, tomatoes, peppers, green onions, parsley and cilantro in palm oil for about two minutes; add fish and coconut milk. Cook for about 15 minutes in low or until fish is cooked. Serve with white rice and dendê farofa. Serves 4.

Taken from: http://www.maria-brazil.org/moqueca.htm

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Thai Shrimp Stir-fry with Tomatoes and Basil - Slimmed

You won't have to sacrifice taste or satisfaction to save calories with our Thai Shrimp Stir-fry. With 400 fewer calories than a similar sized serving of Shrimp Scampi, this is a dish worth trying.


2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon water
2 teaspoons Southeast Asian fish sauce
4 teaspoons light brown sugar
3 tablespoons peanut oil
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon grated, peeled, fresh ginger
1/2 to 1 teaspoon red chile flakes
1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 medium red onion, cut in 1-inch dice
1 medium yellow pepper, seeded, cut in 1-inch dice
1 jalapeno chile, thinly sliced into rounds
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
3/4 cup torn fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup torn fresh mint leaves
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
Serving suggestion: Jasmine rice

In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, water, fish sauce, and sugar; set aside. Heat the oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, ginger, and chile flakes, and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the shrimp and stir-fry until pink but still translucent in the middle, about 2 minutes. Transfer the shrimp to a medium bowl with a slotted spoon. Add the onion, pepper, and chile to the skillet, and stir-fry until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Return the shrimp to the pan along with the soy sauce mixture. Bring to a boil, and stir-fry until the sauce glazes the shrimp, about 1 minute more. Add the tomatoes and stir until coated with sauce, about 15 seconds. Remove pan from the heat, stir in the basil, mint, and lime juice. Transfer to a serving dish, serve immediately.

From: http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_21495,00.htmlCopyright 2003 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved

Nutrition Information
Calories 286
Fat 13g
Saturated Fat 2g
Carbohydrates 17g

Monday, May 7, 2007

Moqueca de Camarao (shrimp stew, Bahian style)

(Serves 4)

Plan ahead, the shrimp needs to marinate for 30 minutes.
Juice of 1 lemon
1 onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 to 2 tablespoons white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pound fresh shrimp, shelled and deveined
1 teaspoon fresh cilantro, chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
Black pepper to taste
1 cup thin coconut milk*
1/2 cup thick coconut milk*
2 to 3 tablespoons dende oil**

Make a marinade with lemon, onion, garlic, vinegar and salt. Marinate the shrimp for 30 minutes. Put mixture into a sauce pan and add cilantro, tomato paste and black pepper to taste. Add thin coconut milk and cook over low heat until the shrimp are cooked. Add the thick coconut milk and dende oil. Continue cooking for another 5 minutes.
Serve with rice.
*Bottled or canned coconut milk can be substituted. Also see recipe.
**Dende oil is a palm oil high in saturated fat. It is available in specialty food stores.

from: http://www.globalgourmet.com/destinations/brazil/moqueca.html

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Espetada de Espadarte (Swordfish Kabobs)



by Elisabeth Luard


Serves 4


Swordfish is one of only three fish firm enough to keep its shape on a skewer; the others are tuna and monkfish, the poor man's lobster, either of which can be substituted in this recipe. Espetadas (kabobs), bite-size pieces of meat or fish threaded onto sharpened sticks, are the fairground treat on the island of Madeira. They're eaten with bread rolls (bolos do caco): yeast-raised buns the size of a dinner plate, traditionally cooked on a bakestone (caco) made of basalt, the rock of which the island is formed — though in modern times, rather less romantically, the caco is made of concrete.

Ingredients
1 pound of swordfish steaks, cut into cubes

for the marinade
2 tablespoon of olive oil
3 or 4 garlic cloves, skinned and crushed
1 oregano sprig, crumbled
1 dried piri-piri pepper, crushed, or 1 malagueta pepper, seeded and finely chopped (piri-piri is a type of hot chili pepper, if piri-piri is unavailable, use another chili pepper - strength of your choosing)
Coarse salt


Method
1. Thread the fish onto skewers and arrange them on a flat dish.
2. Combine the marinade ingredients, pour them over the kabobs and leave them for an hour or two to take the flavors.
3. Remove from the marinade and drain thoroughly.
4. Heat a small barbecue or broiler to maximum heat and grill the fish kabobs fiercely. Serve with white rice or soft cornmeal porridge (polenta).