Low Calorie Fish Tikka Tacos

 

Low-Calorie Living 

I really really really love tacos. I never met a fish taco I did not like. I am on a little quest to eat healthier and have meals with more veggies, lean meats, and fiber. So I'm not about to be making ribs mashed potatoes gravy and mac n cheese for the blog to tempt myself. So the blog gets whatever I am eating. So these next few recipes are about keeping the calories low but the flavors high. That’s my motto, the food has to be delicious no matter what! these tacos did not disappoint!

Grilled fish and shrimp platter

 

You're new favorite Platter!

This is a sure winner; it is one of those recipes that is easy to whip up after work for a fast but flavorful dinner. Shrimp, and fish seasoned in a lovely marinade bursting with Jamaican flavors and then grilled. I made this for Sunday dinner two weeks ago and not a soul went to bed hungry.

Jamaican Curry fish and bammy

"Something Smells Fishy"

I really enjoy cooking and eating fish. It’s no secret that escovitch fish is my all-time favorite. Brown stew and steam fish are not too far behind. But what about curry? We tend to curry lobster and shrimp more often than we do fish. And curry fish is just as delicious, if not more than. Because the fish meat can actually absorb all the juices better than the meat of the shrimp or lobster. So today its a delicious Jamaican pot of curry fish and bammy.

Callaloo okra and pumpkin stuffed foil roast fish

"Christmas is coming"

If you’re thinking how is a whole fish even an option for Christmas dinner? then you have never had a Jamaican Christmas dinner. Fried escovitch fish is always an available item and in our family, we don’t do filets. We serve whole fish.  Usually, it’s the only seafood item on the table for anyone who doesn’t eat other animal protein, on second thought maybe we will have a shrimp curry in addition. But let us say you are that one guest who is pescatarian, then chances are the whole fish would be the highlight on your plate. With that said, I decided to dedicate this fish to that person who is coming to Christmas dinner, who may be tired of the escovitch fish (as if that’s even possible).

Foil roast curry conch with pumpkin and okra

"Something Smells Fishy"

This was a simple and easy dish. I only had to get one pot dirty, and in all fairness if I didn’t use any curry powder, I wouldn’t have made a mess of any pots at all. Seasoned conch, tossed with pumpkin, okra and spices wrapped in foil and cooked until tender.

Steamed mussels in a garlic tomato wine sauce

"Something Smells Fishy"

This was a recipe I made a while back for my insta stories and decided I would remake it for the blog. If it were up to me my seafood month would have nothing more than fish and shrimp recipes. But because I know there is so much more under the sea, I try my best to produce recipes that contain all types of distinct species. So, to kick off March, we start with some mussels.

Sesame garlic fish nuggets

My Dinner

How about we have some fish. Light crispy deep-fried fish tossed in a sweet garlic sauce. I call these fish nuggets. Delicious dinner option when you are tired of chicken. This fish is full of Asian flavors, a melting pot of garlic, sesame seeds, green onions and honey. Serve this with some fried rice and that’s dinner.

Sweet and sour fish

"Something Smells Fishy"

It’s that time of year again where it’s all about the seafood. This seafood month I’m going to try my best to make it as interesting as possible. Unfortunately for some I’m not really starting with as much of a bang, I went for my tried and true go to recipe for Sweet and sour fish. It’s that recipe you can whip up real quick when you need a fast dinner that absolutely everyone will love.

Escovitch fish sticks

Potluck

Usually I’m not a fan of escovitch fish that's not a whole fish. We buy sliced snapper and butter-fish all the time but rarely do we escovitch them. To me there is a taste the fish has sometimes that I don’t care for. I rather filet a whole fish myself if needs be (but then who even has the time for that). The day I made this, I was just in the mood for some spicy pickle sauce on fish. And we were completely out of whole fish, and I had a few bags of snapper in the freezer and figured what the heck. Can I tell you how delicious it was?

Jamaican Brown Stew Fish

Something Smells Fishy...
 
Another Jamaican favorite is brown stew fish, a close cousin to steamed fish and my father’s favorite way to have a fresh snapper. With stew fish you get the best of both worlds, it basically combines fried fish and steamed fish into one lovely pot.

Jack-fish Tacos

Something Smells Fishy...

I had written my list of recipes to make for this month since last year, and was on the fence about a fish taco. I wanted some kind of avocado sauce, homemade salsa and all kinds of things. However avocados are out of season, can’t find them anywhere. The grocery store did not have any snapper filet. I wanted to make authentic tortilla shells with masa harina but as you guessed it, nowhere to be found here in Mandeville. So I was ready to give up on my taco dreams. Then my sister over the last week has been making tacos like crazy, and my father got a huge catch from his fish guy; snapper, parrot, jackfish and butter fish. So I figured what the heck, let’s make tacos.

Lemon Butter Salmon

Something Smells Fishy...

Everyone has their own version of lemon butter salmon. It’s a classic way to dress a beautiful piece of fish, Paired with mashed potatoes and sauté broccoli and asparagus with a glass of wine, and that all you need for a perfect dinner.

Jerk Salmon

Something Smells Fishy...

The first time I had jerk fish was on the eve of my 29^th birthday. We went to Oswald’s at alligator pond and as usual I ordered my escovitch fish. We were about to order another when someone suggested I try their Jerk fish. It was spectacular and I have never ordered anything else from them since that day.

Jamaican Fish tea

Something Smells Fishy...

Don't let the name fool you, this is not a sweet fishy tea, its just a soup! I always imagined fish tea came out of a need to use a left over commodity. Just like bread pudding reclaims slate bread, and chicken bones create stock. I feel that fish heads and other parts were used to make a soup so that they would not be “wasted” but that’s just my theory. There has never been a thing wrong with turning trash to treasure. And this soup is quite a treasure.

Garlic Shimp Patty in a saffron crust

Juici...and if you don't know, now you know!

The second installment of seafood patty week has arrived. The crustacean we all love, or love to hate. I decided to make a shrimp patty, because the poor excuse for shrimp patties being served around Jamaica need to be taught a few lessons.

Coconut fish patty in a saffron crust

Juici...and if you don't know, now you know!

So this week I’m venturing into the seafood patty scene.  This is a coconut fish patty in a flaky saffron crust. The crust this week is much easier to prepare. I made my crust the day before kept everything as cold as possible.  The crust came out so flaky and delicious and the filling basically tasted like Jamaica.

Greedy Girl Eats: Homemade escovitch fish

"Greedy Girl Eats"

What is Escovitch fish? It’s a well-seasoned fish fried crispy and topped with a spicy pickle sauce. The sauce is full of vinegar, onions, pimento, hot peppers and carrots. This sauce can be made and left to soak for months, even years and still be delicious. The longer it soaks the better the flavor. I have spent the last month at various restaurants in Jamaica, testing their versions. I think I have come up with a home-made version that will rival the best seaside fish joint in Jamaica.

Greedy Girl Eats: Border fish

BEST PICKLE 

"Greedy Girl Eats"

Growing up this was the seafood spot we were most acquainted with and knew very well. As a matter of fact it was here that I first fell in love with escovitch fish. We always stopped here on our way to the beach. Border is known for two things Fried fish and bammy. The only other things sold here is soup and maybe festivals (if your lucky) But fish and bammy are the two main items on the list here. Lets see how their escovitch fish rated.

Greedy Girl Eats: Glorias Seafood

BEST CRUNCH (Tied)

"Greedy Girl Eats"

Glorias seafood restaurant is one place that has such a great reputation. Its a spot I have always heard of and wanted to try. The reason why this place has eluded me for all these years is its location. All the way in Port royal; as in Pirates of the Caribbean Port Royal. One evening after picking up my sister from the airport we decided to make a quick stop at Glorias since we were a stones throw away. Lets see how their escovitch fish rated.

Greedy girl eats: Whitebones seafood restaurant

"Greedy Girl Eats"

Whitebones seafood restaurant has been another go to eatery for our family. This is the second of the only two establishment I have reviewed that is not on the seaside. This restaurant is in the heart of Kingston city, or maybe on the outskirts of the heart. Their menu is quite extensive and they even have all you can eat crab Thursdays. However I will be schooling you all on their escovitch fish. Lets see how their escovitch fish rated.