(Family Features) Whether you’re celebrating a weekend meal with loved ones or simply looking for a way to bring your family to the table at the same time, seafood night can make dinnertime a special treat. Next time you plan to make fish the focus of your menu, it’s possible you’ll be enjoying the benefits of aquaculture, also known as seafood farming.
Fast becoming a leading source of seafood worldwide, aquaculture is similar to typical agriculture but with fish, shellfish and seaweeds. Farmed seafood can be raised and harvested in either fresh or seawater, where natural conditions are recreated.
Today, half of all seafood Americans eat annually is farm raised and the appetite is only growing. There are many reasons for this, but one is due to overfishing and destructive practices. About 33% of wild fish stocks have reached their biological limit and aquaculture helps meet the increasing demand for seafood.
However, not all seafood you find in the grocery aisles is the same. Despite industry advances, aquaculture still faces challenges with fraud, mislabeling, and questionable conditions. That’s why it’s important to look for responsible seafood products that are labeled by a trusted certification process.
For example, the Aquaculture Stewardship Council is a nonprofit certification program that has created and enforced the world’s strictest and highest standards for seafood farming since 2010. Today, it is transforming the seafood industry with a new level of certification for farmed seafood. This “new way to seafood” includes:
* Seafood that can be traced all the way from the farm to the store, ensuring the seafood you buy is what it claims to be
* The strictest combination of requirements to protect the environment, workers, and communities on the farms where seafood is raised
* Improving farmed seafood quality and safety.
To find more information about the certification process, visit NewWaytoSeafood.com.
Royal Salmon with Romesco Sauce and Aioli
Recipe courtesy of MOWI on behalf of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council
Servings: 2
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 Atlantic Salmon MOWI Royal portions
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
1 red pepper, cut into long strips
2 cups small potatoes, cooked and cut in half
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 cup garden peas
1 tablespoon chopped tarragon
Romesco Sauce:
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, smashed
1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted
1/4 cup hazelnuts
1 slice white bread, crust removed
1 large roasted red pepper
1/4 cup tomato puree
1 teaspoon sherry vinegar
salt
black pepper
Aioli Sauce:
1 cup mayonnaise
1-2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lemon, zest and juice
salt
white pepper
lemon wedges, for garnish
Preheat oven to 400 F.
Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Season salmon portions with salt and pepper, to taste, and place skin sides down in the pan. Cook 2-3 minutes until skin is crispy. Place on a sheet pan, skin sides up, and bake for 6-7 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest.
In the same skillet, add the remaining olive oil then add peppers and potatoes. Cook 6-7 minutes until peppers soften and potatoes start to caramelize.
Add paprika, cayenne, and peas; stir and cook for 2 minutes. Add tarragon.
To make romesco sauce: In a clean pan, heat olive oil and gently fry garlic, nuts, and bread until toasted.
In a blender, process red pepper, tomato puree, and vinegar until smooth. Add toasted nuts and bread; process to desired consistency.
To make the aioli: In a bowl, whisk mayonnaise, garlic, olive oil, lemon zest and juice, salt, and pepper.
Place several spoonfuls of aioli on a plate. Top with potatoes, peppers, and salmon, skin side up. Top with romesco sauce.
Source: Aquaculture Stewardship Council
