Catfish dish gets zip from pepper pairing

Better Homes & Gardens has a new book filled with lots of easy recipes for anyone facing a diabetes diagnosis or one who cooks for a diabetic.

The Ultimate Diabetes Cookbook ($19.95, softcover, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) has more than 400 recipes, including a whole section on meals for two, and chapters on salads, soups, sandwiches, desserts and family dinner entrees.

The recipes are easy to make and use inexpensive ingredients that can be found in most grocery stores. Each recipe contains complete nutritional information and diabetic exchanges.

The dishes make use of powerful flavors from fresh herbs and spices, instead of relying on fat and salt for flavor.

Try out this recipe for catfish, which can be made just as easily with sole or tilapia.

Chile-Lime Catfish With Corn Saute

4 (4- to 5-ounce) skinless catfish, sole or tilapia filets

1 tablespoon lime juice

1 teaspoon ground ancho chile pepper or chili powder

½ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vegetable oil, divided use

2 2/3 cups frozen whole kernel corn, thawed

½ cup finely chopped red onion

2 teaspoons finely chopped seeded fresh jalapeno pepper

2 cloves garlic

1 tablespoon snipped fresh cilantro

Lime wedges, optional

Thaw fish, if frozen. Rinse fish; pat dry with paper towels.

In a small bowl stir together lime juice, ancho chile pepper and salt. Brush mixture evenly over both sides of each fish.

In a large skillet heat 1 teaspoon of the oil over medium high heat. Add fish to hot oil; cook 4 to 6 minutes per ½-inch thickness, or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork, turning once halfway through cooking. Remove from skillet.

Cover to keep warm.

In the same skillet, add the remaining teaspoon oil and cook the corn, onion, jalapeno and garlic until vegetables are heated through and just starting to soften, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat. Stir in cilantro.

To serve, divide corn mixture among four serving plates. Top with fish. If desired, serve with lime wedges.

Makes 4 servings.

Diabetic exchanges: 1 ½ starch, 2 ½ lean meat; 1 fat.