The Cooking Cardiologist

Summer is here! That means it is time to get outside, fire up those grills, and get ready for a season of grilling all kinds of delectable creations (and you might have guessed that I prefer those creations that are full of fresh vegetables and fresh fish).  Always remember to maker sure your grill is ready for the season, and you can do this by following my healthy grilling tips.

In Colorado, we get the double heart advantage of hiking in the beautiful Rocky Mountains and then fishing on the 6,000 miles of mountain and prairie streams for brown and rainbow trout. First you can raise your heart rate with some nature-based exercise, and then you can settle into the rhythm of nature as you fish. Get out into nature and have a fishing experience, since most streams in Colorado are catch and release streams.  You can still savor the tastiness of fresh trout — one of my favorite flavors of the season by purchasing them at a local supermarket. Colorado trout is both delicious and heart healthy.

I like to prepare fresh fish by grilling with paper. Seem impossible? En papillote {pah-pee-YOHT} is a French term for steaming foods in parchment. This process is typically done in the oven, however, bringing this technique to the grill will improve the flavor of any herbs you use, and will not allow the flames to destroy the fish. The best part is that cooking with paper maintains integrity of the fish and without dehydrating it.

This grilling process steams the herbs into the fish, enhancing all of the delicate flavors. When cooking the fish, the parchment bag is not wrapped in aluminum foil, but left exposed to the heat and smoke of the grill, but not the flames. Remember the fish is wrapped in paper.  This allows the parchment to absorb the smoky flavors while it protects the fish. When you cook your vegetables on the grill, remember the old campers’ trick and tightly wrap the parchment bag in foil. To complete your meal, serve the trout with a rich glass of white wine, such as a chilled chardonnay.