fresh fish

A lot of people are intimidated by the thought of cooking fish. The line between under cooking and overcooking is very fine, and getting the right texture and flavor can be tricky. But, I'm here to tell you that you can do it! Cooking fish is easier than you think. With a few simple steps, you too can make a delicious piece of fish. In fact, fish is a dish that I like to make when I don't have a lot of time and want to through together something a little bit more gourmet and tasty than my average dinner. Plus, fish is great for you! It's packed with protein, omega 3's, and other things that are wonderful for your body and mind. Another great thing about fish, is if you know how to look for it, it really isn't that expensive. Trader Joes has great deals on fresh frozen fish that you can buy in advance and take out of the freezer the morning that you want to make it. If you'd prefer to buy your fish fresh, local grocery stores always have a fish or two that they have on sale, which is a great way to go. The whole foods near me always has a daily or weekly deal, and you can't get a good amount of fish for a really low cost.

The other day I was really craving fish. I went to the fish counter at Whole Foods and found that black sea bass was on sale- always very exciting! I bought three nice fillets to bring home and make for dinner for me, and two friends. Earlier in the day I had stopped at the green market and bought some awesome looking bok choy. Bok Choy is the Asian version of cabbage, however it has softer leaves and looks almost like a mix between cabbage and lettuce. It has a slightly bitter taste, however becomes sweeter when cooked. It is delicious, and this time of year can be bought fresh from the farmer's market. I decided to go with Asian flavors for my dinner since I had bok choy, and since bass also works well with Asian flavors. Both the fish and bok choy cook quickly, and are amazingly delicious. By cooking the fish over high heat, you even get a delicious crispy skin. Even if you're short on time, think about making some fish for dinner, you won't be disappointed.


Asian Black Sea Bass with Steamed Sesame Bok Choy

3 medium fillets of black sea bass, de-boned and with the skin on
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tbsp soy sauce (I used gluten free soy sauce here)
1 tbsp sesame seeds

Bring a pan to medium-high heat on your stove, before adding the sesame oil (a little really goes a long way) Allow it to warm in the pan before placing the fish, skin side down Cook the fish skin side down on medium-high heat for about 4 minutes or so before carefully flipping the fish over Sprinkle the skin side of the fish with sesame seeds Cook for another 4 minutes with the skin side up In the last two minutes or so, add a generous splash of soy sauce to the pan and allow it to cook out before removing the fish from the heat enjoy!

1 large head of bok choy, washed and with its leaves separated
1 green onion, chopped (whites and greens)
1 tsp sesame oil

Place your large head of bok choy in a sauce pan over medium heat, covering with a lid If the bok choy is still wet, let cook as is, however if it is dry add a splash of water to allow the bok choy to steam Toss in the green onion with the Bok Choy After a few minutes of cooking, add a few splashes of sesame oil to the pot Recover the pot and cook for 4 or so more minutes, or until the bok choy starts to wilt (tossing it every so often to ensure even cooking) Once your bok choy is done, serve it along side your fish! Enjoy!