Spicy Strawberry-Glazed Fish with Strawberry-Avocado Relish...for the 2015 Healthy Solutions Spice Blends Recipe Challenge

Earlier this year, I was invited to take part in the 2015 Healthy Solutions Spice Blends Recipe Challenge. Food bloggers from across the country were asked to select a Healthy Solutions Spice Blend and create an original recipe. We love spicy food, so I selected their salt-free, sugar-free Spicy Cajun Seafood blend. I knew that I wanted to create a recipe inspired by Spring flavors. I had a large redfish fillet in my kitchen, so I decided to use that as my starting point. My Spicy Strawberry-Glazed Fish with Strawberry-Avocado Relish is a nice combination of sweet, savory...and a bit of heat. This light and refreshing dish is perfect to serve as the weather turns warmer. I used Healthy Solutions' spicy Cajun Seafood seasoning blend as a rub on the fish, as well as a component of both the strawberry glaze and the chilled strawberry-avocado relish. I served this dish on a bed of rice pilaf for a complete meal that's healthy to eat and gorgeous to look at!

Spicy Strawberry-Glazed Fish
with Strawberry-Avocado Relish

a Weekend Gourmet Original

Ingredients (serves 2-3):

• 1 lb. mild fish fillets [NOTE: I used one large red snapper fillet, but you can use 2-3 tilapia or mild fish fillets if you prefer]
• 2 tsp. Healthy Solutions Spicy Cajun Spice Blend
• 1 tbs. olive oil

For the spicy strawberry glaze:

• 1/2 cup no-sugar-added strawberry all-fruit jam
• Juice of one lime
• 1 tsp. Healthy Solutions Spicy Cajun Spice Blend

For the strawberry-avocado relish:

• 1 cup diced strawberries
• 1 small avocado, peeled and diced
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• Juice of one lime
• 1 tbs. honey
• 1/2 tsp. Healthy Solutions Spicy Cajun Spice Blend
• Salt and pepper to taste

To serve: rice pilaf or other grain to place on the serving dish as a base for the fish.

 

Directions:

Step 1: Add the strawberries, avocado, green onions, lime juice, honey, Spicy Cajun spice blend, and salt & pepper to a mixing bowl. Stir carefully until combined, making sure not to break up the chunks of avocado too much. Cover and refrigerate until serving time.

Step 2: Add the strawberry jam, lime juice, and Spicy Cajun spice blend to a small mixing bowl. Whisk until completely combined and set aside until ready to use.

Step 3: Heat the olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over med-high heat, and heat for 5 minutes. While the skillet heats, rub 1 tsp. of the Spicy Cajun spice blend on both sides of your fish fillet(s). Place the fish in the pan and cook until browned on both sides and nearly cooked through. How long this cooks will depend on the thickness of your fillets, so keep a close watch at the stove. When the fish has seared on both sides, place the skin side down (if applicable). Brush the spicy strawberry glaze on top and cook for 1 minute; flip the fish over and sear the strawberry-glazed side of the fish for an additional minute.

Step 4: To serve, use an oblong serving dish. Top the dish with a healthy grain of your choice -- I used a whole-grain rice pilaf. Top the grain with the glazed fish fillet. Spoon the chilled strawberry-avocado relish across the center of the fish. To serve, each person will receive a portion of the rice pilaf, fish, and relish.

This healthy dish is Springtime on a plate! The colorful strawberry-avocado relish is pretty to look at and so refreshing, with a creamy sweet-tart flavor. The relish works very nicely with the sweetly tangy spicy strawberry glaze. The fish cooked up moist and flaky, and the spice level of the Spicy Cajun spice blend was perfect...not an in-your-face heat, but more of a pleasing warmth. Since the fish dish has a lot of flavors going on, the lightly seasoned rice pilaf was a perfect partner.

 

There may be several components going on in this dish, but this meal can be on the table in about 45 minutes. While the rice pilaf cooks, you have time to whip up the relish and glaze. The fish itself cooks in minutes, so the entire process is actually very quick and easy. If you've never tried a fruit flavor profile with seafood, I encourage you to try it. It's really a nice combination -- especially with the layers of spice from the Healthy Solutions Spicy Cajun spice blend!

 

Disclosure: Healthy Solutions provided me with a package of their Spicy Cajun spice blend to facilitate my entry in their recipe contest. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

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