The Columbus Dispatch

Sauteed fish with pineapple salsa and poblano rice

- Linda Gassenheim­er

It’s easy to see why salsa is one of America’s favorite condiments. Its fresh, crisp, tangy flavor adds a refreshing touch to a meal without a lot of sugar or fat. This bright pineapple salsa brings out the flavor of fresh fish.

The poblano peppers, called ancho peppers when dried, that give the rice dish its zing, are medium-hot. You can use jalapeno peppers instead. Use 2 tablespoon­s jalapeno peppers.

Helpful Hints:

h You can use any fresh non-oily fish fillet.

h To time length of cooking for fish fillet, count 10 minutes per inch of thickness.

h Look for fresh pineapple cubes in the produce section. Chop them in the food processor.

Countdown:

h Start rice.

To buy: 3⁄4 pound fish fillets (such as tilapia), 1 jar no add sugar tomato salsa*, 1 package microwave brown rice, 1 container fresh pineapple cubes, 1 small poblano pepper.

Staples: canola oil.

3⁄4 cup no-sugar-added tomato salsa*

⁄4 3 h Make salsa. h Finish rice. h Cook fish.

Shopping List: Sauteed fish with pineapple salsa

Recipe by Linda Gassenheim­er

1 cup fresh pineapple, coarsely chopped 1 tablespoon canola oil pound fish fillets (such as tilapia)

Mix pineapple and tomato salsa together and set aside. Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add fish and sauté 5 minutes. Turn and sauté 3 minutes, or according to size of fish. Fish is cooked when it is opaque and not translucen­t. Place on 2 dinner plates and serve some of the salsa on top and the rest on the side.

Yield 2 servings

Per serving: 290 calories, 91 fat from calories, 10.1 g total fat, 1.9 g saturated fat, 5.4 g monounsatu­rated fat, 84 mg cholestero­l, 286 mg sodium, 15.7 g carbohydra­te, 2.5 g dietary fiber, 3 g sugars, 36 g protein

Exchanges: ⁄2 fruit, 1 vegetable, 5 lean

1 meat,1 / 2fat

Poblano rice

Recipe by Linda Gassenheim­er

1 package microwave brown rice (11⁄2 cups cooked)

2 tablespoon­s seeded, chopped poblano pepper

2 teaspoons canola oil

Microwave rice according to package instructio­ns. Measure 11⁄2 cups rice and reserve remaining rice for another time. Add the poblano pepper and oil. Toss well.

Yield 2 servings

Per serving: 222 calories, 64 calories from fat, 7.1 g total fat, 0.7 g saturated fat, 3.6 g monounsatu­rated fat, 0 mg cholestero­l, 12 mg sodium, 29.8 g carbohydra­te, 1.5 g dietary fiber, 0 g sugars

Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 1⁄2 fat

* Look for salsa containing (per 2 tablespoon­s) 10 calories, 2 g carbohydra­te, 65 mg sodium.

(From “Fast and Flavorful Great Diabetes Meals from Market to Table” by Linda Gassenheim­er, published by the American Diabetes Associatio­n. Reprinted with permission from The American Diabetes Associatio­n. Gassenheim­er’s latest book is “Simply Smoothies: Fresh & Fast Diabetes-friendly Snacks & Complete Meals,” published by the American Diabetes Associatio­n. To order either book www.shopdiabet­es.org.)

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