Tilapia is a mild white fish that can be baked, grilled, fried or steamed. Recipes may vary from lightly seasoned and grilled to marinated or battered and fried. This mild taste of this seafood lends itself well to a variety of preparations.
Tilapia was introduced to the United States in 1959. Although found in the wild in some areas of the world, most tilapia in the U.S. is farmed. To make the most of the versatile fish, it's best to learn several ways to cook tilapia. The recipe below is a quick and easy way to create an entree of baked tilapia, using common ingredients that you likely have on hand.
Fresh or Frozen Tilapia?
You can use fresh or frozen tilapia fillets, but keep in mind that you will want to double the amount of time you bake the fish if you are using frozen tilapia. Unless you're in a hurry, it is best to use fresh fish or thaw frozen fish in the fridge before using it. Depending on the quality and age of your oven, baking fish in its frozen form may result in fish that is overcooked on the outside, yet undercooked or still frozen in the middle; or you may find that you have to cook the fish longer, resulting in a dry and less flavorful entree.
How to Cook Tilapia
Baked Tilapia Recipe
What's Needed
Cookie sheet
Cooking spray
Small bowl and spoon
Tilapia filets
Mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon per fillet
2 tablespoon of herbs of your choice per fillet
1 lemon wedge per fillet
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Mix the mayonnaise, herbs, salt and pepper in a bowl.
Spray the cookie sheet with cooking spray, and place the fish on the sheet.
Spread the fish with the mayonnaise mixture.
Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the fish is opaque and flaky.
Serve with a lemon wedge.
Baked Tilapia Tips and Recipe Variations
- Be careful not to overcook the fish. As it is low in fat, it dries out easily.
- Coat tilapia in parmesan cheese or bread crumbs after spreading on the mayonnaise for a tasty crust.http://projects.eveningedge.com/recipes/baked-tilapia-parmesan-crumb-topping/
- As an alternative to the above recipe, marinate tilapia for 30 minutes in Italian dressing and bake or grill for a simple entree.http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1717,132179-245195,00.html
- Double cooking time if using frozen tilapia.
How to Cook Trout
Trout is a popular fish to eat for many seafood-lovers. Cooking trout can be a very simple process and there many recipes for preparing this type of fish for a meal. Different seasonings and rubs can be used to fit to your personal tastes. This flexibility is one of the great things about the process, and anyone can learn how to cook trout well.
How to Grill Salmon
Grilling salmon is one of the most popular ways to prepare this type of fish, and it's one of the easiest methods as well. Learning how to grill salmon perfectly can be done with just a few tries. You will only need a few minutes of actual grilling time, and there are many ways to prepare your salmon ahead of time, from simply brushing on some olive oil to concocting a masterful marinade or rub to enhance your salmon.
How to Make Tuna Salad
The professionals at Hip Cooks teach a quick tutorial on how to make scrumptious Tuna Salad. This is part of a wide series of videos available on the Mahalo.com channel of YouTube.
How to Cook Crab Legs
Cook delicious crab legs with the help of Mahalo and Tristan Blash from Hipcooks, LA. You will learn all you need to know to make this dish in the video. This is one of a wider series of food related videos, which are available on the Mahalo.com channel of YouTube.
References
Fast Facts
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For best results
Use fresh tilapia
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Avoid overcooking
Doing so results in a drier and less tasty entree
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Cooking methods
Oven baked, grilled or fred
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Grilling tip
Be sure to coat your grill with non-stick cooking spray or marinate in an oil-containing sauce prior to grilling it, as tilapia will easily stick to a grill
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Doneness test
Flake gently with a fork; if ready to serve, it should flake easily and be opaque in color
