July 9: Crunchy Japanese Fish with Vegetable and Noodle Toss

1/2 pound thin spaghetti
   Coarse salt
2 pounds haddock fillets
2 pinches of cayenne pepper
   Zest and juice of 1 lemon
3 cups Rice Krispies cereal, half crushed, half left whole
3 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted

LO MEIN
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 garlic cloves, chopped
2-inch piece of fresh ginger, minced
1 cup shredded carrots, or 1 carrot, peeled and cut into matchsticks
2 cups bean sprouts
1 8-ounce can sliced water chestnuts, drained and chopped
1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and thinly sliced
6 scallions, thinly sliced on an angle
1/3 cup tamari

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Bring a pot of water to a boil, add the pasta and salt the water. Cook the pasta until slightly undercooked. Drain.

While the pasta words, prepare the fish. Season the haddock with salt, cayenne pepper, lemon zest, and the juice of 1/2 lemon. Cut the remaining 1/2 lemon into wedges and reserve. Crush half the cereal in a sealable plastic bag, then combine with the whole cereal, parsley, and chives. Dip the fish in the melted butter or margarine, then coat evenly in the cereal coating and place on a nonstick cookie sheet. Bake for 17 to 18 minutes, until evenly golden and crisp.

After the fish goes in the oven, heat a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add the vegetable oil, garlic, ginger, and carrots. Cook for 1 minute, stir-frying the mixture, then add the bean sprouts, water chestnuts, red bell peppers, and scallions. Stir-fry for another 2 minutes and add the drained, hot pasta. Add the tamari and remove from the heat. Toss for a minute for the pasta to absorb the tamari and vegetable juices, and divide the No-Pain Lo Mein among 4 plates. Serve with the crispy oven-fried fish. Pass the lemon wedges at the table.

4 SERVINGS

RR says: "No panko (Japanese bread crumbs)? No problem! I got a great recipe from an old JayCee/community cookbook in New England. One local mom made Rice Krispie fish fillets in the oven with melted margarine. What a great substitute for panko flakes! Crushed Krispies! Cool! Here's my take... with a side of No-Pain Vegetable lo Mein." I have made this recipe before, and it's pretty good. The Rice Krispies do get a little soggy, but it still tastes good. Since I'm on vacation, I'm skipping this recipe.