Baked Fish with Toasted Almonds

Tags

almonds, baked fish, cod, fish, halibut, healthy eating

Stuart unfortunately had some bad news when he had his last set of blood tests so we are on a healthy eating regime. Lots of fish (which I adore), salads, vegetables, healthy food. He cannot eat any dairy products, no salt and no sugar or alcohol for the next month until the next set of tests. So, get ready to see lots of fish recipes in the coming weeks!

This is an easy dish that you can put on the table after a long day’s work in no time. The soft-fleshed cod (or any other meaty white fish) is offset beautifully by the crunchy almonds. Serve with some tender, young spinach leaves. I added some quinoa as well.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• ½ cup sliced almonds
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4  200g/7oz cod fillets 
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dill
• Lemon wedges for serving

Preparation:

Heat oven to 180C / 360F
Place a large dry nonstick skillet over medium heat, and add almonds
Stir constantly until they are lightly golden
Remove from heat, and transfer to a bowl to cool
Dry the fish fillets with paper towels to absorb excess moisture
Place the fillets on a baking sheet
Drizzle some olive oil on the fish
Season with salt, pepper and dill
Sprinkle the toasted almonds on the top
Bake in preheated oven for 10 – 12 minutes until fish flakes easily with a fork
Serve with lemon wedges if desired
Enjoy!

 

 

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Chocolate and cherry cake

Tags

almonds, cake, cherries, chocolate, loaf, loaf cake

A super moist and delicious almond sponge, studded with juicy cherries and covered in chocolate and almonds. It will keep for several days – if it lasts that long!

Ingredients:

200g / 14 tbsp butter, softened
225g / 8oz fresh cherries, pitted and halved
140g / 1 cup flour
200g / 1 cup light brown sugar
3 eggs
1½ tsp baking powder
75g / 2/3 cup ground almonds
2 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract
200g / 8 oz dark chocolate, chopped
2 tbsp toasted flaked almond

 

Preparation:

Heat oven to 160C / 325 F
Grease a loaf tin
Toss the cherries in 1 tbsp of the flour, then set aside
Put the butter and sugar in a large bowl, and whisk until light and fluffy
Add the eggs, 1 at a time, mixing well between each addition
Fold in the remaining flour, the baking powder and ground almonds
Stir in the milk, the vanilla and almond extracts, and half of the chocolate with a spatula
Pour half the cake mixture into the tin, scatter half the cherries over the top, then add the remaining cake mixture and the remaining cherries
Bake for 1 hour or until a skewer comes out clean
Cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then remove and place on a wire rack to cool completely Melt the remaining chocolate in the microwave in 20-sec bursts, then drizzle or pipe over the top of the cake and scatter with the almonds
Wait for the chocolate to set a bit before slicing
Enjoy!

Almond Cookies / Biscuits aux Amandes

Tags

almonds, biscuits, cookies

Makes 15 cookies

Ingredients:

110 g / 4 oz soft butter
150 g / 5 oz sugar
1 egg, beaten
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
25 g / 1 oz powdered almonds / almond flour
150 g / 5 oz flour
110 g / 4 oz slivered almonds

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 180 C / 360 F
Cream the butter and sugar (I used the mixer)
Add the egg
Add the almond extract and mix
Add the almond flour and regular flour and mix until incorporated
Place the slivered almonds on a plate
Using your hands make little balls with the mixture about the size of a walnut
Roll the balls in the slivered almonds
Place them on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper
Bake for 10 minutes
Allow to cool slightly before removing
Enjoy!