LA by Diana - Personal Style blog by Diana Marks: Let's Cook: healthy, easy and delicious!

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May 4, 2015

Let's Cook: healthy, easy and delicious!

Most of you are probably aware that I don't cook. At all. My wildest cooking achievements are boiling rice, making an omelette and making two-ingredient pancakes. I am a great smoothie chef though, but that's another story ;)
But recently things have changed. Ever since I have partnered up with Blue Apron and tried out their service, I think I might have discovered my new passion. Not for cooking in general though, but definitely for cooking with Blue Apron.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with this subscription meal planning service, each week they deliver farm-fresh ingredients in exactly the right proportions straight to your doorstep. The ingredients come in a refrigerated box with a step by step cooking guide of your meal. What's even more exciting is that their meals never repeat themselves, which means that every time you get a box, there is a meal you've never had before. It definitely saves a lot of planning time, creativity, grocery shopping and waste from unused ingredients. Moreover, they offer a large selection of recipes on their site, and are always adding new dishes to their menu every week. I am already eyeing to try a few other recipes form their site, particularly Swedish Style Turkey Meatballs. They look so delicious!
With free shipping, no commitment (you can skip and cancel the service any time!) and shipping to over 80% of the country, it's definitely a service to try! By the way, you can try your first 2 meals for FREE: just click HERE and join!
The meal that I am showcasing today is Almond-Crusted Cod with Coconut Rice and Ginger Spinach

For this meal I was sent 4 cod fillets, 1 1/2 cups of long grain white rice, 13.5 ounce light coconut milk, 1 lime, 1 pound of baby spinach, 1 large bunch of cilantro, 2 tablespoons of butter, a 2-inch peace of ginger and 1/4 cup almond flour. Bare in mind that this meal is made for 4 people, but since the two of us were so hungry, we cooked all 4 right away. I thought I'd eat all the fish and the spinach and save the rice for the next few days. It was actually so satisfying that we ended up having untouched pieces of fish good for tomorrow's lunch and enough rice to last for a week :)
So first, I washed and dried the fresh produce and removed the cod from the fridge to bring it to room temperature.
Then I peeled and minced the ginger, picked the cilantro leaves off the stems and quartered the lime.
I started making the coconut rice. Heated 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pot on a medium high. Added half the ginger, cooked stirring occasionally for 1-2 minutes. Added the rice, 1 cup of water, a big pinch of salt and the coconut milk (a total discovery for me!). Brought to boiling, reduced the heat to low and covered. The total time for cooking rice was approximately 25 minutes.
Once the rice was cooking, I heated 1 tablespoon of olive oil on medium in another nonstick large pan. Added the spinach and cooked, stirring occasionally for 1-2 minutes. Transferred the cooked spinach to a strainer and pressing down with a spoon released as much liquid as possible. 
Then I wiped out the pan, heated 1 tablespoon olive oil on medium again. Added the remaining ginger and cooked for a few minutes stirring occasionally. Added the drained spinach and the butter and cooked until melted (don't forget to stir!). Seasoned with salt, transferred to a serving plate and set aside to a warm place. Wiped the pan again.
Once the rice was finishing cooking, it was time for the cod. I pat the cod fillets dry with paper towels, seasoned with salt and pepper on both sides. Placed the almond flour on a plate. Coated one side of each seasoned fillet in the almond flour.
In the same pan used for spinach, I heated 1 tablespoon of olive oil on medium until hot again. Added the fillets coated sides down first and cooked 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown. 
The cod and the rice were ready at the same time.
I transferred everything to serving dishes, garnished with cilantro and served with lime wedges on the side.
And voila! That was my first ever dish, which was delicious, healthy and definitely photogenic. Bon Appetit! 
You can try your first 2 meals for FREE: just click HERE and join!
This post is sponsored by Blue Apron.

7 comments:

  1. That looks delicious! I love to cook and don't really find it too hard once you know the basics haha great recipe!

    PamelaYaquelin

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  2. Great recipe! My mouth is watering just looking at it.

    Connie | Sponsored by Coffee | Bloglovin’

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  3. This looks so delicious!! I never know what to cook, so this will go right onto my meal plan. :)
    xo Andrea
    Wonderful and Marvelous

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  4. Великолепный рецепт! Выглядит очень аппетитно, и конечно, полезно для здоровья! Рыба, рис и шпинат входят в число самых любимых и полезных продуктов питания! С удовольствием воспользуюсь услугами синего фартука!

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  5. This looks so yummy! Thanks for sharing this recipe x

    Jana // Life of Jana

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  6. Have a good day!I love this food!

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