Fish Veracruz

This recipe uses a vegetable sauce instead of fat to keep fish moist and flavorful.

This recipe uses a vegetable sauce — instead of fat — to keep fish moist, flavorful and healthy.

Ingredients (Serves 8)

2 pounds whitefish fillets, such as tilapia, cod, sole, pollock or halibut
1/4 cup lime juice
1/2 tablespoon canola oil
1 small onion, peeled and sliced
1 small green bell pepper, seeded and cut into strips
1/4 cup jalapeno pepper, seeded and sliced
2 cups fresh salsa or pico de gallo
1/2 cup no-salt-added tomato sauce
1/2 cup sliced ripe olives
1 tablespoon capers
4 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped, or 4 teaspoons dried cilantro
1 lime cut into 8 wedges

Directions

Arrange fish in a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Sprinkle with lime juice. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.

Heat oven to 425 F. Heat oil in a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper and jalapeno pepper. Cook and stir occasionally for 2 minutes, or until vegetables are tender yet crisp.

Stir in salsa, tomato sauce, olives and capers. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 minute.

Pour the sauce over the fish and bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Remove fish and vegetables from the pan with a slotted spatula. Serve with cilantro and lime wedges.