Freshwater Feasts

Did you know that 90% of the seafood we eat in the United States is imported from other countries? The next time you look for fish at the grocery store, market, or restaurant, choose Mi Fresh Fish raised or caught right here in Michigan! Michigan fish are healthy, sustainable, and packed with nutrition — and buying from local producers helps support hard-working families and businesses in your community.

Cooking Mi Fresh Fish is easy! Here’s a quick, delicious recipe from The Farm Restaurant in Port Austin. The recipe has plenty of flexibility to adjust to your taste. Use a tried-and-true balance of salt, sugar, and black pepper or go bold with a new spice blend. Chipotle peppers add smoky heat, but you can swap those out for green onion, red bell pepper, fresh cherry tomatoes, or another vegetable of your choice.

Pan-seared blackened Great Lakes whitefish

Ingredients:

• Great Lakes whitefish fillets
• Chipotle peppers (or a diced vegetable of your choice, such as green onion, red bell pepper, or cherry tomato)
• Mayonnaise
• Salt
• Sugar
• Black pepper
• Blackening seasoning or another favorite herb/spice blend
• Cooking oil

Cooking instructions:

1. Heat your pan over medium-high heat and coat lightly in a cooking oil of your choice.
2. Place your whitefish fillets on a cutting board or tray.
3. Spread a layer of mayonnaise on top of the fillets.
4. Sprinkle fish generously with salt, sugar, black pepper, and blackening seasoning or other herb/spice blend.
5. On top of the fillet, add chipotle peppers for a smoky kick or another diced vegetable of your choice.
6. Add the whitefish to your hot pan, taking care to avoid splashing oil. Sear each side for 3-4 minutes, depending of the thickness of your fillet. Use a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature reaches at least 145 degrees F.
7. Remove from heat, put on plate, and enjoy with a salad, cooked rice, or other side of your choice.