If you're looking to expand your Friday night Lenten dinner repertoire, check out today's recipe from Bahama Breeze Restaurants.

Although Almond Crusted Fresh Fish has a gourmet flair, it's easy to make. For this recipe we used salmon, but you can substitute the fish of your choice. The fish is sauteed in olive oil, then sprinkled with an almond crust just before serving. And it's the almond crust that kicks up the flavor.

PG TESTED

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 4-ounce pieces of fish (we used salmon)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup almond crust (see below)
• 1/2 cup lemon butter sauce (see below)

Lightly season fish on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat a saute pan over medium high heat. Add the olive oil. Place the fish in the pan and reduce heat to medium. Saute fish just until it flakes easily and is cooked through, about 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer the fish to a warm serving platter and top fish with warm almond crust. Serve with lemon butter sauce.

Almond crust

• 1 slice fresh white bread
• 1/4 cup honey roasted sliced almonds
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon fresh parsley

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place bread in a food processor or blender and pulse to make coarse bread crumbs. Place bread crumbs on a cookie sheet and bake for 4 to 5 minutes. In a medium bowl place  1/4 cup of bread crumbs (remaining bread crumbs can be frozen) and remaining ingredients and mix to evenly combine. Just before serving, warm the bread crumb mixture for 30 seconds in the microwave, sprinkle over fish.

Lemon butter sauce

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
• 2 tablespoons white wine
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 3 threads saffron
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons cold butter, cubed
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon cold water
• Salt and white pepper to taste

Add the oil to a heating sauce pan. Add garlic and saute for 30 seconds. Add wine and thyme, and reduce by half. Slowly add cream, saffron and lemon juice, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil and immediately reduce heat to low. Add the butter and stir until combined. Mix the cornstarch and water and add slowly to the sauce, while stirring until thickened. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste. Strain the sauce. Serve hot.

-- Bahama Breeze Restaurants

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