Cooking Tilapia Fillets?

[KLAIT]

I have to start out by saying I am not a fan of fish...but,from everything I have read, Tilapia might be one I can handle. Would like to feed my family a bit healthier. I saw a large bag of frozen fillets at the store very reasonably priced, but would have no idea how to cook them. Can you give me your recipes and directions?

 

[bdcp]

You can "bread" them with crushed walnuts or pecans and bake. Our nutritionist suggested it.

 

[tasha99]

Hmmm no help here. My kids like cod, halibut, sole, salmon, trout . . . you name it, but tilapia is always met with "oh yuck" at our house. I quit even trying.

 

[DLB]

I bread them with whole wheat breadcrumbs and sauté in a pan. You could also sauté them in white wine with shallots and capers?
It has a very mild flavor so you could really do anything with them...
I make this for the kids all the time and they eat 2-3 fillets! The first time they told me it was the best "chicken" they have ever had!!! These kids are so picky - so I just smiled and let them eat it!

 

[lakoda]

We just bought a bag of the frozen tilapia, DH pan fried a couple of fillets with a small bit of olive oil and canjun seasoning. For my toddler (who actually likes baked fish, go figure!), I sprinkled a bit of season-all and placed a small pat of butter and baked it. I thought it was good pan fried and she loved it baked. We will also probably grill it.

 

[SarahKate]

I really like tilapia because it's not fishy tasting (OR smelling!).

A couple of ways we prepare it at home.....

Lightly dust filets in flour, then beaten egg, then press into panko crumbs.
Pan fry using canola oil until brown on each side. You can season the panko crumbs. I like the panko because it browns very nicely, not too quickly like bread crumbs sometimes do.

You can bake them using all sorts of ingredients. One fish recipe we like is to place the filets in a glass dish. Brush with a bit of olive oil on top, a little lemon juice, salt, pepper, etc. That's really all you need to do. Bake at 375 until it flakes (just about 10-15 minutes). You can give it a mediteranean flair by sprinkling capers, black olives, halved cherry tomatoes, and chopped zucchini. Lots of flavor! If you do the capers/olives, you won't need much if any salt.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

We had tilapia last night and all I put on it was lemon-pepper. Everyone loved it! all this time, I've been trying elaborate recipes and all they wanted was lemon-pepper.

I put the frozen filets in a foil lined pyrex, lightly seasoned with lemon-pepper, and covered with foil. Baked in a 425 oven for 12 minutes.

 

[clutter]

You all are too healthy!

I got my picky dd to try tilapia using a recipe I found here on the DIS. Broil for a minute or two, flip over, broil for another minute or two. Make a sauce of mayo, butter, basil, lemon and parmesean. Put on the fish and broil until it starts to brown. Not heart healthy, but yummy. (After getting her to buy into seafood, we switched to a healthier way.)

 

[bunkkinsmom]

We just bought a bag of the frozen tilapia, DH pan fried a couple of fillets with a small bit of olive oil and canjun seasoning. For my toddler (who actually likes baked fish, go figure!), I sprinkled a bit of season-all and placed a small pat of butter and baked it. I thought it was good pan fried and she loved it baked. We will also probably grill it.

THIS! Just heat a pan to med high on you stove. Spray your pan with Olive Oil spray. Lay your thawed Tilapia fillets on the pan, sprinkle the top side with Cajun seasoning and crushed black pepper (use your own taste for how much). Turn over the filets after 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle the other side with seasoning. Cook through for 2-3 more minutes. Squeeze of lemon and serve with rice pilaf and grilled asparagus.

I'M STARVING!!!

 

[sherry7]

Tilapia is one of the few types of fish that I will eat.

I like to brush them with melted butter (or spray with fake butter spray), sprinkle with garlic powder, and sprinkle some parmesan cheese on top. Bake in oven.

 

[SookieStackhouse]

I don't like fish either, but I can do tilapia. It is the most tolerable of the fish. I've noticed a couple others have mentioned it, but the olive oil and seasoning (like cajun) works for me. I use aluminum foil and the george foreman grill. Haven't done that in a long time, I have some in the freezer Im going to get out some day and cook. I have noticed some recipes that involve breading, just haven't tried it yet myself.

 

[Judique]

Brush with butter or olive oil and some basil pesto with garlic that you can buy in a jar in the supermarket and bake until flaky at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes.

 

[mjbaby]

I like to saute tilapia in a sprayed pan. Once the "second side" is almost done after flipping, I"ll add a little butter or soy-free margarine, garlic and lime juice to the pan to make a little bit of a sauce.

If you take out the lime, but add diced tomato and nicoise (or any, really) olives you've got a dish that's excellent with couscous or rice.

Sometimes I'll make a rub of cumin, turmeric, and garlic and saute it that way. Served with rice it has a kind of Indian flair.

ETA: my son's fave: sauteed plain in butter or margarine, when almost cooked through add in a bit more butter, a bit of chicken or veg broth or coconut milk (amount depends on how many you're feeding and how much sauce you want), some Thai red curry paste and any leftover (pre-cooked) veggies you've got around - we like broccoli or carrots and onions. Warm through and serve over rice noodles.

You can also dip tilapia and egg and bread it (I use rice or corn crumbs, but nuts, cracker crumbs, bread crumbs or plain old flour ETA: or sesame seeds, toasted or not) and saute it in the barest butter or oil. Then cut it up and serve in tortillas with cheese, lettuce or slaw, and salsa for a (slightly) healthier and not-quite-authentic fish taco.

Can you tell we eat a good amount of tilapia around here? It's my go-to for when we're running late or no one feels like doing much. It thaws in a snap in a pan of warm water right out of the sink and I've even been known not to bother with thawing at all - just plop it right in the pan. So versatile and fast!

 

[TifffanyD]

I like to squeeze a little lime on top, use some mango lime seasoning, and then broil it.

Or else I do something similar with lemon/pepper seasoning

 

[FINFAN]

what a coincidence, having it tonight! We usually go the baked in foil, a little butter/lemon pepper seasoning, but I amy try some of these other sugggestions if I get home in time!

 

[eatatmidnight]

Our favorite way to prepare tilapia is this Tase of Home recipe. It calls for Sole, but I always use tilapia.

Ingredients
4 sole fillets (4 ounces each) I use tilapia
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 cup crushed butter-flavored crackers I use All Bran Herb Crackers
1/2 teaspoon paprika
Directions
Place the sole in an ungreased microwave-safe 11-in. x 7-in. dish; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover and microwave on high for 3-4 minutes.
In a small bowl, combine the butter, parsley and lemon juice; pour over fillets. Sprinkle with cracker crumbs. Microwave, uncovered, for 3-4 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Sprinkle with paprika. Yield: 4 servings.
Editor's Note: This recipe was tested in a 1,100-watt microwave.


Nutrition Facts: 1 fillet equals 213 calories, 11 g fat (6 g saturated fat), 77 mg cholesterol, 377 mg sodium, 5 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 22 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 very lean meat, 2 fat.

 

[Shmily1]

You all are WAY too healthy for me!! I fry mine! I buy a bag of frozen ones at Walmart, use the seafood breading mix stuff that is kept by the flour, salt and pepper it, and fry it in oil until golden brown. I have grits, hush puppies and french fries with it. YUM!!!

 

[antmaril]

I whisk together a little olive oil, Dijon mustard and fresh lemon juice. Salt and pepper the fish, brush on the olive oil mixture and then cover the fish with panko bread crumbs. Bake at 400 degrees for about 25 minutes. Yummy and healthy.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

These all sound good.

I may get a bag of these and try this for dinner next week.

What type of lemon pepper seasonings do you all use?

 

[mhsjax]

If anyone in your family like shake n bake, you can also use that on your Tilapia. I made some last night, I just rubbed it with a little olive oil than dusted it with Old Bay seasoning and baked it.

I also did this and used it in fish tacos one night. It went over pretty well, but I think my kids prefer tilapia on its own.