Thai Red Curry Salmon Stew
½ cup low-fat coconut milk
½ teaspoon Thai red curry paste
Finely grated zest and freshly squeezed juice of 1 or 2 limes (2 teaspoons zest, 2 tablespoons juice)
½ teaspoon fish sauce
1 teaspoon dark brown sugar
1 skinless salmon fillet (4 ounces), preferably center-cut, cut into 1-inch cubes
½ cup Smoky Roasted Vegetables (see related recipe)
½ cup lightly packed baby spinach, cut into thin slices
¼ cup lightly packed basil leaves, rolled tightly and cut into thin slices (chiffonade)
Spoon 2 tablespoons of the coconut milk into a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the red curry paste until thoroughly blended, then stir in the remaining coconut milk, the lime zest and juice, fish sauce and brown sugar. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and let the mixture barely bubble until it has thickened slightly, 2 or 3 minutes.
Add the salmon, Smoky Roasted Vegetables and spinach; cover, and cook until the fish is opaque but still moist inside, 5-7 minutes. Stir in the basil and remove from the heat.
Spoon the hot stew over rice, barley or other grain, and eat.
Serves one.
Cook’s note: This stew could easily be made with shrimp or chicken instead of salmon. Serve with 1 cup cooked white or brown rice or another grain of your choice.
@Recipe nutrition:Nutrition values per serving (stew only): 310 calories, 12 g fat (7 g saturated), 26 g carbohydrates, 4 g fiber, 26 g protein, 60 mg cholesterol, 460 mg sodium.
Adapted from “The Sunset Cookbook” (2010 Oxmoor House)