For instant gratification as meal times near, look no further than fish. Seafood often benefits from a fast, light cooking. So it's a terrific choice for the cook on a tight schedule who wants to sit down with family or company to enjoy a dish whose taste everyone will remember for more than five minutes.

Fish flavors range from delicate to rich, and fish adapts to an equally wide range of preparations. Here's the plan for this curry-glazed dish: Take a popular choice such as salmon, or try it with adaptable sea bass. Then complement the rich fish with vibrant seasonings, cook quickly and serve. About 20 minutes should do it.

The recipe is not an authentic Thai recipe, but it does bring into play the Thai balance of flavors, recipe developer Pam Simmons says. You have the heat of red curry, the citrus of orange juice (Thai cooks often use lime juice, she points out), and the sharpness of vinegar, balanced by the sugar. "Then, we used a Western method of reduction to make the sauce, which is not typically Thai," she explains.

The recipe has become a personal favorite, Simmons says, ideal for company because it's easy to make but has sophisticated flavors. "Many times I will double the sauce just so we have extra for those who want more for their fish, or pour a bit on their jasmine rice," she says.

CURRIED BALSAMIC ORANGE GLAZE OVER PAN-SEARED FISH