Delicious Mackerel packed with Omega-3 essential fats with a healthy sour tamarind marinade.
This post might be a little sad or a little too much for some of you, so to save you the drama, you can jump to the recipe directly here.
A few weeks ago we received this traumatizing news of my dear mother in law - a breast cancer survivor - being diagnosed with lung cancer. This monster has returned but this time, it is closer to her kind heart.
Cancer is a scary word indeed, for me, it means long chemo therapy, long suffering, hair loss, weight loss and finally life loss😨. This scary beast has been chasing my family since I was almost 7 years old. I have a family with a long history of cancer battles, most of them, unfortunately are lost battles, I've seen so many late diagnosis and so many lives taken, and I figured out that my turn will come sooner or later.
What is so scary for me, is not the death itself, we are all going to die anyway, but how cancer depletes the body and how it sucks the life out of human beings. This is really what horrifies me the most. I was talking to my kids about the circumstances, when my eldest said in a sad tone, no I do not want to loose another one of my family , referring to the fact that we are still dealing with the loss of my father and my brother in law both in one month, then he said we have to do something, I need to think of a remedy, I need to rid the world of cancer.
His determination, his high hope and his faith really moved me and I decided to educate myself, to read about the beast, to face my fears and may be me too can help.
So far I've learned that cancer is happening to all of us everyday,I've learned that those with healthy immune system can destroy these cells, and those with weak immune system cannot. In short, cancer is just how your body is telling you that there is something wrong going on, it is how your immune system is screaming telling you " you are abusing me and you should stop". But how to stop? this is the big question.
There are so many things you can do to help your body starve cancer cells, starting with the shampoo you are using, the cleaning detergent, relaxing, meditation,.... and the most important part is what and how you feed this body. FOOD MATTERS in cancer fighting/preventing, it really matters.
So if you are fighting cancer, caring for a fighter, or just want live the rest of your days on this earth happy and healthy, learn how to help your body fight, join us in this long and tiring - but rewarding In Shaa Allah- journey to beat the heck out of this mean bunch of cells. I will post recipes packed with anti cancer agents to help you through, I've created a category named - anti cancer, and I've created this board on pinterest where I will pin every resource, every recipe I get my hands on to spread the spirit of fighting and never loose hope. We will be waiting for your encouraging words, thoughts, stories and prayers.
Today's anti cancer recipe is inspired from the book Nourish, I've tweaked it a little to suite our taste. According to the book, tamarind is important for supporting bowel health and stabilizing blood sugar and it contains antioxidants other nutrients known for anticancer properties. Mackerel is rich in omega-3 which is good for your health.
Please consult with your doctor first, as some cancer types feed on omega-3.
Mackerel recipe
Ingredients
- 1 mackerel head removed.
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil.
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic- about 3 large ones.
- 1 Tablespoon tamarind paste.
- 1 Tablespoon dill.
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger.
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne peppers .
- ¼ teaspoon cumin powder.
- ⅛ teaspoon salt - or to taste.
- ¼ cup fresh coriander- chopped.
Instructions
- In a bowl combine all ingredients without the fish and mix very well.
- With a sharp knife, slash the mackerel on each side.
- Coat the fish thoroughly on both sides adding the marinade mixture in the slashes with your fingers.
- Bake in a 350F oven for 20-25 minutes or until done.
- Serve with brown rice.
- Enjoy.
Teera Rakchard
Hi Amira
Thank you very much for your sharing. I'm an old man with stage4 colon cancer also. Now I don't eat any meat,suger and milkbut
I eat fish and beans.I'm drinking fruit juce every day and taking some herbal medicine. I was taken sugery operation last month(21 December 2018). And after that I reject chemothery. I'm feeling healthy and riding bicycle everyday starting from 14 January till now. Due to I just eat fish with some coconut oil so I want to change some different. Your Tamarind Mackerel is very helpfull for me. I just want to know that whether can I use other fish or not.Plase instruct me.
Amira
Teera, wishing you all the best during your healing and recovery period, you are doing great. For the fish, I am using mackerel as it has good fats and helps us eat healthier. I haven't tested the recipe with any other type of fish, but I am thinking why not.
Evelyne CulturEatz
So sorry to hear about your mother-in-law and her cancer, and all your sad brushes with it. Cancer is a terrible thing we have all experienced at some degree. I so agree everything you come in contact with can help fight, like this delicious recipe. I do monthly liver cleanse and they are suppose to help cancer too. Hit me up if you want more info.
John/Kitchen Riffs
Cancer is tough -- my mom died of it, and it was a struggle for her. I feel for you. Anyway, lovely dish -- so much flavor. Tamarind is such good stuff, isn't it? Thanks for this.
Amira
Sorry to hear that John, Thanks for stopping by.
Juliana
This mackerel sounds delicious...very tasty and yes, healthy! I yet have to cook with tamarind paste...
Have a great week Amira 🙂
Amira
It is really tangy and tasty, Thanks Juliana.
Bam's Kitchen
Amira, I am so sorry that your family has been going through so much lately and I hope that your mother in law stays strong and you do too. It is very difficult to go through this. I am so glad you are turning to food as part of treatment as it really has healing power. Delicious tamirand mackerel.
Amira
Thanks Bam, really seems like food is one of the main sources of our sickness.. not the food itself but what we have done to our food.. you know processing and stuff.