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Easy 15 Minute Parmesan Tilapia

March 8, 2021 by Susie Weinrich 10 Comments

Parmesan Tilapia is a really fast and delicious dinner, perfect for any weeknight. Flaky and tender tilapia is topped with a savory parmesan sauce and broiled. This is a kick ass dinner that is ready in about 15 MINUTES, from start to finish!

flaky tilapia with a parmesan topping and a lemon wedge

The flavors of this Broiled Parmesan Tilapia are similar to this Caesar Chicken if you would prefer to eat chicken instead of fish.

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Why This Recipe Works

Tilapia is a quick baking fish, making is a really great weeknight dinner.
Baking the tilapia under the broiler allows it to cook quickly.
The broiler browns the parmesan sauce perfectly, while finishing the tilapia.
The capers and lemon add a nice bright flavor to the parmesan topping.

This tilapia recipe is quick easy and delicious. I keep a bag of Costco Tilapia in the freezer for nights when I am not in the mood to figure out dinner. I whip this up with a side of rice and a veggie and we are good to go. Healthy and delicious! – Elizabeth

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you need to make this Parmesan Tilapia for dinner, and some special tips on a few ingredients.

Tilapia Fillets – When looking for quality Tilapia Fillets they should have a nice white to light pink, firm flesh and not have little to no odor.

You can buy fresh or frozen tilapia fillets for this recipe. If you buy frozen you will want to thaw completely before baking.

Overnight Thaw – Place the frozen fillets in a glass dish and place in the fridge overnight to thaw.
Quick Thaw – Place in original vacuum sealed packaging (or in a zip lock if you already unpackaged them) in a bowl of room temp/warm water. Change the water every 5 minutes until they are thawed completely.

Step by Step Picture Instructions

This recipe is super easy to make! You will have dinner on the table in 15 minutes! Let’s get started…

Preheat your broiler. Also move the oven rack to the top position in the oven, about 6 inches from the broiler heating element.

Make the Parmesan Sauce by stirring together the parmesan, mayo, sour cream, butter, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, pepper, onion powder, dill, capers and hot sauce. Set aside.

Pro Tip: Use fresh grated parmesan cheese, it melts better than pre-grated.

ingredients for parmesan sauce in a bowl

parmesan sauce mixed together for tilapia

Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and coat with baking/cooking spray or oil.

Lay the tilapia fillets on the baking sheet.

4 fish fillets on a foil lined baking pan

Pop the tilapia in the oven and broil for 3 minutes.

Remove from the oven and flip the tilapia over.

Pro Tip: Use a spatula to flip the fish, it will become tender and flaky as it bakes.

Divide the parmesan sauce evenly between the fillets. Spread completely over the top of the tilapia.

spreading parmesan sauce over tilapia on a baking sheet

Pop back in the oven and broil for another 4-5 minutes.

Pro Tip: your tilapia is cooked though at 145 degrees. You can check this with an instant read thermometer.

baked parmesan tilapia on a baking sheet

Serving

This Broiled Parmesan Tilapia is amazing served with lemon wedges, couscous or rice pilaf, and roasted asparagus.

two dinner plates with parmesan tilapia, couscous and asparagus

Recipe Tips

Zest your lemon before you squeeze the juice.
Use fresh grated parmesan cheese, it melts much creamier than pre-shredded.
Don’t overcook your tilapia. 145 degree internal temp is all you need.
Buy quality tilapia that has firm flesh, looks white to light pink and has little to no smell.
Use a fish spatula or large spatula to turn and transfer the fish. It will become flaky and tender as it bakes.

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Easy Mexican Rice

March 4, 2021 by Susie Weinrich Leave a Comment

This savory Mexican Rice recipe serves as the perfect side dish for any Mexican meal, including tacos, burritos, and enchiladas. The required ingredients are likely already in your pantry. Combining everyday items like rice, tomatoes, onions, and spices, come together in about 30 minutes!

mexican rice in a bowl topped with cilantro and limes

Perfect for hosting a taco party, family meals, or a craving for Mexican cuisine, this Mexican Rice recipe seamlessly blends convenience, simplicity, and taste.

If you want to make this in your Instant Pot then pop over to this recipe for Instant Pot Mexican Rice.

Why This Recipe Works

Cooking the long grain white rice in chicken broth adds more flavor than using water.
You literally infuse the rice with flavor by adding the Mexican seasonings before cooking.
Layering in the tomato sauce give the rice a nice red color that is traditional for Mexican rice.
It is perfect served with tacos, burritos, or enchiladas!

Ingredients

Here are the things that you will need to make this Mexican Rice recipe, plus a few special notes about the ingredients.

White Rice – This recipe is written and tested using long grain white rice. You can also use brown rice or basmati rice, you will just want to follow cooking times on the package.

Pro Tip: Rinse your rice to remove the excess rice starch that clings to the outside of the grains. This will prevent your rice from clumping or becoming too creamy.

Adding Spice – If you like your Mexican Rice a little spicy you can absolutely add a diced jalapeno in with the onions and garlic.

You can also add a couple pinches of cayenne pepper when you add the seasonings.

Step-by-Step Picture Instructions

Make sure you have a sturdy pot that has a lid. It is important to have a pot with a well fitting lid so that it will trap the steam to cook the rice.

Prep Rice

Rinse your uncooked rice by running it under cool water for about a minute in a fine mesh sieve. Set aside.

Onions & Garlic

Place the pot over medium heat and add the olive oil. Once it is hot add the diced onions and garlic. Sauté for 5 minutes, stirring often.

Add Rice

Pour in the rice and spices and sauté for another 2-3 minutes.

rice onions and spices in a pan being stirred

Now pour in the chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan (deglazing).

Bring To A Boil

Crank the heat up to medium high and bring the pot to a boil.

tomato sauce being poured into a pot with rice and chicken broth

Once it boils, turn the heat to low. Gently pour in the tomato sauce.

Cook Rice

Pop the lid on and let it cook (without peaking) for 20 minutes, or per package time instructions if using something other than long grain white rice.

mexican rice cooked in a pot with onions and tomato sauce on top

At the end of 20 minutes remove the pot from the heat and leave it covered for 5 more minutes.

Fluff and Serve

Fluff the rice with a fork and garnish with cilantro and green onions.

Serving

This rice is best served as a side dish along side tacos, burritos or enchiladas.

It would also be a great base for a burrito bowl.

Freezing

You can absolutely freeze this rice! If you have leftovers or just want to meal prep, freezing is a great option to save your Mexican Rice for up to 3 months.

Simply spread your prepared and cooled rice on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, choose one that will fit in your freezer.

Spread it so that it is in one layer.

Pop in the freezer for about 3 hours. Then break it apart and place in a freezer baggie.

Mark the date on the bag and save for up to 3 months!

Reheating

Reheat your frozen rice in a skillet over medium low heat with a little water. Or pop it in the microwave for a minute or two.

Taste it for additional seasonings like chili powder, cumin and garlic.

red rice in a bowl with a margarita to the side

Expert Tips

Rinse your rice, removing the extra rice starch. This will give you fluffier rice.
Sauté the rice and spices for about 2 minutes. It will lightly toast the rice and release the spice oils, giving extra flavor.
Don’t peek while your rice is cooking, keep the steam in the pot.
Fluff your rice with a fork. The tines will seperate the grains perfectly.

Recipe FAQ’s

What is another name for Mexican Rice?

Some will also call Mexican Rice, Spanish Rice, although they are different dishes. It is also called Arroz Rojo (Red Rice).

What should I serve with Mexican Rice?

Mexican Rice is a traditional Mexican side dish, so you should serve it with a main dish that is of Mexican heritage: tacos, burritos, barbacoa, or enchiladas all make great options!

What kind of rice do I use for Mexican Rice?

Traditionally a long grain white rice is used to make Mexican Rice.

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Easy Creamy Gnocchi Bake

March 3, 2021 by Susie Weinrich 1 Comment

Creamy Gnocchi Bake is an excellent one pan dinner that is done in about 30 minutes! Pillow-y soft gnocchi pasta is coated in a creamy tomato sauce and covered in melty mozzarella cheese and baked in the oven.

We love a one pan dinner here at Mom’s Dinner! They are generally really easy to make, you have less dirty dishes to clean up after dinner, and they are usually FULL of flavor. Here are some more one pan dinners we love:

Now if gnocchi is not your jam, you can make a very similar dish with this recipe for Spaghetti with Tomato Cream Sauce!

Ingredients & Tips

The ingredients in this Gnocchi Bake Recipe are pretty simple, a lot of which you probably already have in your pantry.

Pictured below are the ingredients to grab:

ingredients for gnocchi bake recipe on a table — Ingredients Clockwise: Diced tomatoes, red pepper flakes, potato gnocchi, tomato paste, sugar and kosher salt, olive oil, heavy whipping cream, marinara sauce, garlic, dried basil, onion, mozzarella cheese.

Gnocchi: For this recipe you are using a shelf stable potato gnocchi. It can be found be the dry pasta in your grocery store.

Marinara sauce: Use a 24 oz jar of your family’s favorite marinara sauce. Pictured above is Prego, but we generally use Rao’s.

Diced tomatoes: Diced tomatoes are a great addition to the texture and flavor of this Baked Gnocchi dish. Make sure to drain your tomatoes before adding to the recipe.

Mozzarella cheese: It is reccomeneded to shred your own cheese. It will melt creamier and more flavoful than pre-shredded cheese. If you can get whole milk mozzarella to shred that will be the best.

What is Gnocchi?

Gnocchi is a type of Italian pasta. They are little pillow like pastas that are dense and traditionally made with potato.

The word gnocchi is derived from the word “nocca”, meaning knuckle. Which makes sense because if you look at the pasta it does kind of resemble a knuckle!

The actual pronunciation of gnocchi can be a divisive conversation… so I will just tell you how I say it – “nyoh-key”.

I have only tested this recipe with store-bought potato gnocchi. However you could also make your own! There are two types of gnocchi:

Step By Step Picture Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°.

For this recipe you will need an oven safe skillet.

However, if you do not have an oven safe skillet start in a skillet and then transfer to a casserole dish before popping in the oven.

Let’s get started…

In a skillet over medium-low heat add the olive oil. Soften the onions in the oil for 5 minutes.

Pro Tip: Don’t let the onions brown, if they begin to brown or caramelize turn the heat down.

Add the garlic and sauté another 3-4 minutes.

Stir in the tomato paste, sugar, kosher salt, and dried basil.

Pro Tip: lightly crush the dried basil in the palm of your hand to release the flavor oils.

onions and garlic coated in hers and tomato paste in a skillet

Pour in the heavy cream and simmer lightly for about 3-4 minutes.

Pro Tip: don’t sub a lesser fat dairy product for the heavy cream, it won’t thicken the same.

Stir in the drained tomatoes, marinara sauce, and uncooked gnocchi.

gnocchi coated in a tomato cream sauce in a skillet

If your skillet isn’t oven safe go ahead and transfer the mixture to a baking pan before moving on.

Top with mozzarella cheese.

a hand sprinkling mozzarella cheese over gnocchi

Bake for 20 minutes. If you like a little browning on your cheese, broil for an additional 2 minutes.

Cool for 5 minutes and then serve!

Serving & Side Dishes

Just like any pasta dish, this baked gnocchi is great with a side salad and some garlic bread.

This Big Italian Salad is a great option if you want to add lots of veggies to your dinner. Haricot Verts (Green Beans) can also be a great addition to this dinner.

Recipe Tips

Give your onions plenty of time to soften. Crunchy onions are not what you are looking for here!
If you like it really cheesy, add all the cheese you want!! You can even do a combo of cheeses (parmesan, mozzarella, provolone, etc…), or use fresh mozzarella!
If you don’t like browning on your cheese, skip the broiler part.
If your skillet isn’t oven safe, you can still make this dish. Just transfer everything to a baking dish before putting it in the oven.
Lightly crush the basil in the palm of your hand before adding it to the pan, it will release more flavor.
Make sure you use heavy cream (no subs) so it will thicken the sauce.

A skillet full of gnocchi in a tomato cream sauce topped with melted mozzarella cheese

More Skillet Recipes

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Creamy Chicken Stew and Dumplings

March 2, 2021 by Susie Weinrich 8 Comments

We set out to make the BEST recipe for Chicken Stew with Homemade Drop Dumplings and after a lot of testing we nailed it! I can’t wait for you to make this recipe! The drop dumplings are made from scratch and are extremely tender and fluffy. Then they are enrobed in the most flavorful chicken stew that is thick and creamy. It is the ultimate homemade comfort food!

hands holding a bowl of chicken and dumplings

…and don’t worry we are sharing every single secret, tip and trick to make sure your homemade dumplings are absolutely perfect!

If you are a lover of the Instant Pot you can also make this Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings recipe! Same flavors but made in your electric pressure cooker.

RELATED: Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

The Secrets to Homemade Fluffy Dumplings

A dumpling is a broad term for dough cooked in liquid. You can find dumplings in all sorts of cuisines from Asian to Southern.

In this recipe we are making more Southern dumplings made of flour, milk and butter. It is dropped into a flavorful chicken stew and simmered/steamed.

showing what drop dumpling dough should look like after mixing — This is what your dumpling dough should look like after mixing.

Not all dumpling recipes are equal! Here are some of the secrets to make sure your dumplings are the best in town:

Sift the dry ingredients together. This eliminates any clumps in the flour or baking powder and lightly mixes it together.
Don’t skip the kosher salt, it adds just enough flavor to the dumpling dough.
Lightly stir the milk and melted butter into the dry ingredients, JUST until everything is wet. Avoid overmixing the ingredients, which will result in firmer dumplings.
Make sure the liquid is simmering before adding the dumplings.
Do not “form” the dumplings. You want them to be kind of craggy. Using a small cookie scoop is a great tool to do this.
Do not stir the dumplings until the very end. Let the simmering liquid form and steam/cook the dumplings.
Do not lift the lid while the dumplings are cooking, for 15 minutes. You want them to steam through.

Scratch Dumpling Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you need to make fluffy drop dumplings. You probably have most of these ingredients in your kitchen!

You just need milk, all purpose flour, butter, baking powder and kosher salt.

ingredients for dumplings on a table with labels

Chicken Stew Ingredients

The dumplings are not the only star of this recipe. They are cooked in the MOST luscious and creamy chicken stew.

We don’t mess around with our chicken soups here at Mom’s Dinner.. this chicken noodle soup is a 5 star recipe and this kid’s chicken noodle soup is loved by kids all around the world!! So you know this chicken stew is next level.

Pictured are the ingredients you need to make a hearty chicken stew, plus some tips on a few ingredients.

ingredients laid out on a table with text labels

Chicken Breasts and/or Chicken Thighs – This is a great time to use a rotisserie chicken. However if you would rather cook your own chicken, here are some great methods:

poached chicken breast
instant pot all purpose chicken
Instant Pot Rotisserie Whole Chicken
baked chicken – cut chicken into tender sized pieces and bake on a parchment lined baking sheet at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes (thighs may take up to 18 minutes to cook through) . Make sure they have reached 165 degrees internal temp.

Chicken Base – Do not skip this ingredient. It is worth the trip to the store! You will find chicken base in the soup aisle, near the bouillon.

It comes in a paste form in a jar or tub. It has the most amazing chicken flavor!!! It is one of the secret ingredients to Amazing Chicken Stew with Dumplings. I use “Better Than Bouillon” brand.

Turmeric – another “secret” to great chicken soup. Adding this brings a nice depth of warm flavor and color to your stew without being overpowering.

Step By Step Picture Instructions

Start with a large heavy bottom pot that has a lid, a Dutch oven works great!

You will start by making the chicken stew.

Turn the stove top heat to medium and add the olive oil. Once it is hot add the onions, carrots, and celery. Sauté for about 8-10 minutes, stirring often.

carrots, celery, and onions, the beginning of making chicken stew for dumplings — *Veggies coated with seasonings and chicken base.*

Stir in the minced garlic, onion powder, turmeric, salt, pepper, and chicken base, so it coats the veggies.

Pour in the chicken broth, water and add the bay leaf. Give everything a good stir.

Simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes, until the carrots and celery are just fork tender.

How To Make The Drop Dumplings

While the chicken stew simmers you make the dumpling dough. Sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and kosher salt.

Stir in the melted butter and milk JUST UNTIL the dough comes together. Set aside.

PRO TIP: Do not overmix your dumpling dough or you will have tough dumplings!

Back to the chicken stew on the stove- remove the bay leaf and discard.

Now stir in the cooked chicken.

How To Drop The Dumpling Dough

Increase the heat to medium-high to bring the pot to a gentle boil. Gently drop tablespoons full of the dumpling dough into the simmering broth. This small cookie scoop is a great tool for this job.

PRO TIP: Do not form the dumplings, you just want to drop them in the liquid. Resist the urge to stir the dumplings!!!! They will have a better texture if you let them simmer/steam. It’s ok to drop them on top of each other, the pot will be full.

dumplings being dropped into chicken soup

Once all the dumplings are in the pot, lower the heat to medium-low and pop the lid on. Let the dumplings lightly simmer for 15 minutes without disturbing!

Finishing the Recipe

Meanwhile in a small bowl mash together the flour and butter until it is combined. This is called a Beurre Manié and is a great way to thicken a liquid. Set that aside.

Remove the lid and pour in the heavy cream and frozen peas.

frozen peas and heavy cream being added to chicken and dumplings

Lightly stir in the flour/butter (Beurre Manié) thickener. Let it simmer over low heat for another 5 minutes.

Remove from the heat and let it cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.

two bowls of chicken and dumplings with a glass of milk to the side

Traditional Side Dishes

This is such a comfort food recipe that we recommend adding a warm and crusty loaf of ciabatta, French or sour dough bread and that’s it!

Recipe Tips

Don’t skip the chicken base or turmeric powder, they add great depth of flavor.
Do not overmix your dumpling dough.
Use a quick release melon baller to make easy work of scooping and releasing the dumplings.
Do not roll your dumpling dough into a perfect circle. You want the edges to be a little craggy. It makes for amazing texture!
Resist the urge to stir your dumplings while they are cooking.

More Hearty Chicken Recipes

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Creamy Baked Caesar Chicken

March 1, 2021 by Susie Weinrich 19 Comments

This Baked Caesar Chicken Recipe is such an easy dinner to make, yet it is so flavorful! It is a great dinner recipe for any night of the week. Chicken breasts are smothered in a Homemade Caesar style cream sauce and baked tender and perfect. It only takes a handful of simple ingredients and dinner is ready in about 30 minutes. The whole family will love it!

a glass baking dish with Caesar Chicken Bake

There is nothing better than an easy chicken recipe for dinner! If you love this Creamy Caesar Chicken Bake you will also love this Baked Artichoke Chicken Salad and Caesar Salad Dressing!

Why This Recipe Is So Great

Chicken breasts bake up perfectly tender and juicy in just about 30 minutes.
Instead of sour cream we use a Greek yogurt for a few less calories.
The Caesar sauce is an easy homemade cream sauce for the chicken. Just stir together the mayo, yogurt, Dijon, garlic, capers, lemon juice, zest and spices.
Making the sauce is the only real “work” in this recipe.
Top the chicken with the Caesar sauce and bake- that’s it!

Ingredients

Here are the things you need to make this Caesar Chicken, plus some tips on a few ingredients:

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

Chicken breasts can tend to be irregular thickness and can sometimes be very thick. I recommend slicing your chicken breasts in half, lengthwise, so you end up with two thinner chicken breasts. It creates an even cooking chicken, that is done in about 25 minutes at 350 degrees.

If you already have thin or smaller chicken breasts do not worry about this step.

I also highly reccomend using air chilled chicken. Here in the midwest we have a great brand called Smart Chicken. Costco is now carrying air chilled chicken as well.

Buying air chilled chicken is the best way to ensure a great texture and flavor in your chicken. When the chicken is being processed for packaging it is hung in cold rooms to “air chill”, instead of the old method of being dunked in chlorinated water baths.

Mayo

Mayonnaise is the base for the Caesar sauce so make sure to buy a quality mayo. We love Hellmann’s. I know that Duke’s is also a great brand.

I have also purchased Aldi Mayo and it is a great dupe for Hellmann’s!

Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt is a great base for this Caesar Chicken recipe. It makes the sauce creamy!

You can also sub in sour cream.

Capers

Capers are the edible flower bud of a caper bush. They used as a seasoning or garnish, especially in Mediterranean cooking. The capers are usually consumed salted or pickled.

In this case you will get pickled capers, they are found in the same aisle as olives at the grocery store.

Lemon

You will need the juice and the zest of the lemon. I highly recommend that you zest the lemon before juicing!

Step by Step Picture Instructions

There are really just two parts to this Caesar Chicken recipe- making the Caesar sauce and baking the chicken, so let’s get started:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a mixing bowl measure out the Greek yogurt, mayo, Dijon mustard, fresh garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, capers, salt & pepper. Whisk it all together until it is well combined.

ingredients for Caesar Cream sauce in a bowl with a whisk

Remove about ⅓ of the Caesar sauce to a separate bowl and save for serving.

Pro Tip: If you have really thick chicken breasts go ahead and cut them in half, lengthwise, giving you two thinner breasts.

Season both sides of the chicken with a little salt & pepper.

Add about 3 tablespoon of the Caesar sauce to the bottom of your baking dish.

seasoned chicken breast in a glass baking dish over a cream sauce

Place your chicken breasts on top of the sauce in the baking dish. Pour the remaining Caesar sauce over the top of the chicken.

Ceasar Cream Sauce poured over top of raw chicken

Pop into the oven, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees at it’s thickest part.

We highly recommend using a Thermoworks Thermapen in your kitchen to gage the temperature of all proteins!

Turn the oven on to broil for a final 2 minutes, until the top is a light golden brown in spots.

Make Ahead

You can absolutely prep this recipe a couple days ahead.

Make the Caesar Cream Sauce and pop it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 days.

Cut and season the chicken breasts and also keep in the fridge.

When it is time to eat just assemble the recipe in a baking dish and pop in the oven.

Serving

Serve your Baked Caesar Chicken hot, with the additional sauce on the side.

Serve with mashed potatoes (or instant pot mashed potatoes), lemon herb rice, rice pilaf or risotto, and a green veggie like roasted broccoli, roasted asparagus or green beans.

glass baking dish with chicken topped with cream sauce with capers

Recipe Tips

Zest the lemon before you squeeze the juice.
Cut your thick chicken breast in half, lengthwise, giving you 2 thinner chicken breasts.
Buy good quality chicken, it makes a difference! Look for an “air chilled” chicken, we like Smart Chicken.
Use good quality mayonnaise! We like Hellmann’s.

More Delicious Chicken Recipes!

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This recipe was inspired by the Barefoot Contessa recipe for Caesar Swordfish.

Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Pasta

February 24, 2021 by Susie Weinrich Leave a Comment

Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Pasta is an amazing Cajun flavored dinner that is ready in about 20 minutes! Creamy Cajun sauce coats fettuccine noodles, peppers, onions, shrimp and smoked sausage.

a bowl of pasta with shrimp, sausage and peppers topped with green onions

You might also like this Cajun Pasta Recipe!

Why This Recipe Works

The Cajun flavored sauce is the perfect combo with sausage, shrimp, and pasta.
The already cooked sausage, quick cooking shrimp and slightly crunchy peppers and onions make this dish come together fast!
The egg yolk and parmesan added at the end thicken up the sauce beautifully and add a decadent feel.

Ingredients

Here are the things you will need to make Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Pasta, plus some pro tips on a few specific ingredients.

Sausage – Choose the sausage that you and your family/guests like. I really like a beef smoked sausage, but an Andouille sausage or kielbasa will work here too.

Dry Cooking Sherry – I have used the Roland and Holland brands, both work great. If you do not have Dry Cooking Sherry you can sub ¼ cup white wine.

Shrimp – You will want to buy a “large” sized shrimp, peeled and deveined. It may be marked as 31-35 shrimp per pound.

If you buy frozen shrimp you can thaw in the fridge overnight. Or you can quick thaw by running cool water over the shrimp for a few minutes.

No Salt??

This recipe does not call for salt! Instead you are using Cajun Seasoning, which generally contains some form of salt. If yours does not, add some salt TO TASTE at the end.

The sausage and parmesan cheese are also salty, so be careful if you choose to add salt!

Cajun Seasoning

You can absolutely use your favorite store bought Cajun Seasoning! However, if you prefer to make your own to have on hand, pop over to this post for Homemade Cajun Seasoning.

Step by Step Picture Instructions

This recipe comes together pretty fast, so I recommend prepping all your ingredients in advance –

cut the kielbasa
chop peppers, onions, garlic, and green onions
measure seasoning, cream, and chicken broth
separate egg yolks and beat well
grate the parm cheese

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet add 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat.

Add the sliced sausage and brown, about 2 minutes.

Add in the sliced peppers and red onions. Sauté for about 2 minutes.

Pro Tip: Do not overcook the peppers and onions at this point. They will continue to cook with the sauce.

peppers and onions in a skillet with browned sausage

Add the shrimp, garlic and all the seasonings (Cajun seasoning, black pepper, smoked paprika, oregano, thyme, onion powder). Cook the shrimp for about 2-3 minutes until it is just turning pink.

Pro Tip: Don’t worry if the bottom of your pan is getting really brown… that is all flavor and will be used in the next step!

shrimp with peppers and onions in a skillet

Remove everything in the pan to a plate and set aside.

In the now empty hot pan pour the cooking sherry and deglaze the pan.

Deglazing – when you scrape up the brown bits on the bottom of a pan using heat and liquid.

Lower the heat to medium and pour in the cream, butter, and chicken broth. Let the butter melt and then simmer the sauce for a minute.

Add in the cooked pasta, shrimp/sausage/pepper mixture and toss everything with tongs.

Remove from the heat and pour in the egg yolks and parmesan cheese. Toss to coat everything with the thickened sauce.

tossing pasta with shrimp, peppers, and sausage

Serve immediately topped with green onions and red pepper flakes.

Troubleshooting Cajun Cream Sauce

If your sauce gets too thick simply pour in a little extra chicken broth.

If your sauce is too thin, let it cool for 5 minutes and it will thicken as it sits.

If it is too salty, add a little extra cream.

Want more flavor, sprinkle in a little more Cajun seasoning.

a large bowl full of Cajun pasta with shrimp and sausage, two cocktails in mule glasses

Recipe Tips

Add a kick of heat by including a ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper and ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes with the other seasonings.
If your Cajun seasoning does not include salt, add some to taste at the end.
Do not overcook your peppers and onions, a little crunch is nice!
If you do not have Dry Cooking Sherry you could sub ¼ cup white wine.
Shrimp cooks fast! Do not overcook it or it will become rubbery and chewy.

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Asian Brussels Sprouts with Dipping Sauce

February 23, 2021 by Susie Weinrich 5 Comments

These Asian Brussels Sprouts make an amazing appetizer or side dish! Brussels sprouts are roasted crispy in the oven and then coated in a sweet and spicy ginger soy glaze. The addition of Sambal Dipping Sauce takes them over the top!

roasted brussels sprouts on a plate with a dipping sauce

Why This Recipe Works

The brussels are roasted to a caramelized crisp in the oven, which helps them hold up to the sauce.
The sauce is just enough to add flavor, but not too much to make the brussels soggy.
The sauce also has plenty of honey to help it stick to the sprouts.
These Asian Brussels are great on their own, but the Sambal Aioli takes them to a whole other level.

Ingredients

There are three groups of ingredients you need for this Asian Brussels Sprouts recipe: Brussels Sprouts, the sauce that the brussels get tossed in, and the Sambal dipping sauce ingredients.

Brussels Sprouts

Shown below are the ingredients for the brussels sprouts:

Ginger Soy Glaze

After the Brussels Sprouts are roasted they are tossed in a sweet and savory glaze. Shown below are the ingredients you need:

ingredients for an Asian Sauce on a table with labels — ***Ingredients Clockwise: Honey, Ginger, Garlic, Soy Sauce, Sesame Oil, Sambal Oelek,***

Ginger – There are two options for adding fresh ginger to this glaze.

Fresh Ginger Nobs - pictured above. My tip here is to use the edge of a spoon to scrap the brown peel from the ginger and then mince or grate the fragrant yellow flesh.
** Our Preferred Method - Dorot Gardens Frozen Ginger Cubes. There is this AMAZING product at the grocery store in the freezer section. They are little cubes of frozen minced ginger. You literally pop the cubes out of the tray and use them as needed. So easy and so convenient!

Sambal Aioli

The final step in this Asian Brussels Sprouts recipe is making an amazing dipping sauce called Sambal Aioli. See the photo below for the ingredients you will need:

Sambal Oelek – this is an Asian Chili Paste that can be found in the Asian food aisle of the grocery store. It has a similar flavor to Sriracha without being overly garlicky. It will have a slight kick of heat and a tang of vinegar.

If you buy a bottle you can also use it to make:

Step-by-Step Picture Instructions

Whisk together the ingredients for the Sambal Aioli. Set aside.

In your oven, move the rack to the lowest level, closest to the heating element.

Pro Tip: By moving your oven rack to the lowest point your brussels will crisp and caramelize better.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Prep a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Trim the small stem end of each brussels sprouts and then halve each one. In a large bowl toss the prepped brussels sprouts, olive oil, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes together.

Place the brussels on the baking sheet CUT SIDE DOWN.

Pro Tip: Do not crowd the brussels on the pan or they will steam instead of roast. Also by placing the brussels cut side down the edges of each layers of leaves will caramelize and crisp.

roasted brussels sprouts on a baking sheet

Roast in the oven for 12-15 minutes. You want them to be browned and crisp but not mushy on the inside.

While the brussels are roasting make the ginger soy glaze.

In a small saucepan over medium-low heat add the honey, soy sauce, sesame oil and sambal. Simmer for about 1 minute.

Remove from the heat and stir in the fresh ginger and minced garlic.

Pro Tip: adding the garlic and ginger after the sauce simmers ensures the garlic won’t burn and allows the flavors to be bright and fresh!

pouring ginger soy glaze over the brussels

tossing roasted brussels in an Asian sauce

Toss the cooked brussels in the ginger soy glaze, serve immediately with a side of the Sambal Aioli.

Recipe Tips

Take the extra step to make sure the brussels are cut side down on the baking pan.
Use the parchment paper to roast the brussels, it helps them crisp without sticking to the pan.
Move the baking rack to the lowest position in the oven. It helps make your brussels nice and caramelized.
Don’t overcook your brussels or they will be mushy.

a plate with roasted brussels sprouts with sesame seeds

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Sambal Aioli

February 22, 2021 by Susie Weinrich Leave a Comment

Sambal Aioli is an Asian inspired mayonnaise based dipping sauce. It is made with just 4 ingredients and comes together in about 5 minutes! It is particularly delicious on Asian Brussels Sprouts.

Asian Brussels Sprouts being dipped in Sambal Aioli

It also makes an amazing dipping sauce for fried shrimp, chicken skewers, or french fries, really anything you can think of!

Ingredients

You only need 4 simple ingredients to make this Sambal Aioli!

Sambal Oelek – is an Indonesian chili sauce that is made primarily of chili peppers. You can find it in your local grocery store near the other Asian ingredients.

How to Make Sambal Aioli

In a bowl add the mayo, sambal, honey and fresh lime juice.

mayo, honey, lime juice, and sambal in a bowl

creamy ingredients whisked together in a bowl

Whisk it all together until it is creamy and well combined.

Recipe FAQ’s

Are Sambal and Sriracha the same thing?

While Sambal and Sriracha have some similarities in that they are both chile sauces, they are not the same thing. Sambal is a thicker more textured sauce that has less of a vinegar flavor profile than Sriracha.

What is Sambal made of?

Sambal is an Indonesian chile paste made primarily of a variety of chilies. Some other ingredients include garlic, ginger, shallots, sugar, lime and even shrimp paste.

Sambal Aioli

A delicious 4 ingredients Asian inspired aioli that makes a great dipping sauce for shrimp, chicken, french fries, or really anything you can think of!

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 0

Servings: recipe

Calories: 441kcal

Author: Susie Weinrich

Ingredients

▢ ¼ cup mayonnaise
▢ 1 tablespoon Sambal
▢ 2 teaspoon honey
▢ ½ teaspoon fresh lime juice

Instructions

Whisk all the ingredients together in a bowl.
Serve immediately or store in the fridge for up to a week.

Recipe Tips and Notes:

Perfect served with Asian Brussels Sprouts!

Did you make this recipe?Connect with me and let me know by commenting below!

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Fish Stick Tacos

February 19, 2021 by Susie Weinrich 3 Comments

That’s right… you can make Fish Tacos with those fish sticks in your freezer! We are firm believers that food doesn’t need to be complicated to be delicious. These tacos are super easy to make, which makes it a great weeknight dinner option. Add a little jalapeno tartar sauce and cilantro lime slaw for an amazing Fish Stick Taco!

a tray full of fish stick tacos in corn tortillas

If you prefer to make your own fish sticks- pop over to this Crispy Baked Fish Stick Recipe.

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Why This Recipe Works

Just because you want crispy fish tacos doesn’t mean you need to batter and fry your own fish! The freezer aisle has what you need, fish sticks.
Adding a delicious tartar sauce and slaw mix amps up the flavor of your fish taco!
If your kids like fish sticks and tacos… you are going to be winning at the dinner table with this recipe.

Listen To The Recipe

If you prefer, you can listen to the full recipe on the podcast Let’s Make Dinner. There is an audio player in the recipe card below where you can listen to the full episode.

How To Make Fish Stick Tacos

Start by cooking your frozen fish sticks according to package instructions.

Meanwhile toss together the ingredients for the Cilantro Lime Slaw OR Fish Taco Slaw.

cilantro lime slaw with vinaigrette being poured over

Pop the ingredients for Jalapeno Tartar Sauce (linked in recipe card below) in the blender.

ingredients for jalapeno tartar sauce in blender

Warm a few tortillas – corn or flour, taco sized tortillas work great.

corn tortillas, fish sticks, slaw and tartar sauce

Assembling

Grab a warm tortilla, lay a pile of slaw down the center. Top with 3-4 fish sticks. Finish with a drizzle of tartar sauce.

corn tortilla in a hand filled with slaw and fish sticks

Serve with some Instant Pot Mexican Rice, 15 Minute Refried Beans, and chips and salsa .

Recipe Tips

Purchase quality fish sticks! We like the Trident Panko Breaded Fish Sticks (Costco).
The tartar sauce and slaw can be made a day ahead for easy dinner prep.
If you want fast and easy use flour tortillas, if you want more flavor use corn tortillas.
When you use corn tortillas warm them in a non stick skillet over medium heat for about 30 seconds per side.

Recipe FAQ’s

What are fish sticks made of?

Generally frozen fish sticks are made of mild white fish, such as cod, haddock or pollock.

How do I pick a good quality frozen fish stick?

Choose a fish stick that has a crispy breading. Also look for a fish stick that is made with fish fillet, NOT minced fish. Even better if they name the actual fish type on the package (ex. cod, haddock, pollock).

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Did you make this recipe?

I would love to hear your review, especially if you have tips and tricks to add! Pop down to the comment section and connect with me

Rate This Recipe→

Fish Stick Tacos with Slaw and Tartar Sauce

Super easy fish tacos made with frozen fish sticks! Bonus recipes for a Cilantro Lime Slaw and Jalapeno Tartar Sauce to build the best taco!

5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 15

Total Time: 30

Servings: people

Author: Susie Weinrich