I love dishes like this one. They alone are certainly worth the price of the book. I probably started dinner 15 minutes before Paul got home. Chopping the mango for the chatini was the most time consuming part, and it wasn't bad at all. (I was a bit disappointed by this mango salsa. It was fine, but I didn't think the flavors added much to the fish. I misread it as mango chianti, and for some reason was expecting alcohol.) After that I pounded the spices with my mortar and pestle, patted it on the fish, and a few minutes later dinner was ready. To round out our meal, I sauteed spinach while searing the fish and heated up a store-bought Challah. I don't eat a ton of tuna these days, does anyone think this would work on a different kind of fish? I wasn't brave enough to try it, but would love your ideas.
I also just realized that I totally forgot to post last week. If this doesn't look anything like mussels it's because it isn't. I think I just need to accept that--despite my attempts--I really don't like mussels. I love dipping bread in broth enough that I'm willing to make them occasionally, but we just had them in the fish stew and I just couldn't make myself buy them again. So I substituted shrimp and scallops in this recipe. It was excellent. More importantly (at least for my life at the moment) Charlotte inhaled this one! These are both recipes I hope to pull out again.
I went looking for a tuna substitute since I'm also trying to stear away from it. I actually tried to buy swordfish because I thought that the firm texture would work nicely, but my fishmonger didn't have any and I settled for monkfish. The monkfish was very good, but I do think that I would have preferred the swordfish with this recipe. The only difference is that you then need to up the cooking time so that it cooks through.
ReplyDeleteThis was a winner, wasn't it? I wish the rest of my family would get on board with tuna!
ReplyDeleteThis one was a winner in my house, too! I thought the tuna was fabulous and so quick to prepare. I served mine with rice pilaf and chopped salad…great dinner!
ReplyDeleteYou have to make these recipes work for your family, and that’s what you did with the mussels…it sounds delicious with shrimp and scallops! Happy Friday!
I also used shrimp instead of mussels and we loved it! Its gotten to the point that I don't know which seafoods are safe to eat and which aren't. It WAS easy to make the tuna but we just didn't like it.
ReplyDeleteI used ocean trout and it was good. Shrimp and scallops would have been delicious with the curry sauce.
ReplyDeleteWow, and it was quick to make mortar and pestle and all... I love skillet dishes too. Glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteahhh, Charlotte! :) way to go, girly!! I think I'll try the shrimp and scallops with the curry recipe for the mussels cuz we really loved it with the mussels :) well your tuna looks tasty and go Charlotte, go!
ReplyDeleteI did like it, too. I thought the spices were delicious. Glad Neil liked his afternoon snack. :)
ReplyDeleteHa! I thought I was posting on Mardi's blog!! Too funny. What I was going to say to you is that I think shrimp would be lovely with the curry!
ReplyDeleteBoth look great! Glad you enjoyed them! I giggled a bit at the mango chianti. :)
ReplyDeleteI was curious about the fish substitute as well and will need to circle back on that one. You made me laugh with the Chianti comment. Not sure what I did but missed the whole mango thing entirely. Good for you for doing the shrimp and scallops - Nana can not do mussels at all and she loved the recipe with the shrimp so I am definitely going that route next time. Since my guys all actually love mussels, I make them for the family- but it is all I can do to even prepare them. Yikes. So glad Charlotte enjoyed them, what a special treat and what a wonderful palate she is developing !!!
ReplyDeleteBoth of the dishes turned out beautifully, great job.
ReplyDeleteI think the sauce on the curried mussels was the star of the dish. I'm happy to know that shrimp and scallops go well with it too. And, for the tuna, I enjoyed the spice crust, but was thinking I'd prefer it with a different steak-y fish next time. Swordfish or halibut or maybe even salmon? I love hearing about all the food that Charlotte is willing to try.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's a fabulous meal on that table! Most importantly Charlotte approved! That curry sauce goes with alot of stuff including beef!
ReplyDeleteI have the same feelings about mussels as you do. I finally made the curry recipe with shrimp and it was delicious. I will make it again for sure and it was a one pot meal!
ReplyDeleteWe had this with salmon (sans salsa) and thought that this worked well.
ReplyDeleteI love that Charlotte liked this one - that is awesome.
I missed these two recipes (and plenty of others), but I'm on a seafood kick, so I'll have to try them!
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