Tag Archives: Fish

Crispy polenta crusted fish tacos

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Our new favorite week-night dinner.  Crispy polenta crusted fish tacos!
These are going to become one of your favorite tacos too. Easy to make but still feel like  a special dinner.
Firm fish morcels are seasoned and coated in fine (instant) polenta. Then pan fried. Stuffed into corn taco shells and topped with a yummy  sauce. I topped them with some hot pineapple too.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 cup instant polenta
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour lour
  • 1 tbsp. Cajun seasoning
  • 4 firm fish fillets (tilapia), cut into pieces
  • 1/2 cup fresh or frozen pineapple chunks
  • 1/4 cup oil for frying
  • Taco shells, 2 or 3 per person
  • Shredded lettuce
  • 2 avocados slices
  • Grated cheese optional
  • Sauce:
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup plain greek yoghurt
  • 2 tbsp. Ketchup
  • 1 tbsp. sweet chili sauce
  • A few drops tabasco
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. onion powder

INSTRUCTIONS:


For the sauce, mix all the ingredients and set aside. 
For the fish, prepare a bowl with polenta, and an other bowl in which you beat the two eggs.
On a work board, season the fish and coat with flower by sprinkling the flour over the fish.
Dip each piece of fish, first in the beaten eggs and the roll thru the polenta, gently pressing to cover completely. 
When all the pieces are done, heat a frying pan with the oil anf fry the fish for about 4 to 5 minutes, turning once gently. Remove one piece to test if its done.
In the meantime place your pineapple in an oven proof dish and heat in the oven alongside the tacos shells, as per the instructions on the box.
To serve, place some shredded lettuce in each taco, pile on fish nuggets and warm pineapple and dollop some sauce on top. Serve with avocado wedges.
Enjoy.

P.s. Any leftover sauce is great on sandwiches the next day, it will keep for 3 days in the refrigerator. 

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

wonder bread

10 most popular recipes of 2020

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2020 is coming to an end and what a challenging year it has been, to say the least. With one terrible event after the other. Heartbreaking, confusing and dispairing come to mind.
Am I the only one feeling a sense of relief that the year is almost over?

…but also hope, hope that next year will be better. It has to be and that’s we’ll hang on to for now.

Hopefully next year we can all go back to normal,  and live our lives to the fullest. 

Meanwhile… everyone has been on social media more than ever before,  so I wanted to share the most popular recipes of 2020, to inspire everyone to keep on cooking as much as we all did this past year.
I really noticed how everyone was baking more than usual so it comes as no surprise that the two most popular recipes this year were both bread.   Here are the top ten.

10.Pollo al Ajillo, Chicken in Garlic white wine Sauce .

An oldie but a goodie, we make this at home all the time, great for company too.

9. Homemade Spelt Tortilla

Nothing beats a home made tortilla and the are so simple and freeze well.

8. Whole Spelt Pizza with Chorizo, caramelized Onions and Basil

Chorizo with caramelized onions really can’t be beat:)

7. Chocolate Dulce de Leche mini Tarts

Mini buttery pastry crusts filled with gooey caramel and chocolate, a great dessert or tea-time treat

6. Smoky Chili con Carne with Pumpkin

Smokey Chili with the addition of Pumpkin, perfect for cold evenings plus you get extra veggies.

5. Chia Seed Bread

A protein packed loaf with a great bite and super healthy. Makes great toast.

4. Steak au Poivre, Steak in a creamy green peppercorn sauce

A classic that all meat lovers enjoy. Straight forward and so delicious with a non alcoholic green peppercorn sauce.

3. Cod and Shrimp in a Lemon cream sauce

This recipe has been a favorite for years and is the easiest recipe on the blog, pretty much fool proof and still kind of fancy.

2. Everyday Spelt Bread

Our go-to Spelt bread, I receive a ton of positive reviews on this loaf, it’s so easy and perfect for everyday baking.

1. Norwegian Health Bread

This is the most popular recipe on the blog and one of my personal favorites, so healthy and full of goodness. Perfect for a fresh and healthy start in the new year.

wonder bread

I hope you enjoyed the roundup, and if you make any of the most popular recipes of 2020 be sure to leave a comment and/or pin it to Pinterest. And of course, if you do make any of these recipes, don’t forget to post on instagram and tag me #thecookingspoonblog

Cod and Shrimp in a Lemon cream sauce

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This recipe for Cod and Shrimp in a lemon cream sauce is probably the easiest recipe on the blog. The seafood is baked in a delicious cream sauce in the oven, so there’s barely any hands-on time involved, and the result is a melt in your mouth dinner, that even your most demanding guests will love.
You can serve it with anything you like,  such as rice, pasta or French bread to mop up the amazing sauce and a nice salad on the side or your favorite veggies.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 4 x medium white fish fillets (cod, tilapia , hake etc…)
  • 1 cup clean peeled shrimp
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1 garlic clove, peeled and grated
  • 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 cup white wine
  • 1 tbsp. fresh dill or 1/2 tsp dried dill
  • 1 tbsp. fresh chives or 1 tsp dried chives
  • 1 tbsp. capers (optional)
  • Salt & pepper
  • butter for baking dish
  • 1/4 cup fresh breadcrumbs or one to two tbsp. dried
  • some olive oil or melted butter for drizzling over breadcrumbs
  • Fresh parsley or chives and lemon wedges, to  serve

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 200C / 400F

Season fish and shrimp with salt and pepper on both sides and place in a butter baking dish, add the capers if using.

Place cream, lemon juice, garlic, mustard, wine, dill, chives, salt and pepper in a small pan and bring to a very low simmer, until smooth. Pour sauce over fish and shrimp. Sprinkle with the breadcrumbs and drizzle with a teaspoon or two of olive oil or butter.

Bake for 15 minutes, or until fish is just cooked. Remove from oven.
Scatter some Parsley or chives over the fish and serve straight away.
Serve with rice, pasta or bread and a vegetable of choice.

Enjoy.

If you make this recipe please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love hearing from you.  And please don’t forget to tag me on Instagram so I can see your creations!