Tag Archives: 30 minute meal

One Pot, Easy Cheesy Shrimp Quinoa-Rice Bake

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One Pot, Easy Cheesy Shrimp Quinoa-Rice Bake makes mid-week seem mighty fine! Enjoy a shrimp that is low mess and low stress, taking only 30 minutes prep to plate!

Prep to plate in 30 minutes! You can also make ahead and store this shrimp casserole in the fridge until ready to bake. Loaded with protein, veggies and healthy whole grains in a comforting, cheddar cheese sauce.

Succulent shrimp with mushrooms, onions, and spinach marry in a creamy sharp cheddar sauce with a brown rice-quinoa providing the whole grains you need. It’s at once comfort food AND yet a beautifully balanced meal.

Made over a bit from the heavy, calorie and fat laden traditional shrimp rice casseroles, this version uses smaller amounts of dairy, lots of veggies, plenty of shrimp –and some quinoa in lieu of the typical “all rice” shrimp casserole.

You get a whopping 29g protein for only 360 calories. Full nutrition details in this 6-serving shrimp recipe.

Check out this quick 15-second tutorial!

I use an oven-proof 10” skillet with lid for this recipe, but you can also use a Dutch oven or a 2-quart casserole dish (you’ll have an extra dish to wash with this last option thought).

Don't overcook the shrimp

I use frozen (thawed) peeled, tail-off, deveined shrimp to make this recipe extra easy and convenient. When cooking the shrimp, it’s a “par cook,” meaning you saute in the skilled for just a couple minutes until the grey is gone and they have barely just turned pink – the remainder of cooking is done in in the oven. Just a heads up so you don’t get rubbery shrimp.

Prep to plate in 30 minutes! You can also make ahead and store this shrimp casserole in the fridge until ready to bake. Loaded with protein, veggies and healthy whole grains in a comforting, cheddar cheese sauce.
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After sauteing the shrimp, the veggies, and making the cheesy sauce, the shrimp and quinoa rice blend are mixed in – and then it bakes at 325F degrees for about 15 minutes. However, this can also be a make-ahead casserole recipe by doing all steps up until the last baking step. Just prepped dish in in the fridge until ready to bake, and add on 5 or so extra baking minutes to compensate for starting it cold.

5 from 6 votes
Prep to plate in 30 minutes! You can also make ahead and store this shrimp casserole in the fridge until ready to bake. Loaded with protein, veggies and healthy whole grains in a comforting, cheddar cheese sauce.
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One Pot Cheesy Shrimp Quinoa-Rice Bake
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 

Prep to plate in 30 minutes! You can also make ahead and store this shrimp casserole in the fridge until ready to bake. Loaded with protein, veggies and healthy whole grains in a comforting, cheddar cheese sauce.

Course: dinner
Keyword: one dish, quinoa, shrimp
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 360 kcal
Ingredients
  • 3 Tbsp Butter (divided)
  • 1 Tbsp. minced Garlic
  • 24 oz. large Shrimp peeled, tail-off, deveined
  • 1 cup chopped Onion
  • 8 oz. sliced Mushrooms
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/3 cup 2% milk
  • 1 tsp. Salt
  • 1 tsp. Italian Seasoning
  • 6 oz. shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese divided
  • 3 cups Baby Spinach
  • 2 cups cooked Brown Rice
  • 1 cup cooked Quinoa
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 325F.
  2. Add 1 tbsp butter to 10” deep skillet or Dutch oven. Melt, cook shrimp over medium-high heat for just 2 to 3 minutes until barely pink (don’t over cook).
  3. Remove shrimp, set aside in bowl. Keep shrimp juices in pan, add 1 tbsp butter, onions, and mushrooms and saute for 2-3 more min until tender.
  4. Add last 1 tbsp. butter,to mushrooms, melt and sprinkle flour over. Stir around for 30 sec, pour in milk in a slow steady stream while stirring to incorporate smooth with mushroom mixture. Let bubble for 1 minute until milk hot, then stir in 4-oz. of cheese, salt, seasoning, stir until melted.

  5. Remove from heat, stir in baby spinach, cooked rice and quinoa, and the shrimp. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top and bake for 15 minutes until heated through, sauce bubbling, cheese melted.

  6. If needed, you can make up to the baking step and then keep covered in the fridge until ready. Then cook as directed adding about 5 to 7 more minutes to the baking time, bringing it to 20 to 22 minutes baking.

Recipe Notes

Veggie & Labne Pizza with Pull-Apart Crust

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This post is sponsored by Karoun Dairies as part of a blogger recipe contest.

Treat yourself to pizza night, but don’t you dare resort to frozen or consider take out.! That’s because I have something even easier and so much better — My Veggie & Labne Pizza with Pull-Apart Crust.

Veggie & Labne Pizza with Pull-Apart Crust is a quick and easy dinner or appetizer solution that is ready in less than 30 minutes. The no-rise, three-ingredient crust features labne, a creamy kefir cheese, that keeps the quick crust tender yet crispy. Try the genius tip to make a “pull apart” crust so no pizza cutter or knife required. Top with your favorite veggies. So fun for a quick dinner or appetizer to share.

Ready in just about 30 minutes (can delivery beat that?!), this simple pizza for two (or one, if you’re real hungry) even features a homemade crust!

So much to say about this homemade crust. In need no rising, you just mix together three simple ingredients including flour (can swap in a gluten-free flour blend in needed), baking powder and labne (a thick, creamy, tangy kefir cheese resembling Greek yogurt, my opinion).  The labne helps keep the 3 ingredient crust delicious and tender on the inside, but crispy on the outside.

The flour-labne mixture will be a little crumbly, just ditch you spatula after a while and knead it together with your hands. Then, THIS IS NEAT, instead of doing a traditional crust rolled out and pinched up around the edges, make a pull-apart crust so that you (or you and a friend) can pull off a little pizza nibble at a time.

Labne Mediterranean style Kefir cheese from Karoun Dairies makes is the star in this three-ingredient, no-rise crust.

To do this, the big pizza dough ball is formed into smaller (about 1”) dough balls. This recipe yielded about 18 dough balls for me, but it doesn’t have to be a precise science. Those little balls are pressed down onto the pan (a 9” to 10” pan) until flattened into about ¼” thickness and the edges mostly meet. There may be a few places were a tiny bit of pan peeks through edge-to edge, that’s okay!

Labne Mediterranean style Kefir cheese from Karoun Dairies makes is the star in this three-ingredient, no-rise crust.

After the dough balls are pressed into the pan, top with cheese and veggies. Also, to make this pizza next level delicious and creamy, I like to dollop up to 1/2 cup more Labne Mediterranean Kefir Cheese. Then maybe a little more shredded cheese, because can you really have too much cheese on a pizza?!

Bake for about 15-20 minutes, top with extra garnishes as desired, and enjoy! You don’t even need a knife or pizza cutter to enjoy this pull-apart crust pizza recipe.  Just grab the edge and give a little tug and you will be rewarded with a bite-sized morsel of creamy, cheesy, veggie loaded goodness. I love a labne pizza!

Veggie & Labne Pizza with Pull-Apart Crust is a quick and easy dinner or appetizer solution that is ready in less than 30 minutes. The no-rise, three-ingredient crust features labne, a creamy kefir cheese, that keeps the quick crust tender yet crispy. Try the genius tip to make a “pull apart” crust so no pizza cutter or knife required. Top with your favorite veggies. So fun for a quick dinner or appetizer to share.

I’m so glad I found this Labne Mediterranean kefir cheese. In the past I’ve made a similar crust with plain yogurt, but I don’t think it turned out as tender and satisfying.  

Veggie & Labne Pizza with Pull-Apart Crust is a quick and easy dinner or appetizer solution that is ready in less than 30 minutes. The no-rise, three-ingredient crust features labne, a creamy kefir cheese, that keeps the quick crust tender yet crispy. Try the genius tip to make a “pull apart” crust so no pizza cutter or knife required. Top with your favorite veggies. So fun for a quick dinner or appetizer to share.
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 Since this may be a new type of cheese to you, let me tell you more about it. Labne Mediterranean Kefir Cheese from Karoun Dairies is a centuries-old, Mediterranean-style spreadable kefir. The taste is distinctively tangy, but pleasing! It’s smoother and thicker than yogurt and reminds me of a cross between Greek yogurt and cream cheese – oh my, so good and creamy!  It’s lower in fat than cream cheese and makes great alternative for a healthy lifestyle. Plus you also benefit from live probiotic cultures in every spoonful.

Visit Karoun Cheese to learn more or check them out on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the latest news and recipes! #karoun, #karoundairies, #karounlabne, #labne

5 from 4 votes
Veggie & Labne Pizza with Pull-Apart Crust is a quick and easy dinner or appetizer solution that is ready in less than 30 minutes. The no-rise, three-ingredient crust features labne, a creamy kefir cheese, that keeps the quick crust tender yet crispy. Try the genius tip to make a “pull apart” crust so no pizza cutter or knife required. Top with your favorite veggies. So fun for a quick dinner or appetizer to share.
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Veggie & Labne Pizza with Pull-Apart Crust
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Total Time
22 mins
 

 Veggie & Labne Pizza with Pull-Apart Crust is a quickand easy dinner or appetizer solution that is ready in less than 30 minutes. Theno-rise, three-ingredient crust features labne, a creamy kefir cheese, thatkeeps the quick crust tender yet crispy. Try the genius tip to make a “pullapart” crust so no pizza cutter or knife required. Top with your favorite veggies. So fun for a quick dinner or appetizerto share.

Course: Appetizer, dinner, dinner, entree, pizza, starter
Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean
Keyword: appetizer, blue cheese, labne, pizza
Servings: 2
Ingredients
  • ½ cup Karoun Mediterranean-style Labne Kefir cheese
  • 1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder
  • 1 cup flour or gluten-free flour baking blend
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic salt
  • 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella divided
  • 1/2 cup Karoun Mediterranean-style Labne Kefir cheese
  • 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
  • 1/2 cup shredded spinach
  • ¼ cup red onion slices
  • ¼ cup chopped tomato
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400F.
  2. In medium bowl, mix together Labne, baking powder and flour with spoon. Will be crumbly, then use hands to knead it together into a cohesive dough ball.
  3. Pinch of 1-inch dough balls (I got approximately 18) and place on a 9-inch to 10-inch pizza pan.
  4. Press balls down with fingers until flattened and edges mostly touching. It’s okay if there are a few spots of pan showing through.
  5. Sprinkle dough with garlic salt. Sprinkle with ½ cup shredded mozzarella and vegetables.
  6. Dollop up to ½ cup additional Karoun Mediterranean-style Labne Kefir cheese on top of veggies. Sprinkle with remaining ¼ cup of reserved mozzarella.
  7. Bake for approximately 12 minutes or until crust browned and cheese bubbling.
  8. No need for a knife or pizza cutter, just pull apart into pizza bites!

Oven Butternut Squash Risotto with Shrimp – Under 30-minute Meal

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Oven Butternut Squash Risotto with Shrimp makes a comforting, delicious and arguably balanced meal-in-a-pot boasting a whole grain, vegetable and protein.

Oven Butternut Squash Risotto with Shrimp makes a comforting, delicious and arguably balanced meal-in-a-pot boasting a whole grain, vegetable and protein. It’s so simple and easy to make, an under 30 minute meal with little hand-on effort, many call this oven method “cheater’s risotto” – but it’s totally legit!

Plus, this butternut risotto cooks up fast and with much less hands-on prep than a traditional risotto recipe – there is no endless stirring at the stove top. Instead, the rice bakes up in the oven for 20-minutes, being stirred up with Parmesan cheese just as serving.  

Oven Butternut Squash Risotto with Shrimp makes a comforting, delicious and arguably balanced meal-in-a-pot boasting a whole grain, vegetable and protein. It’s so simple and easy to make, an under 30 minute meal with little hand-on effort, many call this oven method “cheater’s risotto” – but it’s totally legit!

With olive oil and simple spices, the oven-roasted shrimp only take 10 minutes to make and can be popped into the oven on a baking sheet, at the second half of the rice timer. This way, the shrimp and risotto and done at the same time!

Ingredients for Butternut Squash Risotto in the Oven
Ingredients for the butternut risotto are simple and easy!

Learning how to make oven butternut squash risotto is a game changer. Use a Dutch oven pot in the oven and just walk away until done – this method has freed me up to finish other dinner chores and/or just have more time to connect with family members who have gathered in the kitchen to investigate the inviting, comfort food aromas wafting about.

Plus, elevating oven risotto with butternut squash helps keep the dish creamy, adds an earthy, lightly sweet flavor, and increases the nourishing benefits with dietary fiber, vitamin A, and more.  To keep the oven butternut squash with shrimp recipe simple, I purchase fresh-cubed butternut squash in the produce department. However, you can also cut up your own squash and/or use a bag of thawed frozen butternut chunks.

Oven Butternut Squash Risotto with Shrimp makes a comforting, delicious and arguably balanced meal-in-a-pot boasting a whole grain, vegetable and protein. It’s so simple and easy to make, an under 30 minute meal with little hand-on effort, many call this oven method “cheater’s risotto” – but it’s totally legit!

If you are just learning how to make risotto in the oven or traditionally (or you’ve had a risotto fail in the past), please note that you should NOT use a long-grained rice. A short-grained rice offers the signature creamy results of a classic risotto and Arborio rice is a common variety used. Some medium-grain rice may be used, too.

Oven Butternut Squash Risotto with Shrimp makes a comforting, delicious and arguably balanced meal-in-a-pot boasting a whole grain, vegetable and protein. It’s so simple and easy to make, an under 30 minute meal with little hand-on effort, many call this oven method “cheater’s risotto” – but it’s totally legit!

Some people call this method “cheater’s risotto,” however I see nothing suspect about it, lol! It’s just a smart way to get a nourishing meal on the table fast! I typically pair my cheater’s butternut squash risotto with an apple kale salad for extra fall-season flair.

 If you want to keep the recipe non-dairy, you can swap a non-dairy butter alternative for the butter and use an alternative to Parmesan cheese, like Parma.

Easy Roasted Shrimp in the Oven

Making the shrimp is just as easy, toss together olive oil, garlic salt and paprika and bake alongside the risotto during the last 8 minutes.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission from products purchase, however the price to you remains the same. Proceeds are used to offset operating expenses for The Fit Fork – thank you for your support.

5 from 2 votes
Oven Butternut Squash Risotto with Shrimp makes a comforting, delicious and arguably balanced meal-in-a-pot boasting a whole grain, vegetable and protein. It’s so simple and easy to make, an under 30 minute meal with little hand-on effort, many call this oven method “cheater’s risotto” – but it’s totally legit!
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Oven Butternut Squash Risotto and Shrimp
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
25 mins
 

Oven Butternut Squash Risotto withShrimp makes a comforting, delicious and arguably balanced meal-in-a-pot boastinga whole grain, vegetable and protein. It’s so simple and easy to make, an under30 minute meal with little hand-on effort, many call this oven method “cheater’srisotto” – but it’s totally legit!

Course: dinner, dinner, entree, entree
Cuisine: American
Keyword: butternut squash, rice, risotto, shrimp
Servings: 4
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 cup arborio rice or other short to medium grain rice
  • 1/3 cup white wine can omit
  • 3 ½ cups reduced sodium chicken broth
  • 1 10- ounce bag chopped butternut squash produce dept shelf or frozen and thawed
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground white pepper
  • 1 tablespoons butter or non-dairy butter alternative
  • 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese or non-dairy Parmesan alternative
  • 20 large shrimp shelled and veined (thawed if frozen)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic salt
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400F degrees.
  2. In 3.5-quart Dutch oven with lid, heat oil over medium heat on stove top. Add garlic and rice and stir around for 2 minutes to toast rice.
  3. Pour in wine to deglaze pan, stirring around over heat, stirring until mostly evaporated. Add chicken broth and butternut squash cubes and bring to a boil for 1 minutes.
  4. Put lid on pot and place on middle rack of oven, baking for 20-mintues.
  5. Meanwhile, quickly prepare shrimp by placing on rimmed baking sheet and tossing with olive oil, salt, and paprika.
  6. In the last 6 to 8 minutes of cooking the risotto, place pan of prepared shrimp in the oven. Roast until the shrimp are pink and just cooked through, about 6 to 8 minutes.
  7. Remove rice from oven, most of the water should have been absorbed. If it still looks a little watery, let cool for 5 minutes with lid off before stirring in butter and cheese.
  8. Serve risotto with shrimp and garnish with finely chopped fresh sage and a little extra Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Recipe Notes

Paleo Coconut Fish Sticks with Spicy Peach Sauce – Paleo, Gluten-free

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Crunchy, tender fish sticks are always a family favorite – especially with yummy dipping sauce to elevate the experience. My recipe for Paleo Coconut Fish Sticks with Spicy Orange Sauce are a quick healthy fish fix and sure to be requested again and again.

Crispy fish sticks are a family favorite and this easy fish dinner is made with lingcod, cold, pollock, halibut or other firm white fish and served with a simple three ingredient sauce. Paleo friendly, low carb and gluten-free -- perfect for Lent and also busy week night meals as only 25 minutes prep to plate.

I like making my fish sticks at home with fish from Sitka Salmon Shares because I KNOW, I’m getting the good stuff. Whole chunks of responsibly-caught, wild-caught fish flash-frozen at the peak of freshness, not some questionable highly-processed fish product, minced up in tiny pieces and filled with all kinds of bready binders and yuck. To me, many store-bought (but not all) fish sticks are like the seafood version of hotdogs, ewww.

Crispy fish sticks are a family favorite and this easy fish dinner is made with lingcod, cold, pollock, halibut or other firm white fish and served with a simple three ingredient sauce. Paleo friendly, low carb and gluten-free -- perfect for Lent and also busy week night meals as only 25 minutes prep to plate.
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But kids love crispy fish sticks, am I right? And, adults too – they remind me of childhood, comfort and a time when things were just simpler. My boys who are now grown and off to college or first jobs are always calling me to as how to make homemade fish sticks. And, talking about simple, these Paleo Coconut Fish Sticks are success-guaranteed for beginner cooks. With a short ingredient list, simple instructions, and total of 30 minutes (max) prep to plate, you can have a heathy fish dinner on the table that is low-carb, Paleo-friendly, and gluten-free.

Lingcod fish from Sitka Salmon Shares - save $25 with code FitFork at SitkaSalmonShares.com

First things first, you’re going to need an approximate 1-lb. skinless filet from a firm, white fish. I used lingcod from a fisherman’s co-op called Sitka Salmon Shares, it’s a mild white fish that actually isn’t cod at all, but a relative of the greenling family. It has a dense flesh, with large flakes and slightly sweet taste – many say it reminds them of halibut. Halibut would be another good choice, as would less expensive choices like pollock, haddock, and cod. Stock your freezer with a premium share of Sitka Salmon Share’s wild fish and seafood options responsibly-caught from cold Alaskan waters and save $25 with discount code: FitFork

Paleo and gluten0free dredge ingredients for Crispy Coconut Fish Sticks (with Lingcod)

The recipe for lingcod fish sticks (or any other white fish) couldn’t be any easier and fast, rendering it a busy weeknight dinner solution. Make a simple egg wash and dredge with shredded coconut, almond meal and a few herb/spices (bonus, the coating is gluten free and Paleo). Then bake for approximately 15 minutes at the same time what you whip-up a simple, 3-ingredient dipping sauce that warms in the microwave. Boom, bam – that’s it!

Pro tips:

  1. When dipping and dredging fish, use one hand for the egg and the other hand for the coconut mixture to keep fingers from getting overly gunked up.
  2. Achieve maximum crunch on these crispy coconut fish sticks by baking on a mesh crisping tray designed for the oven. This allows hot air to circulate all around and make both top and bottom of the coconut fish sticks crispy.
  3. Meal prep more than one batch and freeze in a single layer, in freezer-proof container. To reheat from frozen, place on crisping tray for approximately 10 minutes in a 400F degree oven, or until warmed through.
  4. Don’t forget to visit Sitka Salmon Shares, they are a great resource for healthy fish recipes, including lingcod recipes and easy white fish recipes like these coconut crusted fish sticks (and use my code FitFork for $25 off a premium share)
Sitka Salmon Shares: Save $25 on most shares with code: FitFork

This post sponsored by Sitka Salmon Shares and contains affiliate links, however all content, opinions and enthusiasm remain my own. Thank you for visiting and supporting companies that partner with The Fit Fork.

5 from 5 votes
Crispy fish sticks are a family favorite and this easy fish dinner is made with lingcod, cold, pollock, halibut or other firm white fish and served with a simple three ingredient sauce. Paleo friendly, low carb and gluten-free -- perfect for Lent and also busy week night meals as only 25 minutes prep to plate.
Print
CrispyCoconut Fish Sticks with Spicy Peach Sauce – Paleo, Gluten-free
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
25 mins
 

Crispy fish sticks are a family favorite and this easy fish dinner is made with lingcod, cold, pollock, halibut or other firm white fish and served with a simple three ingredient sauce. Paleo friendly, low carb and gluten-free — perfect for Lent and also busy week night meals as only 25 minutes prep to plate.

Course: dinner, entree
Keyword: black cod, family friendly, fish, gluten free, lingcod, paleo
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 lb skinless filet of firm white fish like lingcod halibut, tilapia, cod, pollock, haddock
  • ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
  • ½ cup almond meal
  • 1 tbsp freeze-dried parsley or dried
  • 2 tsp garlic salt
  • 1 tsp sweet paprika
  • ¼ cup sugar-free peach preserves
  • 1 tbsp coconut aminos can substitute soy sauce if not Paleo or gluten-free
  • 1 to 2 tsp sriracha sauce paleo version preferably
Instructions
  1. reheat oven to 375F degrees
  2. Cut fish into approximate ¾” wide x 1 ½” long sticks or nuggets. Try to make pieces even in size and thickness so that it cooks evenly.
  3. In shallow dish, mix together coconut, almond meal, parsley, garlic salt and paprika.
  4. In small bowl, whisk egg.
  5. Dip fish pieces, one at a time, into egg wash and then roll into coconut mixture, pressing to stick on if needed. Place on baking sheet, preferably with mesh cooking rack inside to elevate and allow heat circulate. Repeat with all fish chunks.
  6. Bake at 375F for approximately 12 to 15 minutes or until fish white and flaky and turning lightly golden brown on top.
  7. While fish baking, mix together preserves, coconut aminos and sriracha and warm up in microwave for about 30 seconds.
  8. Remove fish from oven and serve with warmed sauce!
Recipe Notes

Lemongrass Basil Sablefish Skillet | Paleo, Keto

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6

This post is part of a blogger recipe contest sponsored by Kevin’s Natural Foods. However, all content, opinions, comments and enthusiasm remain my own.

Bursting with flavor without busting your clean-eating diet, my Lemongrass Basil Sablefish Skillet is a 30-minute fish dinner that just messes one pot – plus, it’s suitable for Paleo, Keto, low-carb and gluten-free diets too!  Lemongrass Basil Sablefish Skillet - quick paleo, keto and low carb dinner

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