This power bowl is overflowing with umami showstoppers. While beets and apple add a sweet element, combining umami and sweet in one dish has become a culinary trend among savvy chefs. Sourced from Canada’s East Coast, dulse is a chewy seaweed that takes on a bacon-esque personality when turned crunchy in a hot pan. But if not available, shards of hijiki or arame or even roughly chopped nori can stand in for dulse. Other grains such as sorghum, farro, freekeh, or wheat berries can work here too. Make it plant based by swapping out egg and mackerel for grilled tempeh.
Fatty in a good way, both mackerel and walnuts contain a boatload of heart-healthy omega-3 fats. As with other seaweed, dulse is a reliable source of iodine, which contributes to proper thyroid functioning.
Watching the clock and simmering eggs for exactly 6 1/2 minutes yields cooked whites and an oozy yolk. The eggs can be cooked, peeled, and kept chilled for up to 3 days. Reheat in simmering water for 1 minute if desired.
Per serving:
In medium saucepan, place spelt and a couple of pinches of salt and add enough water to cover grains by 2 in (5 cm). Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, covered, until kernels are tender, about 40 minutes. Drain any excess water.
In another saucepan, add water to a depth of about 3 in (7.5 cm); bring to a boil. Using slotted spoon, gently lower eggs into water; boil, uncovered, for exactly 6 1/2 minutes, adjusting heat to maintain a gentle boil. To bowl of ice water, transfer eggs and chill until slightly warm, about 2 minutes. Softly tap eggs against countertop to break shell in several spots and gently peel, starting from wider end containing the air pocket. Cut eggs in half lengthwise.
In skillet over medium, heat grapeseed or sunflower oil. Add dulse and heat, stirring often, until crispy, about 1 minute. Remove from skillet to cool and then chop into 1 in (2.5 cm) pieces.
Heat oven to 350 F (180 C). Spread walnut halves on baking sheet and heat until they smell toasty and are a couple of shades darker, about 10 minutes, stirring nuts once. Remove and cool. In blender container, place cooled walnuts, olive oil, cider vinegar, 1 Tbsp (15 mL) water, horseradish, mustard, garlic, rosemary, salt, and pepper; blend until smooth. If needed, add more water, 1 Tbsp (15 mL) at a time, to help with blending and reach a thinner consistency.
Divide spelt, mackerel, carrot, beets, apple, dulse, and eggs among 4 serving bowls. Drizzle on walnut sauce and top with parsley.
These mildly spiced salmon tacos served with sweet and spicy pumpkin seeds will bring a party together. Make a small quantity of salmon go further when you pair it with a fresh red cabbage slaw featuring citrus and cilantro. Drizzled with some bright lime yogurt, the flavours come together perfectly. Sustainability status Wild salmon from the Pacific Northwest and Alaska are considered among the most sustainable, as the fishery is subject to limited harvests. With salmon stocks in decline, supporting managed fisheries such as these can help maintain populations into the future. That may also mean eating salmon less often than we do now. Salmon is a favourite Salmon is the most popular variety of fish in Canada and the second most popular in the US.
B12-rich mussels are a very good and economical source of protein and iron. Steamed mussels are a classic way to enjoy seafood—and so is this rich, aromatic broth of tomato, fennel, and saffron. Be sure to allow saffron to fully infuse to get the full flavour benefit, and finish off the dish with the fragrant fennel fronds. Sustainability status Farmed mussels are considered highly sustainable due to their low impacts on the environment. They are easy to harvest, require no fertilizer or fresh water, and don’t need to be fed externally, as they get all their nutritional requirements from their marine environment. Mussel prep Selection: Look for mussels with shiny, tightly closed shells that smell of the sea. If shells are slightly open, give them a tap. Live mussels will close immediately. Storage: Keep mussels in the fridge in a shallow pan laid on top of ice. Keep them out of water and cover with a damp cloth. Ideally, consume on the day you buy them, but within two days. They need to breathe, so never keep them in a sealed plastic bag. Cleanup: In addition to being sustainable, farmed mussels tend to require less cleaning than wild mussels. Most of the fibrous “beards” that mussels use to grip solid surfaces will have been removed before sale. But if a few remain, they’re easily dispatched: grasp the beard with your thumb and forefinger and pull it toward the hinge of the mussel and give it a tug. Afterward, give mussels a quick rinse and scrub away any areas of mud or seaweed, which, with farmed mussels, will require minimal work.
The delicate flavour of shrimp is highlighted with just a touch of lemon and a hint of mustard, while radish and celery give some fresh crunch to this dish. Eat it in lettuce cups, on top of greens, or served on whole grain bread for a filling snack. Sustainability status Both wild and farmed shrimp can be sustainable depending on where they’re caught and how they’re raised. See our article “Sea Change” for more information about choosing ethical shrimp.
Steaming fish in parchment-paper packets, also known as cooking en papillote , is a classic technique that allows you to cook all your vegetables and fish at the same time in a quick, easy, and convenient way. Flavours of lemon, garlic, and spicy dried chili make this a simple, yet showstopping meal. Sustainability status Wild-caught Pacific halibut has Ocean Wise and Marine Stewardship Council certifications and is fished using longlines, which is a more selective method of fishing that results in less bycatch. Prep party Involve family or guests in the prep and have everyone make their own packet. Once you’ve mastered the technique, it’s easy to change up the ingredients. Make sure you select vegetables that will cook at the same rate as the fish.