Fish As A Dinner Party’s Main Course
Choosing the best meal to serve as the main course for a dinner party can be difficult. You as hosts and hostesses want to make sure you don’t serve any food that your guests may be allergic to, and you want to make sure the food isn’t offensive when dealing with people from different cultures. For example, you would not serve pork at a meal where some of your guests practiced Islam. If you know some of your guests are vegetarian, you would not serve roast beef or chicken.
Fish is a dish that is always a hit at dinner parties. Try an unusual fish dish, such as halibut. The dinner party where I served a recipe called Snappy Halibut Skillet received the most compliments. It’s not only simple to make, but it’s also quite tasty. This recipe has many variations, but the one that my family and guests prefer is as follows. You will need to double the recipe to accommodate the required number of guests. This one is based on a ten-person dinner party.
Halibut Recipe
Snappy Halibut Skillet
- 1 1/2 tsp. Thyme
- 2 1/2 lb halibut (allowing 1/2 lb. per serving)
- 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion chopped into small pieces
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- 1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 can of stewed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup green onions
— Sprinkle thyme on both sides of each halibut fillet and cook in hot oil over medium heat.
- With a fork, test the fish to see if it flakes easily. This indicates that it is fried.
- Transfer the fish to a warm plate.
- Cook the garlic and onion in the same skillet until tender.
- Pour the cornstarch mixture into the skillet after stirring the cornstarch into the stewed tomatoes.
- Cook until the sauce has thickened.
- Return the fish to the skillet and coat it with the sauce.
Main CourseAmericanfish recipe, halibut recipe
Suggestions for Seasoning Seafood
The allure of exotic spices prompted Columbus to embark on his voyage of discovery. Home chefs can now experiment with new flavor combinations by using spices and other flavorful ingredients to add a new dimension of flavor to fresh fish and seafood.
“There’s nothing like the fresh flavors of herbs and spices for cutting unhealthy calories without sacrificing taste,” Red Lobster Executive Chef Michael LaDuke says, offering the following simple tips for enhancing the natural flavor of fresh fish and seafood:
World of Flavors: Topping tilapia with a mixture of soy sauce, lime juice, orange juice, fresh ginger, garlic, and cilantro is an easy recipe that transforms fresh fish into an exotic dish. Make the soy sauce mixture at least 24 hours ahead of time and refrigerate the sauce overnight for a richer flavor. Serve the sauce at room temperature or slightly warmed. Tilapia will soak up flavors thanks to its sweet, mild flavor and firm, flaky texture.
If you prefer a delicately flavorful fish, such as halibut, pair it with bold spice blends like curry or chili.
Healthy Oils
Similar to making tea, the key to making flavorful oils for a simply elegant and heart-healthy meal is to add herbs and spices, such as basil, garlic, salt, and pepper, to olive oil over low heat on the stove. This allows you to adjust the flavor’s intensity. After the olive oil has been heated, strain the mixture to remove the herbs and spices. Place the olive oil on your table surrounded by sprigs of fresh herbs and spices for a special touch.
Take chances! Mix in a variety of flavorful herbs and spices, such as exotic peppers, chives, dill, lemongrass, or mint, to your oil mixture. If you drizzle olive oil over salmon, you’ll reap the heart-health benefits of the essential omega-3 fatty acids found in this delectable fish.
Cooking with Wine: Wine isn’t just for drinking; it’s also fantastic for cooking. Pour a dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc, over firm white fish, such as mahi-mahi, and season with chili powder to enhance the flavor. Mahi-mahi is light enough to complement the crisp citrus flavor of this well-known wine. But keep in mind that your sauce will only be as good as the wine you use, so always cook with a wine you enjoy.
Adding Zest
Add tangy citrus flavor to your favorite fish or seafood by generously squeezing a lemon, lime, orange, or grapefruit juices over it and garnishing with freshly grated zest. When using fruit zests as a garnish, it is best to slightly poach them in sugar water beforehand, as raw zests can be bitter.
Make a citrus butter ahead of time for quick, tasty meals by combining melted butter and citrus juices, cooling the mixture, and storing it in the refrigerator until ready to use. Citrus juices combined with melted butter make excellent dipping sauces for tender lobster and shrimp.
Eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna, and salmon, at least twice a week, has been shown in studies to be beneficial to the heart. Using a variety of herbs and spices allows you to bring out the best in all types of fresh fish and seafood.
Red Lobster serves fresh fish entrees with bold flavors, savory seafood dishes with shrimp, crab, and scallops, and the company’s signature, live Maine lobster.
