Creative Healthy Cooking

Baked Cod on a bed of

roasted-garlic, sun-dried tomato mashed cauliflower with roasted yams and napa cabbage.

I have cooked for so many years and learned almost every time I made something, a new tip, trick or way to love food. This is a recipe I made up one night after seeing a few inspirational pictures of healthy meals. I am like most people, always trying to up my healthy lifestyle game. Cooking healthy but creatively adds so many dimensions to a rich life. It incorporates my creative side, healthy but delicious food for sustenance but also time spent learning and thinking about what my body needs physically and emotionally. And really, if you can think outside the box, anyone can do this.

Recipe

Ingredients for two:

Cod portions (I used frozen but fresh would be great)- 2

Cauliflower- 1/2 head

Napa Cabbage- 1/2 head sliced lengthwise in half

Yam or Sweet Potato- 1

Fresh Garlic-4 to 5 cloves

Fresh Rosemary- 2 springs

Sundried Tomatoes-2 tablespoons

Olive Oil-as needed

Fresh Cracked Black Pepper-as needed

Course Sea Salt-as needed

Red Pepper Flakes- 1 tablespoon

Garlic Powder- 1 tablespoon

Italian Seasoning- 1 tablespoon

Chicken broth-as needed but at most 1/4 cup

First, Roast all the veggies

Toss course chopped cauliflower, potato of your choice, garlic left in skins in olive oil and place on a sheet pan. (Tip: I always cover the pan with tin foil for easy clean up). Sprinkle liberally with course sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper. Then pop into a 400 degree oven for up to 30 minutes turning it over half way through. Check every ten minutes in case it gets done faster.

You are looking for a nice lightly browned vegetable like in the picture below. Place the cauliflower, garlic, sun dried tomatoes and finely chopped rosemary in a Cuisinart. Make sure at this point you took the garlic out of its skin. Add a little vegetable or chicken broth 1/8 to 1/4 cup to blend it to a thick smooth consistency. Cover to keep warm while you prepare the rest of the meal. Set the potatoes aside to keep warm too. I use my warming oven. 

Next coat your fish with olive oil and seasonings. I use garlic powder, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper on both sides. But you can use the seasonings you love. Use the same pan that you used for the other veggies for less clean up. Pop into a 400 degree oven for around 20 minutes turning half way through.

Also at the halfway point of cooking your fish add you wedges of Napa cabbage that is lightly coated in olive oil, sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper. It will turn light brown too. Perfecto!

Presentation is so important!

It makes you look like you know what you are doing! Use pretty dishes that show off your meal. They don't need to match either, it is fun to use different tableware to add interest to a meal.

When your fish is done, it's time to build. Put your mashed cauliflower down for a bed. No need to be perfect, rustic is fun. Then place your potatoes and cabbage on and finally top it with your gorgeous fish! Garnish with a wedge of lime and more rosemary or cilantro.

Before serving, warm your plates. You can put them in your warmer, run them under hot water or set in your oven for a couple of minutes while it is still warm (if they are oven proof). 

Bon Apitite!

Thanks for stopping by!

Peace!

P.S. If you have questions feel free to ask. I am not expert at writing recipes as you can tell ! Ha ha!

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