Salmon is famously heart-healthy, which makes it a popular choice for a seafood meal. The average American consumes more than three pounds a year of the fatty fish, according to the National Fisheries Institute.
Who can blame us? Not only is salmon a source of complete protein, but it's also chock full of omega-3 fatty acids — "healthy" fats that have been shown to do the body good by reducing inflammation and lowering blood pressure.
In this recipe, we build a meal around chopped dates, the classic, ancient superfood featured in "Hot Date! Sweet & Savory Recipes Celebrating the Date" by Rawaan Alkhatib (Chronicle Books, $35).
—Gretchen McKay, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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Mustard-Crusted Snapper
A tangy mustard coating gives this baked fish a great flavor and seals in the juices. I use two types of mustard in this recipe, Dijon and a grainy mustard. This is a very simple recipe and, once it is in the oven, you can quickly make the barley.
Barley is used most often in stews and soups, but it is very good boiled and served as an alternative to rice. It adds a crunchy texture to the meal. Look for quick-cooking barley, which cooks in half the time of regular barley. Otherwise, regular barley can be used; it cooks in about 30 minutes.
—Linda Gassenheimer, Tribune News Service
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Shrimp Lo Mein
It takes a few minutes to prepare the ingredients, but only 5 minutes to stir-fry. Fresh snow peas and bean sprouts add texture to the dish. Oyster sauce, which is seafood based, flavors this dish. I find it's a tasty condiment and use it to flavor meat, vegetables and other stir-fry dishes. You can use stir-fry sauce instead. The results won’t be the same but still good.
—Linda Gassenheimer, Tribune News Service
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