Today I threw together a Brazilian fish stew, or at least somewhat inspired by Brazil. Very colourful and tasty, took some time to prep and cook though.

Here’s what we need:

• 28 oz can of tomatoes
• 1 lbs of salmon fillets
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 large onion
• 1 big yellow squash
• 1 big zucchini
• ½ cup fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup dried cilantro
• 1 tbs peperoncino
• 2 plantains
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1 cup water
• 1/4-1/2 cup lime juice

Roughly chop up the onion. Pour the olive oil into a big pot and fry the onions on low heat for about 5 minutes. Add the crushed tomatoes and garlic, let boil under lid while cutting up the yellow squash into strips (like fries) and the zucchini into small cubes. Add to the mix and also add the cilantro, peperoncino. Cut up the parsley rough and add as well.

Put the salmon on top and squeeze a good amount of lime juice over them. Put on the lid and cut up the plantains. About 1 inch thick pieces (around 8 pieces per plantain) add to the mix and stir. Add water and let simmer on medium heat until the fish and plantain is cooked through. About 20 minutes. Stir forcefully to break up the salmon into small pieces.

Salt and pepper to taste and then it’s ready to serve!

What we’ll need:

• about 1 lbs green asparagus
• 1 yellow onion
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 cup milk
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1 tbs butter
• 1 tbs corn starch

Rinse the asparagus and chop off the tips, save them for garnish. Chop up the onion roughly and then put it in a big pot together with the asparagus spears. Pour over about half a cup of the broth and let simmer/steam with lid on until all softened, about 10 minutes. Then pour the vegetable mix into a blender and mix into a purée.

In a big pot (use the one you simmered the asparagus and onions in) pour in the other cup and a half of broth, a table spoon of butter and a table spoon of corn starch. Stir until thickened and then add the vegetable purée, milk, salt and pepper.

Pour into small bowls and sprinkle the cut of spear tips onto the middle of the bowl for garnish.

Very fast, simple, maybe not all that filling, but very tasty!

• 2 cups of water
• 1 packet of ramen soup base
• 3-4 green onions chopped up

Alternative recipe:

• 2 cups of broth of your choice
• 3-4 green onions chopped up

Just put the non liquids in the bottom of a big cup or a small bowl and pour over the hot water. It was delicious last night, we had 15F or colder outside. Very enjoyable!

As with past seafood dishes, this one is very simple (but takes a bit longer). I made a very delicious seafood soup with salmon fillets.

This recipe is a very nice one to follow because it does take time, but you are working the whole time, whether it be prepping the ingredients or washing off the cutting board/cleaning dishes.

Alright, so this is what you’ll need:

• A bit less than a pound of salmon fillets (or any other fatty fish)
• Sprigs of fresh thyme
• 2-3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 yellow squashes
• 2 zucchinis
• 2 medium large potatoes
• 2 celery stalks
• 1-2 carrots
• 3½ cups of stock (chicken or fish)
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1 onion
• 1 can (14oz) of tomatoes
• 1 bay leaf
• Italian parsley for garnish

Start off with cutting up the onions into cubes or chunks. Anything that will fit a spoon basically. Then chop up the celery roughly. If you want to you can also chop up the carrot now, or add it later if you like it crunchier. Put two to three table spoons of olive oil in the pan and heat it up. Tip in the vegetables you just cut up and stir occasionally, cook until softened.

While the onions and vegetables soften start chopping up the squashes and potatoes, again into anything that will fit on a spoon.  Tip them into the pot together with the sprigs of thyme and mix around. When everything got a bit of colour add the can of tomatoes, stock and bay leaf. Stir put the lid on and let simmer for about ten minutes.  Add the zucchinis, mix, and let simmer for another couple of minutes. Lastly add the salmon fillets on top of the soup (don’t mix it down yet!). Put the lid back on and let simmer until the fish is cooked through. Push a spoon through occasionally to check on the fish.

When the salmon is cooked through, start breaking it up with a spoon (or your tool of choice) until in small chunks – stir and serve :)