Archive for category Seafood
Tilapia with Endive and Roasted Potatoes
Posted by Van Santos in Seafood on May 2nd, 2010
The other evening I wanted Tilapia, so I thought it was time to do a baked dish…
For this you’ll require:
10 to 12 red potatoes, quartered
2 fresh Tilapia fillets
Fresh oregano
Fresh Dill
Freshly cracked black pepper
Sea Salt
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 head of Endive (also know as Escarole), torn
2 tsp of lemon juice
Here you go:
1. First, heat your olive oil in a medium pan. When it starts to shimmer, add your red potatoes. Add dill, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste sauté until they begin to brown, then remove and place in a bowl.
2. Pre-heat your oven to 365. While your oven is heating, put your Endive in the pan you did your potatoes in, cover, and sauté over medium heat for roughly 5 minutes. Add your oregano, salt and pepper to taste.
3. Now add the tilapia fillets and lemon juice and heat on each side for no more than a minute.
4. Place foil on a cookie sheet, on one side place your tilapia and on the other side mix your endive and potatoes and bake for roughly 10 minutes. Keep your pan for the next step!
5. Remove from the oven, add salt and pepper to your pan (no need for additional oil, you should be ok to accomplish what is needed) and over a very high flame quickly brown the tilapia on each side. This will sear in the pepper/salt taste, giving you a nice brown color, with drying out the fish.
6. Plate and Enjoy!
The garlic, endive and potatoes all play well together, and the lemon pulls the entire dish together! Very enjoyable and very quick to do.
And the next dish? Well, Tuesday we’ll have Kale Pizza!
Vanju’s Deep Fried, Perfectly Seasoned Calamari
Posted by Van Santos in Seafood on April 20th, 2010
A few days back Monica, over at Cucina Naturale, made a Baked Calamari with cornbread crumbs. That got me all excited to go out and make my own Calamari. So, why is this called Vanju’s Calamari? Well, my sous-chef demanded credit for her efforts in the venture. Credit where credit it due.
For the Calamari:
1. 1/2 cup white flour
2. 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs
3. 1 tsp Garlic Powder
4. 1 tsp Ground Tumeric
5. 1 tsp Onion Powder
6. 2 tsp Paprika
7. 1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper
8. 1/4 tsp Chili Powder
9. 1/2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
10. 1 nice sized Calamari tube, cut into rings
For the deep frying:
1. 2 eggs, whisked
2. 32 oz of peanut oil
This is very, very easy… really…
1. Heat up your oil in a nice sized pan, deep enough to fully submerge the cut Calamari
2. Mix your spices, flour and breadcrumbs until ingredients are fully blended
3. Take your calamari, place them into the whisked eggs
4. Take calamari, one by one, out of the eggs and place into the spice/breadcrumb mixture and fully cover.
5. Place into peanut oil for two minutes, then make sure you turn the calamari and continue frying for another two minutes.
Drain, remove grease and enjoy!
I was worried that the batter would have too much kick, but no, it had a nice kick, but not overpowering. In many ways it almost would taste like popcorn shrimp… and it was the perfect start for the Fettuccine with Shrimp.
Thanks for the inspiration, Monica!
Avocado and Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
Posted by Van Santos in Seafood on April 12th, 2010
This past weekend the wife and I were on the road and, as a result, aside from the luxurious steak dinner at Ruth’s Chris, we basically had nothing much but fast food. So, as I arrived home early yesterday evening I wanted to jump into the kitchen and make something healthy. The result is my newly created Avocado and Crab Stuffed Mushrooms.
You’ll need:
1. 3/4th cup of heavy whipping cream
2. 1/2 cup of breadcrumbs
3. 1 cup of spinach, chopped
4. 2 tsp of worchestire sauce
5. 1/2 tsp of sea salt
6. 1 tsp of freshly cracked black pepper
7. Pinch of Onion powder
8. 2 half cups of fresh crab meat (claws)
9. 2 half cups of Mozzarella, shredded
10. 2 Large Portobello mushrooms
11. 1 Tomato, diced
12. 1 Avocado
Directions
1) Pre-heat your oven to 350.
2) Mix breadcrumbs, salt, pepper and onion powder
3) Add cream, worchestire sauce and mix
4) Add spinach, 1 half cup of crab meat and 1 half cup of Mozzarella. Mix. This will give you a nice consistency for the stuffing, which will allow you to create a nice stuffing patty for your mushrooms.
5) Place your stuffing in your mushroom caps, top with the remaining crab meat, cheese and tomatoes. Cut and spoon out avocado meat onto the mushrooms.
6) Bake for 25 mins at 350.
Serve and enjoy!
Cornmeal Crusted Tilapia Sandwiches with Lime Butter
Posted by Eileen Devlin in Low Calorie, Main Course, Seafood on April 7th, 2010
Okay. . .now we’re talkin’. This was fabulous! I love fish to begin with but I always feel guilty after eating fish that is super-fried (albeit delicious) and greasy. The ‘batter’ here had lots of flavor – top it off with the lime butter – MWAH!
3 tbsp yellow cornmeal
1 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/8 tsp ground pepper (I used a bit more than this)
4 (6-oz) tilapia fillets
2 tbsp butter, softened
1 tsp grated lime rind
1/2 tsp fresh lime juice
4 (1.5 oz) french bread rolls, toasted
tomato slices
shredded red leaf lettuce
1. preheat broiler
2. Combine first 6 ingredients in a shallow dish (breading trays are ideal). Coat both sides of fish with cooking spray. Dredge fish in cornmeal mixture.
3. Place fish on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Broil 10 minutes or until fish flakes easily.
4. Combine butter, rind, and juice in a small bowl; stir well.
5. Assemble your sandwich – serve with side of choice – I decided on classic coleslaw 
Makes 4 servings.
Fab.u.lous!
Nutritional Information:
Calories: 345
Fat: 9.9 g
Protein: 39.2 g
Carbohydrate: 26.3 mg
Fiber: 2 g
Cholesterol: 100 mg
Sodium: 708 mg
Nantucket Bay Scallops and Eastham Turnip-Potato Gratin
Posted by Eileen Devlin in Low Calorie, Main Course, Seafood, Side Dishes, Vegetables on March 12th, 2010
I really wanted seafood last night and I am so glad I came across these two recipes because I was NOT disappointed. I also had leftover Gruyere cheese and was longing to use it. The sweetness of the bay scallops with the cheesy tenderness of the gratin was quite satisfying! I had never had turnips before (or at least that I can remember) and now I’m turned on to the possibilities of actually incorporating turnips into a semi-regular ingredient for my meals. Who knew!
For zee scallops:
2 tbsp butter
2 bay leaves
1.5 lbs bay scallops (remember these are sweeter that the bigger sea scallops)
1/2 tsp salt
1.5 tsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup Panko bread crumbs
1 tsp grated lemon rind
chopped fresh chives
1. Place butter and bay leaves in a small saucepan over medium-low heat; cook until butter melts. Remove from heat and let stand 30 minutes. Skim solids off the top and discard along with bay leaves.
2. Lightly coat scallops with cooking spray. Heat a large, heavy skillet (I used my cast iron) over high heat. Cook the scallops in 2 batches for about 1 minute each. Place in a bowl. Sprinkle scallops with salt. Add juice and 1/2 the butter to scallops; toss to coat.
3. Combine panko and remaining butter. Heat pan over medium-low heat. Add panko mixture to pan and cook 2 minutes until golden brown. Remove from pan.
4. Place 1/3 c scallops into a ramekin. Sprinkle with panko, lemon rind, and chives. Makes 8 servings.
Your turnip-potato gratin:
1.25 lbs turnips, peeled, and cut into 1/8 in thick slices (I used a mandoline slicer)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
3/4 lb baking potato, peeled, and cut into 1/8 thick slices
3/4 c Gruyere grated, divided
3/4 c fat-free, low-sodium chicken broth
1. Place turnips in a medium saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove, drain, and pat dry.
2. Preheat oven to 350.
3. Arrange 1/3 turnips in a 2 qt prepped baking dish; sprinkle with 1/3 salt and pepper each. Arrange half of potato over turnip. Sprinkle 6 tbsp cheese evenly over the potato. Arrnage 1/3 turnips and sprinkle again with 1/3 salt and pepper each. Arrange remaining potato and then turnips last. Sprinkle remaining salt and pepper and pour broth over the whole dish. Cover with foil, pressing foil onto turnip slices. Bake for 1 hr.
4. Preheat broiler.
5. Uncover and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Broil for about 8 minutes. Makes 8 servings.
Let me tell, ya – this meal was fabulous! At first I was nervous when I dug into the gratin because the bottom was watery. But it just needed time to sit and soak it all in. I never really wait till my food cools down to try it so the first bite was excellent. And don’t worry it is cheesy enough. I was wondering how 3/4 c cheese would make this an actual “gratin” but the flavor was definitely there. I know I encourage to make the dishes I post but if you enjoy scallops DO THIS ONE!
Nutritional Information:
Nantucket Bay Scallops:
Calories: 107
Fat: 3.6 g
Protein: 14.6 g
Carbohydrate: 3.4 g
Fiber: 0.1 g
Cholesterol: 36 mg
Sodium: 280 mg
Eastham Turnip-Potato Gratin:
Calories: 96
Fat: 3.4 g
Protein: 4.7 g
Carbohydrate: 12.4 g
Fiber: 1.9 g
Cholesterol: 11 mg
Sodium: 243 mg
Salmon Cakes with Lemon and Capers/Fettuccine in Tomato Broth
Posted by Eileen Devlin in Low Calorie, Main Course, Pasta, Seafood, Side Dishes, Vegetables on February 8th, 2010
Implementing healthy, low-cal recipes has taken on much more significance for me recently so I am very happy to share those with you that actually taste good and are easy to put together. These two were a suggested pair and so with the success of the tuna cakes I decided to try these yesterday afternoon. Big smiles all around for these!
Salmon cakes:
1 tbsp grated lemon zest
2 tsp capers, rinsed and drained
1 tsp black or green peppercorns
1 med garlic cloe, coarsely chopped or 1/2 tsp bottled, chopped or minced
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
whites of 2 lg eggs
1/4 cup fat free, cholesterol-free or light, reduced-calorie mayonnaise dressing
1/4 cup cornmeal
12 oz salmon fillet, skin removed
1. With a mortar and pestle crush and grind together first 5 ingredients. Transfer to medium bowl. Add lemon juice and using your mortar make a paste.
2. Stir in egg whites, mayonnaise, and cornmeal.
3. Rinse your fish, pat dry and cut into 1/4 in thick pieces. They don’t have to be uniform so don’t feel you have to be really precise. Stir this into your mixture.
4. Preheat large skillet over medium heat and spray with vegetable oil spray. Form 4 patties about 3/4 in thick. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, turning only once. Enjoy!
For Fettuccine:
14.5 oz can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
2 c fat-free low-sodium chicken broth
2 pepperoncini (Tuscan peppers), stemmed, seeded, and minced
2 med garlic cloves, minced or 1 tsp bottled minced
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
8-9 oz fresh fettuccine
6-8 oz sliced or coarsed chopped fresh mushrooms
2 large zucchini, grated
3 tbsp chopped fresh basil or 1 tbsp dried, crumbled
1 tbsp plus 1 tsp shredded/grated Parmesan or Romano
1. Heat large, deep skillet over high heat. Put in first 7 ingredients and stir. Bring to a simmer. Gently stir in pasta, mushrooms and zucchini. Cook for 2 minutes stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-high. Cook for 2 minutes or until tender. Stir in basil. When read to serve sprinkle with cheese if desired.
You may be wondering. . . zucchini? I was very, very surprised at how creamy the fettuccine came out because of this vegetable. No heavy creams, butter, or loads of cheese (which we all love) but this had an alfredo consistency with a different flavor. It was excellent
Nutritional Information:
Salmon:
Calories: 160
Total Fat: 3 g
Cholesterol: 44 mg
Sodium: 245 mg
Carbohydrate: 11 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 20 g
Fettuccine:
Calories: 217
Total Fat: 2 g
Cholesterol: 1 mg
Sodium: 430 mg
Carbohydrate: 43 g
Fiber: 4 g
Protein: 10 g
Apricot Mustard Salmon and Salad with Tangy Vinaigrette
Posted by Van Santos in Main Course, Seafood on February 5th, 2010
A very busy week, a very stressful week, has kept me out of the kitchen… and I have missed it so. As I was finishing up hour number 9 of one very tedious task at work I started thinking that I really needed to take care of my cooking fix today. Really, what better way to start the weekend. Well, I can think of a few others…. 
I decided that I wanted a good fish dish. Yes, the baked Mac n Cheese is still in my the back of my head (and I’ll get there at some point) but I wanted to do something creative and the Apricot Mustard Salmon was the answer.
Apricot Mustard Salmon Recipe
3 tbsp olive oil
2 salmon cuts
8 oz of apricot preserves (roughly 1 cup)
4 tbsp of coarse ground mustard
1 tbsp minced garlic
2 sliced peppers jalapeño
1/2 cup white wine
2 rosemary sprigs
Salt and Pepper to taste
1) Turn on the oven, set to 400 and let the oven pre-heat as you prep.
2) Heat olive oil over a medium-low flame in a medium sized pan, add the jalapeño peppers and sautee for roughly 3 minutes (until they begin to soften)
3) Add Garlic, heat for an additional minute
4) De-glaze with white wine
5) Add mustard, stir into the mixture
6) Add Apricot preserves and stir in so all ingredients have blended together.
7) Turn heat to low, simmer for roughly 15 minutes while constantly stirring to avoid burning. The sauce will begin to thicken when ready.
8 ) Place your salmon on a foiled cookie sheet, salt and pepper to taste, add a sprig of rosemary and cover with the Apricot Mustard sauce.
9) Bake for 16 minutes
Salad with Tangy Vinaigrette Recipe
1 bag of mixed baby greens
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 tbsp peanut oil
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp minced ginger
1 tsp honey
5 chopped green onions
10 fresh mint leaves, chopped
A “Handful” of chopped walnuts
A “Handful” of Feta Cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste
Yea, this one is quite simply… mix your red wine vinegar, oils, ginger, and honey. Pour over the baby greens, add walnuts and cheese, green onions and mint. Toss vigorously and serve.
Apricot Mustard Salmon
I wasn’t sure how this was going to turn out… but hot damn I was happy. The sauce is on the sweeter side of the spectrum but the peppers and mustard add a nice after bite that one wouldn’t expect. In order to cut the sweetness simply add a bit more mustard. As sad as this sounds, as the salmon was baking away I was eating the extra sauce straight from the pan. Why let a good thing go to waste, I love it!
The salmon and sauce blended so well. The sweetness of the sauce was countered by the natural flavors in the fish leading to a near perfect balance.
I like throwing together random vinaigrette dressings. The thought of honey, nuts and feta cheese seemed to compliment the fish (well, in my mind) and in reality it did. The nuts really brought out the taste of the honey, and the honey added to the sauce that was over the fish.
Enjoy!
Seared Tilapia with Lemon-Tarragon Sauce and Spinach Orzo
Posted by Eileen Devlin in Low Calorie, Main Course, Pasta, Seafood, Vegetables on January 24th, 2010
Although I much prefer “meatier” fish like salmon or mahi-mahi, this was very, very good. The tilapia is seasoned very well here and so it doesn’t have that “fish” smell and taste to it. And I love it when I find recipes that have an accompaniment included!
For Tilapia:
1.5 lbs fresh/frozen tilapia or other lean whitefish
1 tsp seasoned salt ( I used more though)
1 tbsp olive oil
1/4 c dry white wine
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp dijon mustard
1 tsp snipped fresh tarragon or 1/4 tsp dried tarragon, crushed
1. Rinse fish, pat dry and sprinkle with seasoned salt. Prep your skillet with oil and cook fish until it flakes easily (approx 4-5 mins total). Set aside in dish and keep warm.
2. For sauce, add wine and lemon juice to skillet making sure to scrape up any crusty bits from the fish. Whisk in mustard and tarragon and heat through. Serve over fillets. I yielded 6 servings. Enjoy!
For Spinach Orzo:
Prep 8 oz dried whole wheat orzo, drain. Immediately toss orzo with 5-6 oz package of baby spinach, 1 tbsp olive oil, 2 tsp finely shredded lemon peel and 1/4 tsp salt. Season to taste with fresh ground pepper.
Mmmm. . .good!
Nutritional Information (for both together):
Calories: 294
Total Fat: 7 g
Cholesterol: 57 mg
Protein: 28 g
Carbohydrate: 28 g
Fiber: 7 g
Sodium: 448 mg
Tuna Cakes with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce
Posted by Eileen Devlin in Low Calorie, Main Course, Seafood, Side Dishes, Tuna, Vegetables on January 6th, 2010
So here’s a recipe I am SO glad to have found! This was spectacular!
For cucumber yogurt sauce:
1/2 c peeled, seeded, and finely chopped cucumber
1/2 c plain non-fat yogurt
2 tbsp snipped fresh dillweed or 2 tsps dried and crushed
2 tsps fresh lemon juice
1/8 to 1/4 tsp pepper
Stir above ingredients together – cover and refrigerate.
For tuna cakes:
2- 6 oz cans albacore tuna in distilled/spring water, drained and flaked
2 large eggs or you can subsitute
1/3 c crushed fat free no salt added whole wheat crackers ( or you choose)
1/4 c chopped green onion (green and white parts)
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp prepared horseradish
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
Combine all tuna ingredients and shape into 6 cakes about 2.5 in in diameter. Heat a skillet over medium heat and prep with vegetable oil. Cook cakes for 6-8 mins or until golden brown, turning once. Serve with sauce and sides of choice – Enjoy!
Frying up the tuna cakes. . .
Voila! (And as always I have to have my salad)
***The side is a corn pudding which was actually a great accompaniment. Here’s the how-to on that one: Combine 2 c whole kernel corn, 1 1/4 c low fat buttermilk, 2 lg eggs (or substitutes), 1 tbsp melted margarine, 1 tsp salt and white pepper each. Prep a 6.5 in baking pan and bake for 45 – 50 mins (closer to 50) at 350.
Nutritional Information:
Tuna Cakes (per cake):
Calories: 133
Total fat: 4 g
Cholesterol: 24 mg
Sodium: 416 mg
Carbohydrate: 6 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 17 g
Corn Pudding:
Calories: 133
Total Fat: 2.5 g
Cholesterol: 3 mg
Sodium: 313 mg
Carbohydrate: 22 mg
Fiber: 2 g
Protein: 8 g
Spicy Fettucini Alfredo with Crab
Posted by Van Santos in Main Course, Pasta, Seafood on December 27th, 2009
The sauce wasn’t overly rich, or so I thought. If one wanted to create a dish that had thicker sauce I would suggest adding more cheese.
Salmon with Tropical Rice
Posted by Eileen Devlin in Low Calorie, Main Course, Seafood on December 22nd, 2009
Here was a dish I was able to whip up quickly. . .and the flavor was spectacular and fresh!
What you’ll need:
1 lb fresh/frozen skinless salmon fillets
1 tbsp coriander seeds, coarsely crushed
1 tbsp packed brown sugar
1 tsp lemon-pepper seasoning
2 c hot cooked brown rice
1 medium mango, seeded, peeled, and chopped
1 tbsp snipped fresh cilantro
1 tsp finely shredded lemon peel
1. Preheat oven to 450 and prep your shallow baking dish and place fish in pan.
2. In small bowl stir together coriander, brown sugar, and lemon-pepper seasoning. Sprinkle evenly over fish and press in slightly. Bake for 4-6 min per 1/2 in thickness or until fish flakes easily with fork.
3. in a medum bowl stir together cooked rice, mango, cilantro, and lemon peel. Serve with fillet – Enjoy!
Nutritional Information:
Calories: 366
Total Fat: 13 g
Cholesterol: 66 mg
Protein: 26 g
Carbohydrate: 35 g
Fiber: 3 g
Sodium: 155 mg
Bacon Wrapped Scallops over Barley and Garbanzo beans
Posted by Van Santos in Main Course, Seafood on December 21st, 2009
Bow down to the bacon wrapped scallop goodness!
Scallops with Anise-Orange Tapenade
Posted by Eileen Devlin in Food, Low Calorie, Main Course, Seafood on December 10th, 2009
I made this for dinner tonight and absolutely fell in love! I am also a kalamata olive lover so I actually made half more of the tapenade than this recipe calls for. Once all the ingredients are ready, this dish does not take long at all to complete (that’s one of the great things about seafood). Lots of flavor! I will definitely be making this dish again. Hope you enjoy as well!
What you will need:
12 fresh/frozen sea scallops (about 1 1/4 lbs total)
1/3 c kalamata olives, coarsely chopped
1 green onion, sliced
1/2 tsp finely shredded orange peel
2 tsp orange juice
1/4 tsp anise seeds, crushed
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1. Thaw scallops, rinse and pat dry
2. For tapenade, in a small bowl combine olives, green onions, orange peel, orange juice, anise seeds, and cayenne pepper
3. Coat unheated large nonstick skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Preheat over med-high heat. Add scallops and cook 3-6 mins or until scallops are opaque, turning once.
4. Serve with tapenade and if desired sprinkle with more orange peel. Makes 4 servings. (I served this with a parmesan rice side and a baby herb salad).
Nutritional Information:
Calories: 145
Total Fat: 3 g
Cholesterol: 47 mg
Protein: 24 g
Carbohydrate: 5 g
Fiber 1 g
Sodium: 353 mg
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