5 Hearty, Winter Wild-Fish Recipes

It’s chilly outside, but seafood is in season. So dig into these light, satisfying meals to power you forward.

- Cat Perry

Frigid winter temperatures mean icy seashores and a surprising bounty of fresh Alaskan seafood. Our northernmost state is the perfect year-round spawning ground to a juicy array of seafood, including five types of salmon, numerous shellfish (including king crab), and seven buttery whitefish. For many species, winter is prime harvesting time. The best part: It’s all wild-caught. Every fish that comes from Alaskan waters is as clean as they come, so you can rest assured it’s good to its core.

These winter fish recipes are all about the melt-in-your-mouth Alaskan seafood you’ll find in stores this time of year—a mix of dishes that will warm you up, deliver loads of muscle-building protein, and give you every reason to “ask for Alaska.” Plus, they cook up quickly for dinner in minutes.

Ice Age Meals founder and CrossFit chef Nick Massie, aka Paleo Nick (paleonick.com)—who lived in Alaska for four years—developed these five mouthwatering meals that will keep the pounds off all winter. Can’t find a certain fish at the store? Just ask your fishmonger for a suitable substitute and dive in.

ALASKAN SEAFOOD CIOPPINO

SERVES 4

1 tbsp olive oil

2 cups julienned leeks, rinsed well

¼ cup minced garlic

28 oz diced tomatoes

1-quart clam stock, chicken stock, or water

6 oz Alaskan sea scallops (10/20 size)

6 oz Alaskan cod, cut into 1-inch cubes

6 oz Alaskan rockfish, cut into 1-inch cubes

6 oz Alaskan salmon, cut into 1-inch cubes

3 Alaskan king crab legs

1 tsp kosher salt

½ tsp black pepper

10 small sprigs thyme

1 lemon, quartered

1. Heat oil in a 12-quart stockpot over medium-high heat.

2. Add leeks and garlic and stir until garlic begins to toast.