Cheese And Tilapia: Perfect Pairing For A Delicious Dish

While seafood with cheese is often considered a culinary no-go, there are exceptions to every rule. In fact, seafood with cheese appears in some French and Italian recipes. For instance, tilapia is a type of fish that pairs well with several types of cheese, including Parmesan, cheddar, and Cotija.

Parmesan-crusted tilapia

Ingredients:

• Tilapia fillets
• Grated Parmesan cheese
• Fresh parsley
• Salt
• Ground black pepper
• Olive oil
• Paprika (optional)
• Garlic powder (optional)

Method:

• Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with aluminium foil.
• In a shallow dish, whisk together the Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, pepper, and paprika (if using).
• Coat the tilapia fillets with olive oil. Generously sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of the fillets.
• Dip each fillet into the Parmesan cheese mixture, pressing it onto the fish to coat evenly.
• Place the coated fillets on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork.
• Serve immediately with your favourite sides.

Tips and Variations:

• For extra flavour, try adding a dash of garlic powder to the Parmesan cheese mixture.
• You can also soak the fish in milk and olive oil before coating it with the Parmesan mixture.
• If you prefer a crispier crust, broil the fish for about 2 minutes after baking.
• This recipe pairs well with sides like bacon-wrapped green beans, glazed carrots, or smashed potatoes.
• To store leftovers, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Spicy tilapia tacos with Cotija cheese

Ingredients

• 8 3-ounce pieces of tilapia, skin removed
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 8 white corn tortillas
• 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup cotija cheese
• 1/2 cup cilantro leaves
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Optional Toppings

• Pickled carrots
• Avocado slices
• Lime wedges

Method

• Mix the cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, and kosher salt in a small bowl. Season the tilapia pieces well with the spice mix.
• Heat a cast-iron skillet on high and warm the tortillas on both sides, until lightly browned, around 4 minutes per tortilla.
• Heat 1/2 tablespoon of oil in the cast-iron skillet and cook the tilapia for about 3-4 minutes on both sides, depending on the thickness of the fish.
• Top each tortilla with a slice of fish, jalapeño slices, and your desired toppings. Finish with a sprinkle of cotija cheese and serve with lime wedges.

Tips

• For extra spice, add cayenne pepper to the marinade.
• While cooking, brush the remaining marinade on the fish for extra flavor.
• If you're looking for an alternative to tilapia, try red snapper, halibut, or cod.

Cheddar-crusted tilapia

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 4 large tilapia fillets
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

• Preheat your oven to 450°F.
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine the panko, cheese, and green onions in a small bowl.
• In a separate bowl, mix the mayonnaise, garlic, salt, and pepper.
• Pat the tilapia fillets dry with paper towels and arrange them in a single layer on the baking sheet.
• Spread the mayonnaise mixture evenly over the fish.
• Lightly press the bread crumb mixture on top of the fillets.
• Bake in the top third of the oven until the crust is golden and the fish flakes easily when pressed, about 12 minutes.

Tips:

• For extra flavour, try seasoning the panko bread crumbs with garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika.
• Sprinkle each fillet with fresh lemon juice for a tangy twist.
• This recipe is perfect for beginners as tilapia is very easy to cook and doesn't require much skill in the kitchen.
• If you're using frozen tilapia fillets, be sure to thaw them before using.

Baked tilapia with feta

A fresh and healthy dish, this baked tilapia with feta recipe is a delicious way to enjoy tilapia. With a few simple ingredients, this dish is quick and easy to prepare and makes a tasty, light meal.

Ingredients:

• Tilapia fillets
• Feta cheese
• Olive oil
• Garlic
• Lemon
• Spinach (optional)
• Tomatoes (optional)
• Spices/herbs

Method:

Preheat your oven to 400°F. Prepare a baking sheet or dish by lining it with foil. Place your tilapia fillets on the sheet, and then it's time to add the toppings!

For a simple version, top the fillets with minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and feta cheese. Drizzle with olive oil and bake for 15 minutes.

If you want to add some extra veggies, try this: in a skillet, cook onion and garlic in olive oil until soft. Add spinach and cook until wilted. Stir in sliced kalamata olives, crumbled feta, lemon rind, oregano, and white pepper. Spread this mixture onto a baking dish, and place the tilapia fillets on top. Drizzle with a mixture of melted butter and lemon juice, and sprinkle with paprika. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

For a Greek-inspired twist, mix garlic, olive oil, chopped fresh parsley, seeded and chopped tomatoes, and crumbled feta. Lightly mist a baking dish and the tilapia fillets with cooking spray, and season the fish with salt and pepper. Place the fillets in the dish and top with the tomato mixture. Bake for 13-17 minutes.

There you have it! A tasty, healthy dish that's quick and easy to prepare. Enjoy the combination of tilapia and feta!

Broiled Parmesan-Lemon Tilapia

A mild-tasting fish, tilapia is a versatile ingredient that pairs well with a variety of cheeses. A popular choice is Parmesan, which adds a rich flavour and a bubbly, browned texture when broiled.

Ingredients:

• Tilapia fillets
• Parmesan cheese
• Butter
• Mayonnaise
• Lemon juice
• Lemon zest
• Dried basil
• Black pepper
• Onion powder
• Celery salt
• Olive oil cooking spray
• Miami-style sazon seasoning (optional)

Method:

Preheat your oven's broiler and position an oven rack about 4-6 inches from the heat source. Line a broiler pan with aluminium foil and spray with olive oil.

Take your tilapia fillets and sprinkle with sazon seasoning (if using) before arranging on the prepared broiler rack. Broil for 2-3 minutes on each side, until the fish is barely opaque.

In a bowl, mix together the Parmesan cheese, butter, mayonnaise, lemon juice, lemon zest, basil, pepper, onion powder, and celery salt.

Remove the fish from the oven and spread the Parmesan mixture over the fillets. Return to the oven and broil for a further 3-5 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the fish flakes easily with a fork.

Serve with lemon wedges and enjoy!

Tips:

• This recipe is quick and easy, perfect for a busy weeknight.
• For a low-carb option, coat the fillets with olive oil and press into a mixture of Parmesan, parsley, paprika, salt, and pepper before baking.
• If you're feeling creative, you can experiment with other cheese and herb combinations, such as feta and zucchini, or Swiss cheese.

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