During the Lenten season many Christians forgo meat completely and turn to seafood for their main source of protein. But coming up with a variety of fish dishes is sometimes hard.
Sure, fried fish is fine. But not everyone likes frying fish at home. During Lent, it's a good idea to leave that up to the numerous Friday fish fries around town that attract hundreds not only for the fish, but the camaraderie.
I remember a story from years ago during Lent when we asked readers to send us their favorite home cooked fish dishes. And that's where this fish dish came from.
The recipe below is one fish dish that makes perfect sense. It's simple. And as fish goes, simple is best because most fish is delicate and doesn't need much fuss. And any chef will tell you to treat it simply and not muck it up.
And so this fish gets a light dusting of flour season with salt and pepper that gives it a coating. You can also season the flour as you like. When you pan fry the fish, that coating will crisp a bit. The sauce is made up of lemon and wine _ two natural pairings for fish. An addition of some salty and briny capers makes for a nicely seasoned sauce. The recipe came from Phil Bustos of Garden City. Bustos said at the time he was an avid fisherman and also credited the recipe to St. Julian Winery in Paw Paw, Mich.
But Lent shouldn't be the only time for fish. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015 recommends eating 8 ounces of seafood (which includes fish and shellfish) every week. These once-every-five-years guidelines are aimed at preventing chronic disease and promoting healthy lifestyles. The guidelines site that "eating patterns that include seafood are associated with reduced risk of cardio vascular disease."
This recipe is so versatile. You can really use most any fish fillets: cod, tilapia and even salmon. The pan sauce can be used separately with other shellfish like shrimp and lobster.