Parmesan Dill Crusted Tilapia

So everyone once in a while I try and sneak “real fish” into one of our meals.  See Mr. Fantabulous doesn’t really care for “real fish”.  To him fish either comes in a can (Tuna) OR it’s Lobster/Shrimp/Clams/Mussels.  Anything else… that’s “real fish” and it’s stinky, cucky and not tuna.  LOL!  I, on the other hand, LOVE fresh fish.  Okay, so I don’t like fish that is looking back at me with this eyes cause you know they are staring at you like “C’mon lady, try and stick a fork in me cause you know I’m gonna jump up off of this plate and slap you in the face with my tail!” OR the look of “GASP!  I can’t believe you just sauted and baked me and NOWWWWWWWWWWW you’re gonna eat me???”  LOL  So head/eyes or stinky fish.

Well the other day my market had an insane sale on tiliapia fillets.  And even though I, took, eat tuna fish every day I work out I do get tired of it.  That being said, I was so stoked to to pick up some fresh fish.  I knew exactly how I wanted to make it.  I love dill with fish and I wanted to incorporate that into some type of ‘crust’ on the fish.

Later in the day I get started making dinner when Mr. Fantabulous comes into the kitchen to check out what I’m making.  He starts joking around like Joe from Masterchef with the “Soooooooooo do you think you should put fennel in that (I was chopping dill yet he called it fennel!  He’s so precious!)?  And exactly how do you plan on preparing this?  What will the accompaniments be?” and so forth.  I just said “fish and chips”.  He looked at me and “Fiiiiiiiiiiish???  Like REAL FISH???  Honey you know I don’t know like that stuff!  Blech!” and proceeds to leave the kitchen head sulking.  Actually I think his lower lip was dragging on the floor cause he was sulking so much!  haha

While the fish was baking I threw together some sliced potatoes in a little canola oil, sea salt and smokey paprika for some heat.  I pan fried them until they were crispy on the outside but soft on the inside.

When dinner was done I called him out to eat and I swear his lip was even lower on the ground cause he was so unhappy about fish. (okay, he wasn’t that* bad but he wasn’t exactly thrilled).

He’s sitting there, staring at the fish and I hear this great big “SNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIFFFFFFF!” I look at him and go “Um, you okay???”  He replies with a “Hmmm.. doesn’t stink like real fish.”  I just chuckled and proceeded to inhale my piece of fish.  Seriously people, this fish was so unbelievably tender and flaky, incredibly packed with flavor that you wanted to eat 2 or 5 more pieces!  It was THAT GOOD!!!

Well he took one bite (and actually chewed his food instead of the shovel food in, chew once, swallow slightly and shovel more in). I honestly have no clue how he can eat the way he does.  I’ve never met anyone that eats that fast!

Anyway, by the 3rd bite he puts down his fork and says “Honey, I cannot eat one more bite…<pause>

… pause

…still pausing

…and more pause

Seriously.. I’m ready to beat the man now

“…. I cannot eat one more bite unless I know there is more left.  This is hands down the best real fish I have EVER had!  OMG honey, this is beyond restaurant quality!”

Okay… beating retracted and insert grin from ear to ear on my face 🙂

Seriously.. you NEED to make this!

Now… if you wanted, you could easily modify this to use on Chicken.  Instead of dill I would use fresh dill, a little bit of sage perhaps and the rest of the ingredients.

Parmesan Dill Crusted Tilapia

• Author: The Kitchen Whisperer

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Ingredients

• 4 Tilapia fillets (about 1/2–3/4 pound each)
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 2 Tbl fresh dill, minced
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 2 Tbl olive oil
• 1 Tbl lemon juice (fresh if possible)
• 1/4 cup mayo (has to be mayo, not sandwich spread)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450F.
2. Lightly spray a 9×13″ pan with Pam.
3. Rinse the fish and pat dry with paper towels.
4. Lay the fish in the pan and sprinkle with the salt and 1 Tbl of the dill.
5. Bake uncovered for 10 minutes.
6. While they are baking mix together the cheese, remaining dill, garlic powder, onion powder, olive oil, lemon juice and mayo.
7. Remove the fish from oven, put the oven rack to the top rung and put the oven to broil.
8. Generously spread the Parmesan dill mixture over fish.
9. Broil for another 4-5 minutes, until cheese topping is slightly browned and the fish is flaky.

Notes

If you wanted you could easily adapt this to put on chicken. Substitute out the dill for fresh thyme. You could also add about 1 tsp of sage too if you wanted.

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Now the following picture was the leftover plate of food for dinner the next night since I had to work late.

Um…. this plate of food never saw it past Midnight that night!  LOL