Snap Up the Sauce

A fish filet quickly sauteed in a little oil or butter always makes for a nice quick entree. Take just a few more minutes and you can make a sauce that elevates the dish to something a little more special. In this case, a tomato-cilantro sauce over red snapper filets, accompanied by rice infused with lime, makes a light yet satisfying meal.

Slices of fresh papaya or mango sprinkled with a little lime juice--and maybe a little chili powder--finish the meal quite nicely.

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Red Snapper in Tomato-Cilantro Sauce

Lime Rice

Sliced Papaya

Red Snapper in Tomato-Cilantro Sauce

Active Work and Total Preparation Time: 12 minutes

2 (6- to 8-ounce) red snapper filets

Salt, pepper

1 tablespoon oil

1 tablespoon butter

1 shallot, minced

1 cup diced tomatoes

1/3 cup chopped cilantro

* Rinse and dry filets. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Heat oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Add filets and cook until fish flakes with fork, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove from heat and keep warm.

* Melt butter in skillet. Add shallot and cook over medium-high heat until softened, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and cilantro, and cook just until tomatoes are softened, about 2 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Pour sauce over fish and serve.

2 servings. Each serving: 270 calories; 302 mg sodium; 66 mg cholesterol; 15 grams fat; 5 grams carbohydrates; 29 grams protein; 0.65 gram fiber.

Lime Rice

Active Work Time: 5 minutes * Total Preparation Time: 25 minutes

1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

1 cup water

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 cup rice

1 teaspoon grated lime zest

* Bring chicken broth, water and lime juice to boil in medium saucepan. Stir in rice, return to boil, then lower heat and simmer, covered, until rice is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Fluff rice with fork and stir in lime zest.

2 servings. Each serving: 303 calories; 291 mg sodium; 0 cholesterol; 2 grams fat; 65 grams carbohydrates; 6 grams protein; 0 fiber.

INGREDIENTS

Staples

Butter

1 (14 1/2-ounce) can low-sodium chicken broth

Chili powder

Limes

Oil

Pepper

Rice

Salt

Shallot

Tomatoes

Shopping List

1 bunch cilantro

1 papaya or mango

2 (6- to 8-ounce) red snapper filets

GAME PLAN

25 minutes before: Begin making rice.

22 minutes before: Slice papaya or mango and top with lime juice and chili powder. Grate lime zest. Mince shallot. Dice tomatoes. Chop cilantro.

15 minutes before: Saute fish.

10 minutes before: Make Tomato-Cilantro sauce.

5 minutes before: Add lime zest to rice.

Just before serving: Pour sauce over fish.