Last month we introduced everyone to our new obsession, the frozen seafood brand, Ocean’s Pride. Since then we’ve been adding more seafood dishes to our weekly rotation. Not only have meal times become more fun and nutritious, we are also experimenting with new dishes and rediscovering old ones that can be modified. Being able to quickly grab some shrimp or salmon from the freezer has saved us time, money and the mental anguish of trying to think of fun lunch or dinner ideas.
If you are new to dealing with frozen food then it is a good idea to give you a quick primer. There are two main ways to thaw it out. If you have planned ahead you can leave the food in the fridge to defrost for 24 hours. Leave it in its packaging to avoid contamination. If you don’t have that kind of time then put the frozen item in a leak-proof bag and submerge it in cold tap water, change the water every thirty minutes until the food has defrosted. Make sure that you don’t use hot water because it might cause bacteria to cook. You are going to cook the seafood immediately if you use this method but can wait an extra day if you defrost using the fridge.
We asked our friends at Alyasra Foods for some recommendations for using Ocean’s Pride and they delivered! Ocean’s Pride’s Instagram account also has lots of amazing recipes so be sure to check it out.
Their first suggestion was using salmon. It is one of the easiest fish to start with because it can be cooked in so many different ways. Grill it with some veggies and mash or pan fry it with some lemon butter. You can even use it to make a trendy Poke Bowl at home. Better yet, make everyone’s favorite Machboos a little different by using salmon instead of the traditional choice of beef or chicken!
Salmon’s buttery, flaky texture means it absorbs flavor really well as well as stands on its own without much help. There are so many fun and exciting ways to cook salmon, from Roasted Salmon with Zaatar and Sumac or the Salmon Machboos, it is a modern take on the classic and popular local dish. You just need to prepare a marinade to coat the salmon and pan fry it. The rice is more or less prepared as normal.
If you are looking for a family-pleaser, then try shrimp. With so many different options, you are definitely spoiled for choice. Shrimp is a chameleon when it comes to food and can easily fit into almost any dish. From a traditional shrimp Sayadieyyeh to more daring shrimp tacos, and dynamite shrimp to a spicy green curry shrimp. You can grill them, bake them, deep fry them or add them to a creamy pasta sauce. We think the Momawash Robyan is the perfect hearty dish for the beginning of Fall. It only needs 30 minutes of prep time and cooks unattended for about an hour. It is a one-pot meal so it is perfect for a weeknight dinner.
If you are looking for a fish that works perfectly with our local cuisine and recipes, then look no further than the Zubaidi, also known as pomfret. It is low in calories and high protein as well as being an excellent source of fish oil that supports brain development in kids as well as a myriad of health benefits. If you struggle with anemia or are trying to make sure you are getting enough iron through your diet naturally, then reach for the Zubaidi. And for those of us who want younger looking skin, Zubaidi is rich in vitamin D. We love using it in a tandoori, machboos, with Mashkhool rice or keeping it old school by serving up a Mutabaq dish.
Follow @Oceanspride.me for news and ideas. You can find the products in Makani, Rations, Coops, The Sultan Center, Carrefour and City Centre.
