Fish meat is a source of protein and Omega 3, cooks quickly and does not require much preparation. If you don't like fish with a strong flavor, there are many, including tilapia, which have a more delicate flavor and taste less "fishy". Tilapia, also known as St. Peter's fish, is a white-fleshed fish that is lean and flakes easily. You can cook it on the grill, steamed or in the oven, or, without cooking it much, you can have fun and use it to create a fresh and delicious ceviche. If you want to know better how to cook a tilapia, follow these steps.
Ingrediants
Baked tilapia
- 4 slices of tilapia fillet
- 1 tablespoon of melted butter
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 fresh squeezed lemon
- 2 cloves of minced garlic
- Salt as needed
- Black pepper as required
- 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley
Stir-fried Tilapia
- 120 g of tilapia fillet
- Salt as needed
- Black pepper as required
- 60 g of flour
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of melted butter
- 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice
Roasted Tilapia
- 45 g of Parmesan cheese
- 60 g of butter
- 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon of dry basil
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon of onion powder
- 1/8 teaspoon of celery flavored salt
- 900 g of tilapia fillet
Tilapia Ceviche
- 8 slices of tilapia fillet
- 15 squeezed limes
- 1 tomato in small cubes
- 1/4 diced red onion
- 2 diced cucumbers
- 1/2 bunch of finely chopped cilantro
- Salt as needed
- Pepper to taste
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Baked tilapia
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 190ºC
Step 2. Spray non-stick spray on a 30 x 50 cm glass pan
Alternatively, you can grease the pan with olive oil.
Step 3. Rinse the tilapia in cold water
Dry it with paper towels.
Step 4. Put the fillets in the pan
Step 5. In a bowl, mix the melted butter and olive oil
Using a covered bowl, melt 1 tablespoon of butter by putting it in the microwave for 30 seconds and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, stirring until the ingredients are perfectly blended.
Step 6. Brush the fish with the butter and oil mixture and sprinkle it with the juice of 1 fresh lemon
Step 7. Sprinkle the fillets with minced garlic, salt and pepper
Add 2 cloves of minced garlic, salt and pepper to taste.
Step 8. Place and cook the fish for 20-25 minutes
Cook the tilapia until the meat is completely white and it is easy to flake it up using a fork. Then, remove the pan from the oven.
Step 9. Serve on the table
Sprinkle the tilapia with 2 teaspoons of chopped parsley and garnish by adding a lemon wedge. Enjoy this savory dish while it is still hot.
Method 2 of 4: Stir-fried Tilapia
Step 1. Rinse the tilapia fillets in cold water
Once washed, dry them with absorbent paper.
Step 2. Season both sides of each fillet using just enough salt and pepper
Step 3. Pour 60g of flour into a plate
Step 4. Pass the fillets one by one in the flour and shake them to remove the excess flour
Step 5. In a pan, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil to medium temperature
Step 6. Cook the tilapia in oil until the fish flakes easily
It should take about 4 minutes of cooking for each side.
Step 7. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter
You can do this while you are cooking the tilapia. After placing it in a special covered bowl, heat the butter in the microwave for 30 seconds, or until it is completely melted.
Step 8. Brush the tilapia with melted butter a few moments before removing it from the pot
Step 9. Serve on the table
Sprinkle the tilapia with ½ tablespoon of lemon juice and enjoy while still warm. You can serve it alone or accompanied by a mixed salad, potatoes or another side dish.
Method 3 of 4: Roasted Tilapia
Step 1. Preheat the oven grill
Step 2. Grease a plate
You can also use aluminum foil.
Step 3. In a bowl, mix Parmesan, butter, mayonnaise, and lemon juice
In a bowl, pour 45 g of Parmesan cheese, 60 g of butter, 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Mix the ingredients until you have a smooth and creamy dough.
Step 4. Season the Parmesan sauce using dried basil, pepper, onion powder and celery-flavored salt
Add ¼ teaspoon of dry basil, ¼ teaspoon of ground black pepper, 1/8 teaspoon of onion powder, and 1/8 teaspoon of celery-flavored salt to the creamy mixture. Mix it all up and keep it aside.
Step 5. Arranged in a single layer, place the tilapia fillets on the greased plate
Put 900g of tilapia fillet on the buttered plate so they don't overlap.
Step 6. Cook the fillets
Start cooking the fillets for 2-3 minutes, keeping them a few centimeters from the grill coil. Then, flip them over and let them cook for another 2-3 minutes. When they are ready, remove the plate from the oven.
Step 7. Cover the fillets with the dough made with Parmesan
Use a spoon to pour it over the fish.
Step 8. Cook the fillets for another 2 minutes
Cook the fish until the mixture with the Parmesan is golden and the fish flakes easily with a fork. Do not overcook it or the dough could burn or become rubbery.
Step 9. Serve on the table
Enjoy tilapia while it's still hot. You can serve it on its own or with brown rice, asparagus, or a variety of other side dishes.
Method 4 of 4: Tilapia Ceviche
Step 1. Cut the raw tilapia into small pieces
Cut it into strips of at least 2.5 cm and place it in a large bowl.
Step 2. Coat the fish with lime juice
Squeeze 15 limes and use the juice to coat the fish. You don't necessarily have to use it all, as long as the tilapia pieces are completely covered.
Step 3. In a bowl, combine the tomato, red onion, and cucumber
Add 1 finely chopped tomato, ¼ chopped red onion and 2 diced, peeled and seeded cucumbers to the tilapia strips. Mix the ingredients well but do not throw them on the fish risking to give the whole a soggy appearance - just make sure that the vegetables are incorporated into the rest.
Step 4. Add cilantro, salt and pepper
Add ½ bunch of finely chopped coriander, salt and pepper to taste.
Step 5. Let the ceviche rest in the refrigerator for at least an hour
An hour will be enough for the tilapia to start marinating with spices and juices. However, you can decide to let it marinate longer - a few more hours or even overnight.
Step 6. Serve on the table
Taste the ceviche before serving it and, if necessary, add salt and pepper. Serve it in glass bowls or martini glasses and enjoy while still cold.
