Eventually, whether it’s the hassle of it or the expense, we all get sick of eating out. If you’re anything like your esteemed scribe, it’s really easy to fall into in a rut in the kitchen. At my house, the “meatloaf/pasta/grilled chicken” cycle can get pretty monotonous.
So I often venture online for new ideas. However, being the inveterate tinkerer, I can never leave well enough alone. I always have to throw in something “off-recipe.” Sometimes it does wonders. Other times, well, I have to make a quick trip to Papa John’s.
This is an easy baked tilapia recipe that is a modification of several that I found online and melded together. Failed experiments notwithstanding, I wholeheartedly recommend a little kitchen improvisation. Cook a few recipes and—when you feel confident enough—throw something of your own in and see what develops.
Ingredients:
- 4 Tilapia Filets
- 3 Teaspoons of Minced Garlic in Olive Oil
- Old Bay Seasoning
(What? You don’t have any? Go out and get some now.)
photo by T o n y via flickr.
- Butter
- Grated Parmesan or Romano Cheese
(Or some equally suitable combination thereof.) - Butter-Flavored Cooking Spray
(You’ll also need a baking sheet and aluminum (or as the Brits say “alumiNIUM”) foil.)
What to do with this stuff:
- Take the baking sheet and cover the cooking surface in aluminum foil.
- Spray the foil with the butter-flavored cooking spray.
- Place the tilapia fillets on the baking sheet.
- Spread butter on the fillets in a thin layer, like a generously buttered slice of toast.
- Spread the minced garlic evenly over the fillets.
- Liberally season with the Old Bay.
- Evenly coat the fillets with the grated cheese.
- Cover the tilapia fillets with a sort of aluminum foil tent. This will keep the fish from drying out while cooking.
- Put the whole shebang into an oven pre-heated to 400 degrees F and bake for 25 minutes. (I like my fillets with crispy edges.)
- Serve with a starch and a veggie and dig in.
photo by Yu+Mi via flickr
