Turn to seafood during Lent

Skipping meat on Fridays is a common sacrifice Christians make during Lent. Meals can still be flavorful even if chicken, beef or pork may be off the table. In fact, Lent makes for an ideal time to embrace delicious vegetarian meals or those that feature seafood.
Salmon is a hearty, flavorful and heart-healthy protein. When glazed in an easy sauce, this “Sweet-and-Sour Baked Salmon” will be the star of mealtime. Enjoy it, courtesy of “30-Minute Meal Prep” (Sourcebooks) by Robin Miller.

Sweet-and-Sour Baked Salmon
Serves 4

• 8 salmon fillets, about 5 to 6 ounces each
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup 100 percent pineapple juice
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, regular or seasoned
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/8 ground ginger
• Chopped green onions for serving
  

Preheat the oven to 375 F. Coat a shallow baking dish with a thin layer of olive or vegetable oil.
Pat the salmon fillets dry and place them in the prepared pan. Season the salmon with salt and black pepper. Set aside.
In a small saucepan, whisk together the pineapple juice, ketchup, brown sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce, cornstarch, garlic, and ginger. Set the pan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until the sauce thickens, stirring frequently.
Spoon the sauce over the salmon.
Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the salmon is fork tender (a meat thermometer should register 145 F).
Reserve half of the salmon for a future meal. Refrigerate up to 3 days.
Top the remaining salmon with the green onions, and serve.
Tip: You can make this dish spicy by adding hot sauce or sriracha sauce to the glaze. You can also top the finished dish with crushed red pepper flakes.
Also, this thick sauce is versatile, so it can be used on chicken, beef and shellfish.