Barbecued Orange Whitefish

We all do things we're no supposed to. We drink too much. We eat too much. We stay up too late.

Sooner or later we have to pay the piper.

Maybe it's a hangover, maybe it's a sunburn, but like the old saying goes, no good deed (or bad) goes unpunished.

It's April and time to start thinking about how we're going to be looking this summer. The projections aren't too good. After a quick inspection I realize I've slipped into the dreaded PP nieghborhood, Pale and Pudgy.

I'm not fat mind you, just a little too squishy here and there. It's nothing that buying and ignoring a few exercise videos won't cure. The pale part's a little tougher to ignore. It's gotten so bad for me that some guy Ahab has been stalking me for the last three weeks. During winter and spring in Michigan we revert to counting individual sun rays, forget anything approaching tanning.

Well it's still too soon to find any sun, and tanning booths remind me too much of human microwaves. So I'll attack what I can. Yes it's time to go on a diet. But don't worry it won't last; truth is, it may only last for this one recipe.

In the spirit of over-consumption, here's a recipe for barbecued whitefish. As many of you know there is a recommended limit on how many whitefish you're supposed to consume. Something about dioxins or mercury or uranium-238 in the flesh, I don't know. Normally if someone tells me there's a limit on how many you should eat , I just set the bar at 0 and everyone walks away happy. But whitefish is tasty and light, so let's take it easy and enjoy...


Barbecued Orange Whitefish
from all-seafood-recipes.com

2/3 cup orange juice
Zest of 1 orange, grated
6 TBSP Sherry
6 TBSP olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 TBSP prepared creole mustard (original recipe calls for 1 teaspoon)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

4 (6-ounce) whitefish fillets (tilapia or sole would make a good substitute)
Orange Wedges for garnish


Combine the first eight ingredients in a large jar. Shake well to combine.

Place the whitefish fillets in a single layer in a glass or other non-reactive pan.

Pour the marinade over the fish and refrigerate for 30 - 45 minutes.

While the fish is marinading preheat your grill or broiler over high heat.

Remove the filets and transfer the marinade to a medium size saucepan.

Bring the marinade to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook while the fish is grilling.

Cook the fish until opaque and flaky, about 4 - 5 minutes per 1/2 inch of thickness, (total cooking time), carefully turning the fish halfway through the cooking time.

Serve the fillets, drizzling with the simmered sauce and garnish with orange wedges.


OK crablings, that was pretty easy and very fast. No excuses, time to get ready for summer. I'm off to work up a sweat watching yoga DVD, until next time remember, you can do it, you can cook.