Secrets for a Cheap & Easy Fish Dinner

The high price of fish always amazes me. Fortunately, almost every big city has a Chinatown where fish is much more reasonably priced. You just have to know how to buy it and prepare it.

First of all, don't buy fish that will be served rare or uncooked from a fishmonger that you don't have a relationship with. Instead, look for fish that are best prepared fully cooked -- like tilapia. When you get it home, rinse it really well and rub it down with lemon.

If you are going to eat it right away, here's a great way to make it:

Dust the fish with a spice blend, perhaps a little bit of harissa and some salt. Then heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a heavy sautée pan over very high heat. Add the fish and sear it on both sides. Squeeze lemon juice over the fish and serve it with a side of broccoli raab.

If you want to freeze it to use later, wrap the fish tightly in plastic wrap, squeezing out any air bubbles, then put it in a zipper-lock bag and freeze it for up to two weeks.