Want to add fish to our diets and other food ideas, bored with the usual

I'm so so bored with our "regular dishes". My dilemma is my 2 year old will not eat meat (we still make it and offer it to her though), I cannot eat lettuce, peppers or onions (I have some kind of IBS thing or something, even cooked well onions and peppers get me horribly sick, if I eat a lettuce lately I have to live in a bathroom); and DH hates onions anyway. Hoping to get some inspiration here. Again, DD is only 2 so kid friendly but heart healthy here is key. DH has family history of heart disease and has high BP and cholestorol and I would like to drop some weight and also have some genetic concerning issues. So I thought, why not fish? Other ideas would be great too. With recipes if possible or web sites to check out - I am by far not a chef and if I don't have instructions I cannot make it.

Fishes we like:
Talapia (although could use tips as to how to cook the thick side thoroughly without over cooking the thin side)

Flounder

Salmon (is ok, DH is not a fan but if it tastes really good he'll "deal with it").

If there are other suggestions, let me know. What is the best way to buy fish? How do you avoid mercury problems? Mercury is the thing that has scared me from eating fish.

Re: Want to add fish to our diets and other food ideas, bored with the usual

I make tilapia and salmon in the oven. I wrap them in foil so it's almost like it's being steamed. For tilapia, I'll usually season it with whatever spices I have at hand, add a tiny bit of white wine, a squirt of lemon juice and a small pat of butter. Just spray the foil with pam, put the fish in the middle and wrap it up. I usually bake it on 350 for 15-20 minutes and I've never had a problem with parts of the fish being raw.

I usually marinate salmon in a teriyaki marinade. We just got a steamer and I made it using the steamer last night. It was super easy and came out delicious but you can also wrap it in foil and bake it too, it'll just take a little longer than the tilapia. I'd say about a half hour or so

Re: Want to add fish to our diets and other food ideas, bored with the usual

I do my fish very similar to the poster above. I also bread tilapia (first dip in flour, then egg) then crushed crackers or melba toast & spices. Then I spray both sides with pam. I put the fish on a wire rack that is sitting on a cookie sheet. I bake it. It tastes like crispy fried fish.

For my salmon I make a cucumber dill salad to accompany. Very summer, very fresh!! I let my salmon marinade over-night.

My best fish recipes have come from the cook book "The best of Cooking Light" by Cooks illustrated.

Re: Want to add fish to our diets and other food ideas, bored with the usual

Re: Want to add fish to our diets and other food ideas, bored with the usual

fish tacos. I use tilapia, mahi, snapper, basa..all white flaky fish.

Pan sear with olive oil, salt pepper, chili powder , lemon and lime. Serve in soft corn tortillas with tomatoes, avocado and seedless cucumbers since you have a belly issue. For a sauce take a little mayo and blend it with some salt, pepper, chili powder and red pepper flakes. If bot mayo, lowfat sour cream all by itself.

I have the same issue...

Or..

Any of the fish above, sautee in a pan with olive oil and shallots finely chopped, salt, pepper and lemon. Put it over yellow rice and steam up green beans.

Re: Want to add fish to our diets and other food ideas, bored with the usual

We love seared cod and it's super easy. You coat the bottom of an oven safe pan in olive oil and get it super hot. Meanwhile, squeeze lemon over the fish fillets (both sides) and then add a little salt and pepper on top. Put it in the pan when it is REALLY hot - it will sizzle and pop a little. Season the top with s&p and let it cook (don't flip) for about a minute. Drizzle grape tomatoes with olive oil and a little salt. Toss and add to pan. Cook for 1 more minute (still no flipping!)and then stick the whole pan in the oven at 375 for a few minutes until the fish is opaque and cooked through and the tomatoes have started to burst.

When you serve it you want to flip it on the plate so the side that was bottom down in the pan is top up on the plate. It will have a nice golden crust. Serve with some pasta or rice or mashed taters. Delicious. Sometimes if I don't want to bother with fresh tomatoes, I just add a can of stewed tomatoes and let that heat through.

Message edited 7/6/2010 1:26:00 PM.