10 Minute Lemon Pepper Fish

10 Minutes & an ingredient list you can count on 1 hand.  This succulent fish dish is about as simple as they come.  I made this for Tim & I during a stay at a VRBO cabin (rental) in North Carolina & we had the most wonderful impromptu dinner along with sumac roasted carrots & a fancy salad right out of a bag.  How's that for easy?

I love renting vacation homes from VRBO or AirB&B since they allow me to cook in a kitchen.  I am just more confortable when I have a kitchen other than staying in even the nicest of hotels.  

This easy meal I made in this little cabin kitchen over my birthday weekend and although the photography is not the best, the meal was indeed worthy of a birthday dinner.

THESE SUMAC ROASTED CARROTS WERE THE PERFECT ACCOMPANIMENT.

To go alongside, I roasted up some thin carrots (and sliced the larger ones) with a bit of salt, pepper and plenty of sumac, one of my favorite spices.

Sumac is a middle eastern spice that is made from a berry that is dried & ground,  It has a slight vinegary taste which is highlighy complimentary to sweet or fatty things like these carrots, avocado or over eggs,  Amazing.

THIS WAS ONE GORGEOUS PIECE OF SNAPPER

While we were hoping for trout, either caught in the rushing creek outside our cabin, or procured in the local market, we had no luck so this snapper stood in as a promising understudy,  We were quite pleased with the outcome, but any firm white fish works with this recipe.  Think tilapia, cod or similar.  Cooking times will vary, but the taste will remain phenomenal.

This T-Fal Skillet
is my favorite nonstick.
​Purchase it HERE.

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10 Minute Lemon Pepper Fish & Sumac Roasted Carrots
Serves 2-4

1 or 2 large filets of snapper, trout or tilapia (any firm white fish will work)
1 large lemon
2 teaspoons pepper (freshly ground is best)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon olive oil

Zest the lemon, then slice into thin slices.
Mix the zest with the pepper.

In a medium skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil. 

Salt the fish, then add half the lemon pepper mixture to the flesh side of the fish.   
When the oil in the skillet begins to shimmer, add the fish flesh side down. 
Sear for about 2 minutes while adding the remaining lemon pepper mixture to the other side of the fish filet (or 2 filets).  
Flip the fish (use a silicone fish slice/spatula to make this easy) to finish searing with the skin side down.  This will take another 2-4 minutes depending on the thickness of your fish.  
While the fish finishes cooking, layer the thin lemon slices over the fish for presentation.

Sumac Roasted Carrots
Simply use thin new carrots, or slice larger carrots in half or quarters lengthwise.
Place in a baking pan or baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil, salt, pepper & about a heaping tablespoon of sumac.  I love The Spice Way Sumac.
Roast at 425 degrees for 25-35 minutes until soft & slightly caramelized.
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