Tilapia

[OrangeBlooded]

Any suggestions here? Wife doesn't like fish b/c it smells like fish. I figure Tilapia is pretty weak in that department, so she is willing to give it a try tonight.
I love fish, but we rarely ever have it, so my fish grilling skills certainly lack in expertise. Any recs on timing and any receipes would be great. thanks

 

[GakFoo]

i had the same problem. my wife had never eaten any kind of fish or seafood before we met for that same reason. she will now eat all kinds of fish except salmon and tuna now, and will eat shellfish as long as it is cooked in a dish and is not in the shell (bisque, etouffee, etc).

i wouldn't grill tilapia directly on the grill, i think it would fall apart, but you could do it on the grill in a pan or on tin foil.

here is a recipe a friend gave me that i used to introduce my wife to eating fish -- it worked for me.

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 anchovy fillets, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons orange juice
2 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon orange zest
tilapia fillets
salt and freshly ground pepper

cook the butter and 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil in a saucepan over low medium heat just until the butter is melted. add the anchovies and stir until the anchovies dissolve, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook another minute or 2. remove from the heat. stir in the orange juice, basil, and lemon and orange zests. salt & pepper to taste, keep warm.

meanwhile, preheat oven to 225 degrees

sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper and brush both sides of the fish with olive oil. cook the fish until just opaque in center, about 3 or 4 minutes per side. top and surround fish with sauce. you could use the sauce whether you cooked the fish in the oven or on the grill.

 

[OakHillHorn]

I make Tilapia every so often. I just pan fry it with different seasonings on it. Sometimes I use butter, sometimes olive oil. Sometimes I use lemon and pepper or seafood seasoning. I also will coat in Italian breadcrumbs or flour. It cooks up in a few minutes. It is also the least fishiest fish we have come across.

 

[12thStudStan]

Tilapia is mild, delicate and somewhat sweet. Should be good choice for someone that doesn't really care for fish. Like all fish it is better fresh, but it freezes better than most fish and because of that I always have some stocked in the freezer. Cheap, convenient and tasty. The delicate nature of it limits the methods for cooking somewhat. The whole fish will grill (pit) ok, but filets are going to fall apart on you unless you place them on foil.

I pan grilled tilapia filets for lunch today. Seasoned with onion, garlic, cayenne, thyme, black pepper and sea salt and seared in butter with some sliced japs. Served over a rice medley. It made a Sat without cue'ing easier to take.

 

[longhornbell]

Blackened Tilapia. Very easy.
Use an electric grill set at 400 degrees. Get HEB brand Blackening Seasoning. Spray Olive Oil on grill, coat filets with seasoning, cook for 6 minutes each side, turning once.
My family loves this.

 

[mishatx]

Cut up some green olives and some calamata olives.

sautee tilapia filets in olive oil.

garnish with the cut up olives. serve with rice and salad or veggie.


Tilapia can make a decent fish taco, too.

 

[Campus Loop(y)]

When you are pan frying fish stove top, how much oil do you use compared to sautee? I know how to do both with other items but not really with fish. I prefer olive oil.

How long do you let it go. I usually use the flaky to the fork method but that is prob. not the best way.

 

[mishatx]

I just put in "enough" oil and cook "until it's done". I look for a little but of brown crustiness and see if it'll flake.

 

[idigTexas]

Orange Roughy is another good choice for people who don't like "fishy" fish. It is generally thicker than Tilapia. Unless you live in Australia or New Zealand, you'll want to buy it frozen. If you are buying it already thawed, the chances of it being fishy go way up.

This is actually a good rule of thumb for a lot of varieties. Make sure you know what comes into the store fresh, and what is frozen. Avoid any seafood or poultry that is in a marinade. Depending on the store, those very well may be yesterday's "fresh" or thawed offerings.

As others have stated, Tilapia may not be the best choice for grilling unless you have special accessories for handling it. put it in a baking disk. Drizzle a little olive oil. Put a little butter on top. season lightly with lemon pepper, garlic, and/or Cajun spices. Broil for 5-8 minutes, depending on thickness. If you start with frozen fillets, start in the oven, then finish in the broiler. It is really difficult to mess up fish.

 

[huge]

i pan fried tilapia last night.

soaked in lemon lime salt and pepper for 30 min, then dusted in flour and into a little olive oil.

cooked about 4 min a side.

very good.

 

[DCA_HORN]

They call tilapia "turd herders" offshore because they congregate around the sewage exit. But it is true they don't have a strong "Fishy" taste.

 

[DeadHeadHorn]

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[jmrob93]

Tilapia is the closest thing to fresh water crappie to me.

I don't eat fried often, but tilapia fries up nicely-- corn flour seansoned up and cooked in canola is the trick-- fry deep asn fast,,when it floats--its done