Saturday 11 June 2011

Sumac Cod with Vegetable Couscous Salad

We are on a bit of a health kick.  Resolutely NOT a diet, we don't do those, but we are lightening the food up over the summer.  We don't eat very much processed food, but will cut it all out, so no crisps or biscuits, I'm afraid - oh, and less alcohol :o( ........  I shall still bake, but will leave others to eat it!  Anyway, low fat, plenty of fruit and veg, some carbs, moderate amounts of protein - this will be the order of the day for a while.  The brilliant 'Australian Women's Weekly' have published a book called 'The 21-Day Wonder Diet' (NO, NOT a diet, I insist!) packed full of great recipes, that the Aussies do so well.  This first dish from the book was absolutely wonderful - filling, zesty, spicy and fresh.  If they are all like this, I should look like Elle MacPherson in no time....well, maybe in about 3 years!  LOL.

Anyway, first get a couple of spankingly-fresh cod loins (our are from Waitrose, sustainably fished, of course) and sprinkle each with about half-a-teaspoon of sumac powder. (This is a lovely peppery, lemony spice, if you've never tried it before).  Set aside, whilst you reconstitute 90g couscous with its equivalent by volume of hot veg stock.  Meanwhile, heat 2 teaspoons olive oil in a non-stick pan, and saute a finely-chopped small onion, a clove of garlic, a thinly-sliced courgette, and about 8 cherry tomatoes, halved.  Stir occasionally, until onions have softened, and then stir in a half-teaspoon of ras-al-hanout, if you have it, or ground cumin if you don't.  Heat a teaspoon of olive oil in another non-stick saute pan, and, over a medium heat, add the cod.  Leave for 4 minutes, without prodding or moving, and then carefully turn over, and cook for a further 2 or 3 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish.  Whilst this is happening, fluff up the soaked couscous, add to the veg and gently fold through, along with some chopped coriander, mint and parsley, or just one of these if that's all you have.  Dish up, with lemon wedges to squeeze, and tuck in.  Around 420 calories per serve apparently, and scarcely any fat.

2 comments:

  1. Love this post!! It is what i need as well, for the bikini beech.:))
    Shibin

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  2. Shibin, if I waited until a diet worked that would get me into a bikini, global warming will have dried up the seas! However, enjoying eating a bit lighter at the moment and the fish was delicious.

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