Cajun Arctic Char

Calling all Salmon lovers - try this Cajun Arctic Char! It's simple to make but packs a lot of flavor that leaves your mouth watering long after the meal is over. The best part? If you've been consulting the Monterey Bay Aquarium's sustainable fish guide that I blogged about recently, you'll see that Arctic Char is a good substitute for Salmon.

I paired my Cajun Arctic Char with the Garlic Mashed Potato Stuffed Artichokes that always hit home. While you can generally get artichokes year round, this is the season for them, meaning they're often on sale and absolutely delicious. Take advantage of the season before the price goes up and you have to keep your fingers crossed each week when you go food shopping!

Time: 20 min
Difficulty: Easy

Cajun Arctic Char
The only trick here is having a lot of spices on hand. If you don't you can try some simple substitutions, or if you plan on cooking a lot, simply stock up. Spices keep for a long time so building up a collection is not a bad idea!

Ingredients:
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp thyme
3/4 tsp basil
1/8 tsp chili pepper
1 tsp olive oil
1 lb Arctic Char

Mix together all of the spices in a bowl until well combined. With your Arctic Char fillet skin-side down, brush about half of the spice evenly over the top.

Heat the oil on a grill pan over medium high heat. When it gets hot, add the fish with the skin side down. Cook for 4-5 minutes, then flip the fish. Cook another 4-5 minutes and flip back over. The top should now be crisp and browned. Finish cooking to taste and remove from heat.

Hint: If you made your cajun spice mixture a little too spicy, cut the spice by squeezing some fresh lemon juice onto your Cajun Arctic Char before eating.