Chef Chesiah Othman is the chef at Kedah House Halal Restaurant & Cafe

Chef Chesiah Othman presents: Kedah House's Sambal Salmon

Ingredients

• 250 g boneless salmon
• 20 dried chilis
• 10 shallots
• 1 tbsp shrimp paste
• 125 ml tamarind juice
• 4 tbsp cooking oil
• salt and sugar (to taste)
• cornstarch

Method

1. Clean and dry salmon. Coat salmon with cornstarch.
2. Fry salmon until golden brown and crispy.
3. Heat the cooking oil. Combine remaining ingredients (dried chilis, shallots, shrimp paste, and tamarind juice). Cook ingredients in oil until fragrant.
4. Add coated salmon. Salt and sugar to taste.
5. Serves 4.

Kedah House Halal Restaurant & Cafe
5750 Fraser Street
Vancouver, BC.
Telephone: 604-325-9771
Hours: 11:30am-9:00pm
6 days a week. Closed Tuesday.

TAKING A FRESH LOOK AT SALMON

Salmon and a healthy family diet

We know the adage: "Eat right and exercise" is good advice for the whole family. We also know that heart disease, hypertension and diabetes are linked with obesity, which can often be traced to children as young as two years old!

Inactivity is one of the reasons for the growing rate of obesity, the other reason is a diet that is too high in saturated fat, total fat, simple sugars, and inadequate fibre, fruits and vegetables. About 10 million children in the U.S. currently have serious weight problems, placing them at potential risk later in life for diabetes, heart disease, orthopedic disorders and respiratory disease.

Diabetics often have significantly increased risk for cardiovascular disease, however, an improved diet can be viewed as a viable intervention risk reduction. Studies have shown that fish oil lowers triglycerides, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels, and blood pressure in nondiabetic individuals and thereby diminishes their risk of heart disease.

It is common among diabetics to have high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, major contributors to increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Researchers also report that fish oil can markedly decrease cholesterol and triglyceride levels without adversely affecting glycemic control.

Lean protein choices--especially fish--are critical for a healthy diet. One of the best choices of fish is salmon, with its low-calorie, low-fat profile and rich nutrient content. Salmon plays in an important role in a daily diet. Salmon provides high-quality protein, critical for growing kids and adults alike, and is the best source of omega-3 fatty acids. Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids are important for heart health and general well being.

Especially important for kids is that in addition to its health benefits, salmon tastes great. With salmon, you can prepare a healthy dish in a variety of ways, that your kids will love. There are dozens of kid-friendly ways to make salmon a regular part of your child's diet, and help them stay fit for life.

Healthful habits start at home. By motivating children to be active and providing a well-balanced diet, parents can help kids maintain a healthy weight, improve overall health and well-being, and develop good eating and exercise habits to last a lifetime.

DID YOU KNOW

• The basic recommendation by the American Heart Association for prevention of coronary heart disease is 2 servings of fatty fish a week; for people who have had a heart attack, the recommendation is 1 gram of omega-3 fatty acid per day
• Farmed Atlantic Salmon is one of the best fatty fish on the market with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids.