Fish is a very important part of a healthy diet. Eating fish or taking fish oil is good for the heart and blood vessels. Eating fish once or twice a week may also reduce the risk of stroke, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, and other chronic conditions.
Fish contain unsaturated fatty acids, which, when substituted for saturated fatty acids such as those in meat, may lower your cholesterol. But the main beneficial nutrient appears to be omega-3 fatty acids in fatty fish. Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of unsaturated fatty acid that may reduce inflammation throughout the body. Inflammation in the body can damage your blood vessels and lead to heart disease.
Fatty fish, such as salmon, lake trout, herring, sardines and tuna, contain the most omega-3 fatty acids and therefore the most benefit, but many types of seafood contain small amounts of omega-3 fatty acids.
Introduce more fish into your diet and try some new fish recipes. These fish dinner ideas are tasty and easy enough to make on a weeknight.
Tilapia with Green Beans
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano, plus more for garnish
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
4 6 -ounce tilapia fillets
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 pound thin green beans
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
Juice of 1 lemon
Combine the flour, oregano and parsley in a shallow dish. Season with salt and pepper.
Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Dredge the fish in the flour mixture, shaking off the excess. Melt 3 tablespoons butter in the skillet, then add 2 fillets and cook until golden brown on the bottom, about 4 minutes. Flip and cook through, 1 to 2 more minutes. Transfer to a plate and keep warm. Repeat with the remaining 2 fillets.
Add the green beans and garlic to the skillet and cook about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, then add the tomatoes and cook until just softened, about 1 more minute. Stir in the lemon juice and 1/4 cup water, then cover and cook until the beans are tender, about 3 more minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter until just melted.
Divide the fish and vegetables among plates. Garnish with oregano.
Grilled Salmon with Herb and Meyer Lemon Compound Butter
1 stick butter, room temperature
2 Meyer lemons, zested
1/2 bunch dill, finely chopped
1/2 bunch thyme, picked and finely chopped
1 small clove garlic, smashed and finely chopped
4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets, skin-on
Extra-virgin olive oil
In a small bowl, combine the butter, zest, herbs and garlic. Mix until everything is well mixed. Season, to taste, with salt. If using right away, keep the butter at room temperature. If making ahead, reserve in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before using.
Preheat grill to medium.
Remove the salmon from the refrigerator and let come to room temperature. Season with salt and coat with olive oil. Brush and oil the grill. Place the salmon, skin side down, on the clean, preheated grill. After 2 to 3 minutes, rotate the salmon 90 degrees to create cross-hatch grill marks on the salmon skin. Cook the salmon for another 3 to 4 minutes. As the salmon cooks it will turn from translucent orange to opaque pink.
Turn the salmon over and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. If the salmon starts to burn, or the flames flare up move the fish to a cooler part of the grill.* Remove from the grill and top with the room temperature compound butter. The butter should act as a sauce and melt over and coat the grilled salmon.
Fish Tacos with Lime Sauce
1 pound fresh tilapia or catfish fillets
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon chili powder
2 tablespoons cooking oil
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 6 inches flour tortillas
1 cup shredded cabbage
1/2 cup shredded carrots (2 small or 1 medium)
1 jalapeno or serrano pepper, thinly sliced
Rinse fish and pat dry. Cut into 1-inch pieces.
For lime sauce, juice two of the limes into a bowl (cut remaining lime into wedges for serving). Stir mayonnaise and chili powder into juice. Transfer 1/3 cup of the sauce to another bowl; toss fish in it. Set aside remaining sauce.
In a large skillet heat oil over medium heat. In a shallow dish combine flour and salt. Working with about a third of the fish at a time, toss fish in flour mixture and add to hot oil. Cook for 2 to 4 minutes or until fish flakes, turning to brown evenly and adding additional oil as needed. Drain fish on paper towels.
Wrap tortillas in paper towels; heat in microwave for 30 seconds. Top tortillas with fish, cabbage, carrots, and jalapeno. Drizzle with Lime Sauce and serve with lime wedges.
Black Bean & Salmon Tostadas
8 6-inch corn tortillas
Canola oil cooking spray
1 6- to 7-ounce can boneless, skinless wild Alaskan salmon, drained
1 avocado, diced
2 tablespoons minced pickled jalapeños, plus 2 tablespoons pickling juice from the jar, divided
2 cups coleslaw mix or shredded cabbage
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed
3 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream
2 tablespoons prepared salsa
2 scallions, chopped
Lime wedges (optional)
Position racks in upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 375°F.
Coat tortillas on both sides with cooking spray. Place on 2 baking sheets. Bake, turning once, until light brown, 12 to 14 minutes.
Combine salmon, avocado and jalapeños in a bowl. Combine cabbage, cilantro and the pickling juice in another bowl. Process black beans, sour cream, salsa and scallions in a food processor until smooth. Transfer to a microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave on High until hot, about 2 minutes.
To assemble tostadas, spread each tortilla with some bean mixture and some salmon mixture and top with the cabbage salad. Serve with lime wedges, if desired.
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