Fish Stew: A Summer Dinner That's Good and Good for You

The health benefits of fish are well known and well publicized. Omega-3 fatty acids are being touted everywhere as excellent for you heart, your brain, your eyes and puts your body in an offensive position against many diseases. The recommendation is that everyone should have two to three servings of fish per week. Unfortunately, for many people the challenge is knowing how to cook and serve fish without feeling like it's always the same. While many of us became adapt at cooking meatloafs and pasta dishes growing up, many Americans seem to leave the fish for special occasion meals at restaurants. We enjoy fish when someone else is cooking it, but often don't know how to cook it at home. In fact, there are as many fish recipes as there are beef recipes and fish is quick to cook so no need to plan ahead. While the standard tuna salad, grilled salmon and stuffed flounder dishes are all wonderful and delicious, the following recipe for fish stew provides another alternative that is different, delicious and easy to make in just one pot.

Whether you're home or away on vacation at a beach house, here's an easy recipe for a summer dinner. You can make as much or as little as you like. .As with most any recipe, you can change it up to make it lower in fat and calories or make it a rich decadent treat and leave in the heavy cream. You may also want to leave out the bacon, and add some more veggies. This fish stew is typically made with white fish, such as flounder but you can make it with any type of seafood you like or have available. Make sure your fish is bone free as it will be hard to spot a bone in this dish. This is a quick dish to make and can be completed in thirty minutes, ready to serve.

Ingredients

½ pound of bacon

1 medium onion chopped

1/8 cup of flour

1 Tablespoon of butter

½ pound fish

1 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon of pepper

1 bay leaf

Pinch of thyme

1 cup of heavy cream

1 cup of milk

1 potato, cooked and chopped

Directions

Fry the bacon and crumble it up to small pieces. Then add the chopped onion, flour and then fish and cook everything until the fish is cooked through. Add 1 tablespoon of butter, spices, mile, cream, potatoes and cook until thoroughly mixed and bubbly hot. Serve immediately. This dish is particularly good served in a deep bowel with a chunk of crusty bread. You can make a salad to go with the dish, but remember you can also add some more veggies to the stew and make it a one bowl meal.

While flounder isn't the biggest source for Omega-3 fatty acids, flounder is an excellent source of protein, selenium, B12, B6 and potassium. Selenium is linked to antioxidants, cancer prevention, health immune functioning among many other things. Fish is rich in nutrients, vitamins, minerals and protein. Introducing your family and friends to seafood with varying recipes is a gift to their health.