Rob Benes on Challenge 2
The dish I prepared is Pasta with Mackerel, Tomatoes, Olives and Herbed Breadcrumbs, served with Oven-Roasted Broccolini with Creamy Hemp Seed Dressing.
It's a combination of Mediterranean flavors and freshness. This is healthy when you think that the mackerel is packed with protein and Omega-3s. There's whole wheat pasta, tomatoes, olives, basil and olive oil - no butter at all.
Plus, the creamy hemp seed dressing is made with Tahini, lemon juice, hemp seed and hot water - again, no butter.
I was intrigued by the mackerel because it was packed in olive oil and lemon. The lemon flavoring helped in the recipe development because it added so much brightness and then complemented the hemp seed dressing that includes lemon juice.
I decided to use the hemp seed in a blended dressing to draw out more of the nutty flavor instead of sprinkling as a garnish. I also toasted the hemp seeds to draw out more of their nutty flavor instead of just using them in their raw state.
Rob Benes