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How to cook a tilapia?
David John Green
Tilapia are cichlids, a huge family of mainly edible fish found largely across the seas of the African continent. Nile tilapia is probably the species you will find at your local fish-monger, but whatever type they have will be of good value. This article explores an easy, tasty method for cooking tilapia that requires very few ingredients, and even less effort.
Ingredients and Preparation
When buying your tilapia, follow the same rules you would when buying any other species.
Rules when choosing tilapia
- Look for bright, unclouded eyes- these represent a hallmark of freshness.
- Furthermore, check under the gill slits for pink or red gills that would glisten.
- If all else fails, ask your fish-monger to select a perfect specimen for you.
Tip
To serve four people buy two tilapias and ask your fish monger to fillet them for you.
The other ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons of butter
- 1/4 teaspoon of garlic, salt or other seasonings of your choice
- 1 lemon
- 1 packet of frozen broccoli, cauliflower and peas (or other frozen vegetables depending on taste)
Cooking
Method
- Preheat the oven to 190 degrees Celsius and grease a baking dish with butter or olive oil.
Note: The dish should be approximately 9 x 13 inches, or otherwise large enough to hold all four fillets comfortably.
- Next, arrange your fillets skin side down on the tray, each topped with a nob of unsalted butter.
- Add a slide of lemon to each fillet and a sprinkling of your preferred seasoning.
Note: Cajun seasoning from the supermarket goes particularly well with this type of fish.
- Cover your tray with foil and cook for about 25 minutes until the butter has melted into the flesh and the lemon has leaked its delicious citrus juice into the pan.
- When you add the tray to the oven, begin boiling your vegetables in salted water.
- Once tender, drain and add a generous nob of butter to give the vegetables a delicious, shiny appearance. Season to taste.
- Serve the fillets on attractive dining-wear next to an appealing pile of the buttery vegetables with a pinch of flat leaf parsley, finely chopped.
Author's suggestion
Tilapia is ideal for serving outdoors as a summer treat with dry white wine and olive. Enjoy the recipe!
