Salmon Stew with Brown Rice...

It has been a while since my last post on food but there is a perfectly good explanation for that - I went for holidays, first in Angola then Portugal, and when on holidays all I want to do is relax, enjoy the company of family and friends and be pampered. After all, this is the definition of holidays, right?

However, I did missed cooking - cooking for me is not an obligation, it is something I do out of pleasure. That is why I don't cook every single day or when I am not in the mood, I just could not bare the idea of cooking becoming something of a chore.

I know you are not supposed to eat anything heavy at dinner, but sometimes the stomach wants what the stomach wants, and yesterday all I could think about was comfort food - you know, the kind of warm food that just makes you feel utterly happy and brings you really fond memories :)

Well, since I have been trying to shed some pounds, I am always trying to find new recipes that allow me to eat what I want without being a total disaster for my waistline. So, this fish stew recipe was something I created in order to satisfy my desire but without disrupting altogether my diet - can't and won't say it is a healthy dish, but, the way I see it, it is a homemade dish filled with fish and veggies. How bad can it be?

Mind you, it is not a nice looking dish, it is not the sort of dish you will be serving when entertaining friends but it is exactly what you need after a day at work, trust me on that ;)

(1) In a large saucepan, heat some olive oil over medium heat - Add a chopped onion and a couple of bay leaves and saute for 4 minutes.

(2) Add 4 fresh tomatoes and some canned tomatoes, and allow those to cook until they are soft.

(3) Add a cup of brown rice, celery, peppers and a cube of fish stock - add boiled water (enough to cover the ingredients), bring to a boil and allow it to simmer until the rice is almost cooked.

Season to taste with salt and pepper - I also like to add a tablespoon of ketchup.

(4) Once the rice is almost cooked, add the green beans and the salmon - cook for 5 minutes.

Please note that you might need to add some more boiled water, and if that is the case, do not forget to adjust salt and pepper.

Unfortunately, I didn't have any fresh coriander, but I would advise you to add some chopped coriander when you add the salmon.

(5) Turn of the heat and allow the pot to sit covered for another 5 minutes.

Check salt and pepper, and add if necessary.

*ENJOY*