When it comes to your cuisine, nothing can really beat the satisfaction of a perfect crunchy bite. From chips to crispy veggies and even to your fish, crunch is king. And while crunch is often synonymous with fried, let us introduce you to our own version of faux frying, which we’re absolutely nuts about.
Healthy Protein Coated in Healthy Protein
Coming home to easily pan-fry a fillet of wild-caught and sustainable fish is always a go-to and convenient way to whip up dinner. But sometimes it’s nice to break out of that routine and keep things interesting with new ingredients and flavors. For those days where we still crave that familiar crunchy texture, but want to achieve it in a new (or healthier) way, we’ve found our answer: coating fish with nuts.
With a nut crusting, our version of faux frying adds additional benefits to seafood that’s already packed with healthy fats, and is known to increase brain performance and be an anti-aging treasure trove. In addition to containing protein for energy, nuts also dish out omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and Vitamin E that could lead to better heart health. And they’re not just beneficial to your body, but also to your wallet. Nuts are an inexpensive, game-changing ingredient that make for a great snack and store well for long periods of time.
From walnuts to macadamia nuts, to pistachios and almonds, you will not be lacking choices. Each nut offers a unique texture, flavor and recipe inspiration — the sky really is the limit when it comes to nut-crusting your fish.
Recipes That Aren’t a Tough Nut to Crack
If wild-caught salmon is your fish of choice, then this Almond-Crusted Salmon with Honey Garlic Sauce is the stuff dreams are made of. It mixes salted almonds with sesame seeds for the ultimate in crunchy coatings. For a slightly sweeter (but not too sweet) recipe, this Pecan-Crusted Salmon with Lemon Glaze is crunchy, crisp, and oh-so-satisfying thanks to the citrus glaze. Warning, it’s so good you’ll definitely want seconds, and it looks so fancy no one will realize it only takes a few minutes to whip up. Walnuts are an excellent source of antioxidants as well as protein, healthy fats and fiber, and walnuts plus salmon is like a nutritional powerhouse on a plate. This Walnut-Crusted Salmon recipe calls for a simple coating that becomes crunchy and lightly browned in the oven, leaving your fish flaky and crispy in every bite.
When it comes to perfectly prepared (and crunchy) halibut, we love the tropical inspiration of this Macadamia Nut Crusted Halibut with Mango Sauce. It’s sweet, it’s salty, it’s crunchy, it’s delicate and it’s loaded with nutrients.
This next recipe offers a Mediterranean twist on crusted halibut, mixing the nutty, saltiness of pistachios with a spiced yogurt sauce that totally hits the spot. The Pistachio-Crusted Halibut with Spicy Yogurt combines pistachios with cornmeal for a coating that crunches up perfectly when sautéed.
Cod is a mild, rich but delicate fish that flakes perfectly when cooked just right, and coating it with nuts and baking it in the oven is equally easy and delicious. We especially like this Almond and Lemon Crusted Cod because it’s fresh, bright and light but also crunchy.
And for a colorful dish with a bit more zest, this Pistachio-Crusted Cod with Citrus Salsa creates a crunchy fish packed with pistachio nuts, topped with a flavorful salsa made from grapefruit, tangerine and blood orange.
We hope our faux frying recommendation is pecan your interest. Now, cook away and we’ll cashew on the flip side.
