say Open sesame

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This article was published 18/11/2017 (3107 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Sesame seeds, fresh ginger and a little butter are all you need to make this standout snapper dish.

This is a light sauce that is perfect with a delicate fish fillet. The sesame seeds form a crisp crust. This recipe is made with plain sesame seeds. You can also add more colour by adding a few black sesame seeds to the plain ones.

A quick way to peel and use fresh ginger is to scrape the skin off with the edge of a teaspoon. Then grate the ginger over the sesame seeds to capture the ginger and its juice.

Linda Gassenheimer is the author, most recently, of Simply Smoothies: Fresh & Fast Diabetes-Friendly Snacks & Complete Meals.

— Tribune News Service

Sesame Snapper

60 ml (1/4 cup) sesame seeds

30 ml (2 tbsp) chopped fresh ginger

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

340 g (3/4 pound) snapper fillets

15 ml (1 tbsp) canola oil

15 ml (1 tbsp) butter

Mix sesame seeds, ginger and salt and pepper to taste together on a large plate. Rinse snapper fillets and pat dry with a paper towel. Dip fillets into sesame seeds and press the seeds into the fillet. Repeat on the second side of the fillet. Heat the canola oil and butter in a medium-size nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the snapper fillets and sauté 3 minutes. Carefully turn the fillets over with a large spatula and cook the second side 3 minutes. Watch carefully to make sure the seeds do not burn.

Divide the fillets between two dinner plates and spoon pan juices and any seeds left in the skillet over them.

Yield 2 servings.

— Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer

Rice and Snow Peas

500 ml (2 cups) fresh snow peas, trimmed

1 package microwaveable brown rice to make 375 ml (1 1/2 cups) cooked rice

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Microwave snow peas in a large bowl. Remove and microwave rice according to package instructions. Measure 375 ml (1 1/2 cups) rice into the bowl with the snow peas. Reserve remaining rice for another meal. Add salt and pepper to taste to the bowl and toss well.

Yield 2 servings.

Helpful hints:

— Tilapia or sole can be used instead of snapper.

— 10 ml (2 tsp) ground ginger can be substituted for fresh ginger.

— Green beans can be used instead of snow peas.

— The cooking time is for a 1/2- to 3/4-inch fillet. Cook 2 minutes longer for a 1-inch fillet.