If one of your New Year’s Resolutions was to eat healthier or to lose weight, we know it can be a challenge. To help you enjoy a Healthy New Year, in addition to a happy one, we’re sharing some delicious, healthy, AND simple seafood dinners that will make it easier to keep your New Year’s Resolution for 2020. 

Will Eating Fish Help with Weight Loss?

Seafood and fish can be one of the best proteins you can eat to help with weight loss and improving your health, especially when it’s grilled, broiled, or baked. Often a heart-healthy food, fish and seafood are rich in omega-3s, lean protein, and can be a great source for the following nutrients: 

  • Seafood recipes from Raleigh restaurantB vitamins (B12, B6)
  • Iodine
  • Phosphorus
  • Selenium
  • Choline
  • Zinc
  • Magnesium
  • Potassium
  • Vitamin D

Healthy & Delicious Seafood Recipes

The American Heart Association recommends eating fish or seafood twice a week, but we know it can be difficult to work into a meal plan without great recipes. That’s why we wanted to use recipes that are not only healthy and tasty, but that are easy to prepare, too. 

Honey Garlic Broiled Salmon

Ready in less than 10 minutes, this has an amazingly crispy outside with tender, flaky meat and a lovely glaze. Add some veggies like broccoli or asparagus to broil at the same time and add a side of rice or quinoa for a meal that’s satisfying, flavorful, and healthy!

Ingredients

  • 1.33 lbs salmon (wild-caught preferably)
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce 
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions: 

  1. Preheat the broiler and place a broiler rack about 6 inches from the broiler. Line a baking sheet with foil.
  2. Mix together the garlic, honey, mustard, soy sauce, and olive oil.
  3. Season the fish with salt and pepper. Spoon honey mustard mixture over the salmon.
  4. Cook for 6-8 minutes. Cooking time will depend on the thickness of your salmon and how well done you like it. For medium rare salmon, cook just 5-6 minutes. For fully cooked salmon, you’ll want to cook for closer to 10 minutes.

Recipe courtesy of Slender Kitchen

Orzo Salad with Scallops

Orzo is a small, rice-like pasta that’s delicious and makes a great base for the scallops in this dish that’s not only good for a light dinner, it’s perfect for summer, too. This recipe is easy to customize – substitute quinoa instead of orzo for added protein, substitute baby spinach for arugula if you prefer, and cut the 1/4 cup of olive oil in half to reduce the fat. 

Ingredients

  • 12 oz orzo 
  • 1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp white balsamic vinegar
  • 1 garlic clove (minced}
  • 1 cup of halved cherry tomatoes 
  • 1 orange bell pepper (diced)
  • 1/2 cup of pitted Kalamata olives
  • 1 – 1 1/2 cup of arugula
  • 1 lb of scallops

Instructions: 

  1. Cook the orzo (or preferred grain) according to the package directions.
  2. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet on medium-high heat. Saute the garlic for two minutes until fragrant, then add tomatoes and peppers. 
  3. Cook for around five minutes – it’s okay if the peppers and tomatoes begin to char. 
  4. Combine the orzo, tomato/pepper mixture, arugula, and olives with the 1/4 cup of olive oil and vinegar. 
  5. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 
  6. Sear the scallops in a non-stick pan over high-heat for only 2-3 minutes per side.
  7. When done, top the orzo salad with the scallops. 

Recipe Courtesy of Well Floured

Avocado Tuna Salad

If you are looking for a simple keto recipe that makes a great lunch or light dinner, this avocado tuna salad is colorful, flavorful, and tasty! While the recipe calls for canned tuna, if you want to enjoy fresher flavor, bake or broil a tuna steak and gently flake the meat into pieces. 

Ingredients:

  • 5 ounces Albacore tuna, drained
  • 1 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp cilantro, fresh (optional)
  • 2 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 avocado
  • 1/2 cup pico de gallo (store-bought is fine, or make up a batch of this recipe for a fresh delicious recipe you can use on everything – eggs, chips, chicken, etc)
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt

Instructions: 

  • Drain the tuna  and mix with mayonnaise, cilantro, and lime juice. Salt to taste and stir to incorporate. 
  • Peel and chop the avocado before placing it in a bowl and squeeze the lime juice over it. Lightly mash the avocado leaving some chunks, and salt to taste. 
  • Layer half the avocado on a plate (feel free to use a ring mold to make it look pretty!) then layer half the tuna mixture on that. Finish with a layer of pico.
 
This makes two servings, though you can save the half of each element of the recipe for lunch the next day!
 
Recipe courtesy of Homemade Interest
 

Visit NC Seafood for Delicious Broiled Seafood in Raleigh

If you aren’t in the mood to cook, but you still want a light, delicious meal, visit NC Seafood. Not only are we known as the best Calabash style seafood restaurant in Raleigh, we also have delicious broiled platters to choose from, including tilapia, mahi mahi, shrimp, scallops, and more! Order takeout online or enjoy a laid-back meal at our restaurant.