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Turmeric-Ginger Pollock with Tomato Sambal

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs pollock hake, haddock, or cod would be equally good
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp lime juice plus 1 tbsp extra lime juice for finishing

Ginger-Turmeric Paste

  • 1 small shallot
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 1/2 tsp fresh turmeric peeled, freshly grated
  • 1 tsp ginger peeled, freshly grated
  • salt to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 tsp lime zest
  • 1/2 tsp lemon zest
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp water

Tomato Sambal

  • 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 8 oz cherry tomatoes quartered
  • 1 red serrano pepper finely minced (more or less to heat tolerance)
  • 3 tbsp cilantro leaves finely chopped (plus more for garnish)
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • rice of your preference; for serving we used a wild rice, quinoa, brown rice blend, seasoned with salt and pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly oil a pan.
  • Sprinkle fish with salt and drizzle with lime juice. Leave in fridge while making turmeric-ginger blend.
  • Using a stick blender or a food processor, blend all paste ingredients until smooth. Taste for salt/pepper preference.
  • Coat the surface of the fish with a layer (not too thick) of the paste and bake for around 15 minutes depending on the thickness of the fish, more or less. Remember, to help fillets cook evenly, tuck the tail under.

Tomato Sambal

  • While the fish is cooking, heat the oil over medium heat. Add tomato, cayenne pepper, and salt. Once the tomato is slightly softened, stir in cilantro and remove from heat.
  • Remove fish from oven, set aside. Plate rice and place fish on top. Squeeze lime over each portion of fish. Spoon the tomato sambal onto the fish and serve.

Notes

Fresh turmeric is now relatively easy to find in stores like Shaw's or Whole Foods. Like other colorful plant-based foods, turmeric is rich in phytonutrients that may protect the body by neutralizing free radicals (pollution, sunlight) and shielding the cells from damage. Diets rich in plant-based foods are associated with prevention of medical conditions such as cancer and heart disease.