In Your Prime: Chinese dish without a fuss

Cod Chinois over Chinese Noodles. (Linda Gassenheimer/TNS)

Credit: TNS

Credit: TNS

Cod Chinois over Chinese Noodles. (Linda Gassenheimer/TNS)

The flavors of fresh ginger, soy sauce, mushrooms and sweet cod fillets are captured in a sealed foil packet. It’s an easy way to enjoy a Chinese dish without much fuss.

Sherry is called for in the sauce. You can buy small bottles (splits) of sherry or use chicken or fish broth instead.

Serve the fish, vegetables and the fragrant sauce over boiled Chinese noodles. These can be found steamed in the refrigerated section of the produce department or dried in the Asian food section of the market.

Helpful Hints:

— You can use any type of fish fillet.

— Look for shredded carrots in the produce section of the market.

— You can use angel hair pasta instead of steamed Chinese noodles.

— You can use any type of mushroom.

Countdown:

— Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

— Put water for noodles on to boil.

— Make cod.

— While cod cooks, make noodles.

Shopping List:

To buy: 3/4 pound cod fillets 1 container shiitake mushrooms (6 needed), 1 package shredded carrots, 1 small piece fresh ginger, 1 container minced garlic, 1 bunch scallions, 1 bottle reduced-sodium soy sauce, 1 small bottle dry sherry, 1 bottle sesame oil, and 1 package Chinese noodles (steamed or dried) or angel hair pasta.

Staples: sugar, salt and black peppercorns.

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COD CHINOIS (COD WITH CHINESE VEGETABLES)

Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer

3/4 pound cod fillets

1 cup sliced shiitake mushrooms

1 cup shredded carrots

1 cup sliced scallions

2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger

3 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce

3 tablespoons dry sherry or broth

2 teaspoons minced garlic

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon sesame oil

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Cut 2 12-inch squares of foil. Divide the cod into 2 portions and place one portion on each square. Place half the mushrooms, carrots, scallions and ginger on each fillet. Mix the soy sauce, sherry, garlic, sugar and sesame oil together. Drizzle over the fish and vegetables. Fold foil in half and seal the edges to make a closed packet. Place them on a baking sheet and bake 15 minutes. Remove from oven, open packets and spoon contents including the sauce over cooked noodles.

Yield 2 servings.

Per serving: 327 calories (23% from fat), 8.4 g fat (1.3 g saturated, 2.8 g monounsaturated), 72 mg cholesterol, 35.3 g protein, 23.2 g carbohydrates, 3.7 g fiber, 910 mg sodium.

CHINESE NOODLES

Recipe by Linda Gassenheimer

1/4 pound Chinese noodles (steamed or dried) or angel hair pasta

2 teaspoons sesame oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Bring 3 to 4 quarts water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the noodles and boil 1 minute for fresh, 3 minutes for dried. Drain and return noodles to the saucepan. Add sesame oil and salt and pepper to taste. Divide between 2 dinner plates.

Yield 2 servings.

Per serving: 259 calories (24% from fat), 7 g fat (1.3 g saturated, 2.5 g monounsaturated), 48 mg cholesterol, 8.1 g protein, 40.6 g carbohydrates, 1.9 g fiber, 12 mg sodium.