Dinner: Fish in Pine Nut Sauce

Recipe by Joyce Goldstein Merluza en salsa de piñonesMany Spanish fish dishes call for sauces made with almonds, hazelnuts, or pine nuts, sometimes in combination with tomatoes and saffron. While hake or monkfish is traditionally used for this Catalan di

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Nuts

Health benefits of Fish in Pine Nut Sauce

Nuts are a natural source of Inositol, a derivative of Vitamin B (which is often prescribed in the form of supplements for women with PCOS). Inositol can effectively control the symptoms of PCOS by reducing insulin resistance and improving insulin sensitivity.

Ingredients

1/2 cup pine nuts
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1 tablespoon finely minced garlic
1/4 cup fresh bread crumbs
Pinch of saffron threads, warmed and crushed (optional)
1 1/2 cups peeled, seeded, and chopped tomatoes
1 cup fish stock or dry white wine
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 pounds firm white fish fillet, cut into 8 pieces
1 cup English peas, cooked until tender-crisp (optional)
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley or mint

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Spread the pine nuts on a baking sheet and toast in the oven, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and golden, about 8 minutes. Pour onto a plate to cool. Transfer 1/4 cup of the toasted nuts to a nut grinder or small food processor and grind or pulse until finely ground.
In a frying pan, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the paprika, garlic, ground pine nuts, bread crumbs, and saffron, if using, and cook, stirring often, for 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and stock and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 5 to 8 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Keep warm over low heat.
In a large frying pan, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper, add to the pan, and cook, turning once, until browned on both sides, about 3 minutes on each side. Pour the sauce over the fish, add the peas, if using, and simmer until the fish is opaque throughout, about 5 minutes longer. Transfer to a serving dish or individual dishes, and garnish with the remaining pine nuts and the parsley. Serve at once.

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