Easy, direct-from-freezer Alaska seafood dinners await

In the mood for seafood, but forgot to thaw some fillets? No worries with these recipes. The four dinner options below, courtesy of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, feature some of Alaskans favorite bounty from the sea. Best of all, they can all be prepared with frozen fish. As a bonus, they all come together in less than 30 minutes, so they minimize kitchen time while still providing a nutritious dinner.

The first two recipes come with cooking technique videos that can be found at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute website, www.alaskaseafood.org.

ASMI is a public-private partnership between the State of Alaska and the Alaska seafood industry established to foster economic development of a renewable natural resource. More information, including a wide variety of Alaska seafood recipes for all occasions, along with plenty of data about their health and nutritional benefits, can also be found at ASMI’s website.

Honey-Soy Alaska Salmon with Scallions

This recipe is so simple, yet so flavorful. With just 10 ingredients and a quick bake in the oven, you’ll have this impressive dish on your dinner table in under 30 minutes.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 16 minutes

Total Time: 26 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon hot honey (or regular honey)

1 tablespoon brown sugar

2 teaspoons minced garlic

1 teaspoon black sesame seeds, plus more for serving

4 (4 to 6-ounce) skin-on Alaska salmon fillets, frozen

1 bunch scallions (3½ to 5 ounces, or at least 8 scallions), trimmed

2 teaspoons sesame oil

½ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste

Preparation

1- Prepare honey soy glaze

Whisk together soy sauce, olive oil, honey, brown sugar, garlic, and black sesame seeds in small bowl. Set aside.

2- Prepare salmon

Preheat oven to 450F. Run frozen salmon fillets under cold water to remove any ice glaze and pat dry with a paper towel. Place them (skin-side down if using skin-on fillets) on a 7-by-11-inch foil-lined baking sheet and pour honey soy mixture over the top. Cover with foil.

3- Prepare scallions

Toss scallions with sesame oil and salt to fully coat and arrange in an even layer on a separate baking sheet.

4- Bake salmon and scallions

Put salmon and scallions in the oven and bake for 8 minutes. Remove foil from salmon and flip scallions. Return to oven and bake for 6 more minutes. Remove scallions, which should be crispy and charred at the edges. Flip salmon and bake for another 2-4 minutes, depending on thickness of your fillets. It should be opaque and flake easily with a fork when done.

5- Garnish and serve

Serve salmon over a bed of scallions. Garnish with additional black sesame seeds.

White Wine Poached Alaska Fish with Lemon Butter Sauce

Steaming or poaching is a healthy way to infuse fish with flavor. This dish is topped with a simple herb butter sauce for an elegant finish.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon shallot, minced

1 clove garlic, minced

Water, for poaching (about 1 cup)

1/2 cup white wine (Sauvignon blanc or Chardonnay)

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/8 teaspoon white pepper

4 Alaska salmon or whitefish portions (4-6 ounces each), fresh, thawed or frozen

½-1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning or herbes de Provence

2 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Preparation

1- Prepare the fish Rinse any ice glaze from frozen Alaska fish under cold water; set aside.

2- Cook the aromatics

Heat a very large skillet (10-12-inch, depending on size of fillets) over medium heat for 1 minute. Add the oil and swirl the pan to coat evenly. Add the shallot and garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Remove the pan from the heat.

3- Steam the fish

Place seafood in pan, skin side down. Add water to the pan until it reaches half way up the side of the fillets. Add the wine, salt and pepper. Return the pan to medium-high heat until it begins to simmer. Cover pan tightly and reduce heat to low; liquid should simmer, not boil. Cook 4-5 minutes for frozen fish or 2 minutes for fresh/thawed fish. Turn off heat and let fish rest in liquid for 5 minutes. Remove fish to a plate/platter and keep warm.

4- Make sauce and serve

Create a quick reduction sauce with the remaining liquid by returning pan to medium-high heat. Reduce liquid by at least 50 percent, about 3-5 minutes. Reduce heat to low and add the butter, herbs and lemon juice. Whisk until butter melts and sauce thickens, about 1 minute. To serve, drizzle fillets with sauce.

Asian-Inspired Roasted Alaska Rockfish

Alaska rockfish is a delicious canvas for a miso-honey-ginger glaze, and it’s ready in under 30 minutes.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

4 Alaska Rockfish fillets (about 4 to 8 oz. each), fresh, thawed or frozen

1/3 cup red miso; white miso may be substituted, omitting the remaining lime juice sprinkled on cooked fillets

2 tablespoons dry white wine

2 tablespoons peanut oil

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger

1 tablespoon light soy sauce or tamari

Juice of one lime, divided

1/4 cup diagonally thinly-sliced scallions

2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds

Preparation

1- Prepare the rockfish

Preheat oven to 400. Rinse any ice glaze from frozen Alaska rockfish under cold water; pat dry with a paper towel.

2- Make the miso glaze

In a small bowl, blend miso, wine, peanut oil, honey, ginger, soy sauce and 1 tablespoon of the lime juice.

3- Season and roast the rockfish

Place fillets onto a spray-coated baking pan. Spoon and spread miso mixture over top and sides of fillets. Roast 12-18 minutes for frozen rockfish or 6-10 minutes for fresh/thawed fish. Cook just until fish is opaque throughout. Sprinkle fillets with remaining lime juice, scallions and sesame seeds before serving.

Fast and Spicy Alaska Halibut

Grill or broil this spice-coated halibut straight from frozen and you’ll have a delicious gluten-free dinner in no time.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

1 tablespoon paprika

1 1/2 teaspoons each dried oregano and dried thyme

1 teaspoon each onion powder and garlic powder

1 teaspoon each black pepper and salt

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste

4 Alaska halibut steaks or fillets (4-6 ounces each), fresh, thawed or frozen

1 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted

Preparation

1- Combine the dry seasoning

Preheat broiler/oven or grill to medium-high heat. Mix together all dry seasoning ingredients until well combined.

2- Season the halibut

Rinse any ice glaze from frozen halibut under cold water; pat dry with a paper towel. Place halibut on a spray-coated or foil-lined baking sheet. Brush butter onto top surfaces of halibut and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon seasoning mixture. Note: For best results with frozen fish, cook halibut 4 minutes before adding butter and spices.

3- Grill or broil the halibut

Grill or broil halibut 5-7 inches from heat for 13 minutes for frozen halibut or 8 minutes for fresh/thawed fish. Cook just until fish is opaque throughout.