Category Archives: Fish and Seafood

Sticky Citrus Honey Soy Baked Salmon

Baked salmon in foil that’s been brushed with a sticky, citrus, honey and soy sauce that will make you cry with joy!. This recipe is so easy to make and pulls together in less than 30 minutes! The salmon is flaky and tender when baked this way and stays really juicy. You’re going to love it!
But wait, I still haven’t told you the best part — In addition to being just a quick 30 minutes cooking for this Gourmet dinner, there’s barely any cleaning up afterwards, just toss the foil in the garbage, TADAAAA! …… WIN WIN!
Let’s talk about the sauce that’s going to make this baked salmon in foil recipe your favorite way to eat fish. It’s simplicity itself. Add all the ingredients to a sauce pan and simmer until it becomes sticky and reduced, about 5 minutes. I think it would be great on anything actually, it”s just so delicious.
This is a recipe that you need to keep in your back pocket not only for weeknight dinners but also to impress your dinner guests with. ( Pssssst.….no one needs to know how easy it was).
I like to use a double layer for the baking, first tin foil and then parchment paper , no need to butter that first. Place the salmon on top and Into the oven it goes, and the most magnificent smells will torture you for the next 14 minutes of your life.

Serves: 4 – 6
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: ca. 15 minutes
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INGREDIENTS:
• 1 ¼ pound salmon (preferably wild )
• juice of half a lime (1 lime cut in half)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice (1 lemon cut in half)
• 3 tablespoon orange juice (1 orange cut in half)
• 2 tablespoons Soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons dark Agave syrup (or coconut sugar )
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and grated
• 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
• 2 tablespoons butter
• Freshly ground black Pepper

DIRECTIONS:
Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 200ºC / 400ºF
Cut the citrus fruits in half, take the juice needed from one half and use the other halves to cut into slices to place on top of the salmon.
In a saucepan over medium heat combine the juice, Soy sauce, dark Agave syrup, the honey, red pepper flakes, garlic and ginger.
Allow to reduce to 4 tablespoon, about 5 minutes. Add the butter, remove pan from heat and swirl so the butter starts to melt.
Let cool.

Place the salmon filet in a piece of parchment paper and on top of foil. Using a brush or spoon, brush the salmon with the sauce. Season with freshly ground black pepper. Top with slices of citrus fruits. Bake the salmon for 10 minutes.
Switch on the broiler or oven grill and grill for 4 – 5 more minutes until really golden and sticky on top. Serve straight away.

Crispy Fish Fillets with Tequila Mango Salsa

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As if Salsa could get any better. We love our salsa, all kinds. But this grown up salsa wins the prize.
Soaking the Mango’s in tequila brings out the best in them ( you know, like it does in most of us :), they remain sweet and firm but with the obvious kick. This Tequila-Spiked Mango Salsa is going to be your new all-time favourite Salsa and besides being super awesome on these crispy fish fillets, it’s amazing as a party snack with tons of Nacho’s.
I can’t really think of a reason not to make it all the time. Just keep in mind that it needs to soak for at least an hour. Don’t soak overnight because the Mangos will lose their firmness.
The combination of the crispy fish fillets with the Tequila Mango Salsa is epic, try it, you won’t be sorry.
Adults only.

Prep time : 20 min.
Cooking time : 10

Ingredients:

• 1 – 1 1/2 lb. / 500-700 gr. (4) tilapia, cod or other firm white fish fillets
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1 tbsp. / 15 ml. Tequila
• 1 tsp. Smoked paprika
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• ½ tsp. dried garlic (powder)
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• ½ cup. / 115 g rice flour
• Rapeseed oil or other neutral oil for frying.
• 2 mangos
• 2 tbsp. tequila
• 4 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
• ½ – 1 red pepper, diced
• Juice from 1/2 lime
• ¼ tsp. Salt and pepper

Instructions:

First peel the mangos and slice the flesh away from the pit. Dice the flesh and place it in a medium bowl. Pour the tequila over the diced mango. Toss gently to coat. Cover and refrigerator for about 1 hour.
Add the green onion, cilantro, red pepper, lime zest and juice and toss gently to combine. Season with salt and pepper
Serve immediately with crispy fish fillet. Or cover and refrigerate for up to 4 hours before serving.
Rinse and pat fish fillets dry. Place on a board and season with paprika, cumin, garlic, salt and pepper. Toss in the flour.
Heat the oil in a frying pan.
Place fish fillets in the pan and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes on each side depending on the thickness of the fish fillets.
Quickly drain on a paper towel before serving just to get rid of any excess oil.
Serve with plenty of the Tequila Mango Salsa.

Enjoy!

Myra XO

Creamy Seafood and Gnocchi Bake

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Creamy Seafood and Gnocchi Bake

Effortless comfort food, perfect for warmer days. Light and very easy to make.
The great thing about this little casserole is that you can add any type of seafood you fancy, as long as it is firm and more or less cut in the same size.
I used Cod, Tilapia, Shrimp and fresh Tuna. And with fresh Tuna, I mean fresh from the freezer (LOL), not from a can. Although that would probably work too.
For the vegetable medley, I used the classic leek, carrot and peas combo, because I always have them in de fridge/freezer. That goes for Gnocchi too.
I think it took me maybe five to ten minutes to prepare this dish, chopping the carrots into cubes was the “hardest” part, so effort level 0.5
You make a béchamel sauce with herbs, mean-while boil some carrots, peas, leeks and Gnocchi.
Cut the fish and assemble. A little cheese on top and voilà, all done.

Prep time : 5-10 min
Cooking time : 20 min
Serves : 4
Square / round pan / baking dish
INGREDIENTS:

• 500 gr. / 16 oz. mixed seafood and firm fish* see note below
• 2 cups chopped fresh or frozen vegetables, carrot cubes, leeks, peas, celery, corn, onion…
• 1 pack Gnocchi
• 3 tbsp. butter
• 2 tbsp. flour
• 250 ml. / 1 cup milk
• 1 glass of dry white wine
• Dash Worcestershire sauce
• White pepper to taste
• 1 stock cube, chicken or fish
• Chopped fresh herbs, parsley, chives, dill
• ½ cup grated cheese

METHOD:

Bring a pan of water to the boil and season with plenty of salt. Have your chopped carrots and vegetables ready.
Meanwhile heat up a small sauce pan and melt the butter, add the flour and stir to cook for a minute. Gradually (slowly) add the milk, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. As soon as it’s creamy add all the milk, stock cube, white wine, Worcestershire sauce and white pepper. Let it cook slowly for five minutes then remove from the heat and let cool a bit.
Pre heat the oven to 200 C / 400 F.
Throw the veggies into the pot of boiling water, as soon as the water boils again add the Gnocchi as well. Cook until they float, about three minutes. Remove from heat and drain everything very well, let cool slightly. Prepare baking dish, spread a little butter in the bottom of the casserole dish.
Cut the fish into 2.5cm/1 inch cubes and place together with the gnocchi and vegetable into the casserole dish. Stir the fresh herbs through the creamy béchamel sauce and pour over the casserole, sprinkle over the cheese and place in the middle of the oven. Bake for 20 minutes.

Enjoy!
*NOTE: firm fish/seafood are Hake, Cod, Tilapia, Swordfish, Tuna, Sea bass, Shrimp, Lobster, Salmon…

If you make these Creamy Seafood and Gnocchi Bake, be sure to leave a comment! I’d love to hear from you and if you love it, pin it. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! @thecookingspoonblog or hashtag it #thecookingspoonblog

Peach Basil Shrimp Salad with Sweet Chili Vinaigrette

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When the temperature rises, easy meal prep and (semi) cold dishes are my kind of meal! This Peach Basil Shrimp Salad tastes light and fresh! Tender crisp succulent grilled shrimp served on a bed of crispy greens with juicy Peaches and lots of Basil for a complete meal ready in minutes (with almost no clean up); this is truly the perfect summer meal!
And for that matter, our favourite Salad.
The dressing is made with ready sweet chili sauce and an ingredient that I really love, Ume Su. Maybe you have heard of it? I discovered it a couple of years ago and love it.

Ume Su is the red juice of umeboshi apricots that are put in brine with shiso leaves. Its also very salty, and most times it’s not necessary to add more salt to your recipe. Ume Su is less acidic than ordinary vinegar though, because it’s technically not a vinegar but the sour brine juice from the lactic acid fermentation.
The best way to describe the flavor is fruity, slightly acidic and salty all at the same time, that’s why I love adding it to sauces and vinaigrettes because it adds a lot of flavor and a little goes a long way.
If you can’t find it, buy it online, but if you don’t feel like buying it at all, which I totally understand (but you’re missing out on something great), sub with more vinegar and salt.

Prep Time : 15 mins
Cook Time : 5 mins
Total Time : 20 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

INGREDIENTS Sweet chilli vinaigrette
• 6 tbsp. sweet chilli sauce
• ½ cup natural oil or very light olive oil
• 1 tbsp. sesame seed oil
• ¼ cup lime juice
• 1 tbsp. fish sauce nam pla
• 2 tsp Ume Su
• 1 tbsp. honey
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Salt if necessary
INGREDIENTS Peach Basil Shrimp Salad:
• 1 cup loosely packed basil leafs only
• 16 oz. / 450 gr. mixed salad greens various colors if possible
• 1 cup radishes
• 2 peaches
• 2 avocados
• 5 spring onions
• 16 oz. / 450 gr. peeled big fresh shrimp
• 1 tbsp. canola oil
• Salt and pepper
• 1 large buffalo Mozzarella or 2 medium
• Handful fresh cilantro

Instructions:

1. For the Sweet Chilli Vinaigrette, mix all the ingredients in a jar and shake until well combined.
2. Reserve until ready to use. Leftovers are best stored in the fridge.
3. Place all the greens in a large serving dish. Sprinkle the Basil leafs on top of the greens.
4. Cut the radishes in very thin slices and fan them out, place them on the salad. Leave some of the smaller radishes whole.
5. Peel the peaches, cut in half, twist and separate the halves. Remove the stone and also cut into thinner wedges and place on the salad fanned out.
6. The same goes for the avocados, peel, cut in half, remove the stone and slice and place on salad.
7. Put a frying pan on medium high heat, when hot add the oil. Season the shrimp and cook for about two to three minutes on each side, depending on the thickness of the shrimp.
8. Cook until no longer pink and remove straight away from the heat. Arrange on the salad.
9. In the middle of the salad, place the buffalo mozzarella, slightly torn open to reveal it’s soft inside.
10. Sprinkle with the fresh cilantro and serve drizzled with the sweet chilli vinaigrette.

Enjoy!
Myra XO