Next Week’s Meal Plan: A Week of Pescatarian Dinners from Jodi Moreno

If you don’t already know about Jodi Moreno’s gorgeous vegetable- and fish-focused recipes, it’s time to get caught up. Follow her popular Instagram; head over to her site, What’s Cooking Good Looking; and maybe even pick up a copy of her James Beard Award-nominated cookbook that came out last year, More with Less. You won’t regret it. The recipes, which are as elegant to behold as they are delicious and healthy-looking, clearly come from someone who loves fresh vegetables. It’s no surprise that Jodi, who prefers to eat as locally as possible, is also an avid gardener.

This week Jodi shares a meal plan that is gluten- and dairy-free, while being so flavorful — so full of thoughtful pairings and warm spices — that your family might not even notice. Her plan includes vegetable-forward mains as well as a two clever methods for making weeknight fish far easier and more approachable than you might expect.

For me, meal planning is the best way to ensure I’m eating well. During the week I like to fill my plate with veggies and I typically omit ingredients like dairy and gluten. When I meal plan, it helps me stay on track. I also like to keep things pretty simple, minimizing prep work and dishes while maximizing flavors. These recipes are the ones that I turn to again and again for simple, healthy, flavorful, veggie-filled weeknight meals. 

This is definitely my top go-to weeknight veggie dinner. It’s easy to make, but also satisfying! I start with the crispy sweet potato, and I then top it with whatever I have on hand. Sometimes I add some crispy chickpeas or toasted almonds. I always add lots of greens. And if I don’t have time to make the chimichurri I’ll just grab a condiment from the fridge instead. 

Get the recipe: Crispy Skinned Sweet Potato, Avocado Mash, Poached Egg, and Chimichurri

It’s always good to have a few one-pot or one-pan dishes in your repertoire. But your family may find it hard to believe that this comes together on one oven sheet pan, given all the different flavors and textures going on. Everything — including the lentils — is cooked together in a flavorful broth of coconut milk and harissa. The result is tasty and satisfying — especially because you only have one pan to clean up! 

Get the recipe: Harissa and Coconut Milk Baked Delicata Squash with Lentils and Toasted Almonds

I love to have wild salmon at least one night during the week while it’s in season, and this is far and away my favorite salmon recipe. This spicy caraway tomato sauce is the perfect complement to the salmon. I usually serve this as is, with nothing more than a side of broccoli or spinach. A tip: If you like it, double or triple the sauce. You can keep the rest in the freezer, making it that much easier to throw together. 

Get the recipe: Salmon and Spicy Caraway Tomato Sauce

Rice is one of my favorite comfort foods, but instead of white rice, I try to use more nutrient-dense black, red, or brown rice for my weeknight meals. This rice bowl is an easy weeknight meal that is super versatile. I typically change out veggies depending on what’s in season, and sometimes if I have any leftover chicken or salmon, I will add that in as well. 

Get the recipe: Black Rice Salad with Spinach, Squash, Sesame Ginger Dressing

Another one-pot favorite, this coconut lime fish stew comes together in less than 30 minutes. Plus, you can throw in as many veggies as you have in your fridge. You could also make this with seafood — scallops, salmon, or shrimp would all be good choices. This also makes a showy (and super-easy) dish if you’re cooking for a large group. Just increase the ingredient amount depending on how many you need to feed. 

Get the recipe: Spicy Coconut Lime Fish Stew

Jodi Moreno is a NYC based recipe developer, food stylist, and cookbook author. She writes a popular wellness and recipe blog called What’s Cooking Good Looking. She is the author of More with Less. Jodi is also the co-owner of Neighborhood Studio in Brooklyn, NY, which is a test kitchen and photo studio by day, and home to community dinners, cooking classes, and various workshops and events at night and on the weekends.

• The Beginner’s Guide to Meal Planning: What to Know, How to Succeed, and What to Skip
• The Best Way to Use a Weekend for Meal Planning Success
• Ask Yourself These 5 Questions Before You Start Meal Planning
• 5 Strategies for Picking Recipes for a Week of Meal Planning

Welcome to Next Week’s Meal Plan! Meal planning isn’t always easy — especially if you’re just getting started. But I’m a firm believer that it’s the secret to stress-free weeknight dinners. I want to help you find inspiration and ease some of the pain points that come with getting dinner on the table night after night, whether you’re cooking one or a family of eight. Every week, I’ll be sharing a new meal plan solution specifically customized for you from reader requests or from a guest contributor.