For anyone interested in broadening their seafood horizons (as was I, having moved from land-locked Utah to coastal California), this is a fantastic dish to start with. Tilapia is mild and tender, and the topping is delicious!
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup butter, softened
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 cup dried breadcrumbs
1 pound tilapia fillets (fresh or thawed)
Preheat your oven’s broiler. In a small bowl, mix together the Parmesan cheese, butter, mayonnaise and lemon juice. Add spices, mix well and set aside.
Line a broiling pan with aluminum foil and give it a light coat of non-stick spray. Arrange fillets in a single layer on the prepared pan. Broil a few inches from the heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the fillets over and broil for a couple more minutes. During this second broil, stir breadcrumbs into Parmesan mixture. Remove the fillets from the oven and slather them with the Parmesan cheese mixture on the top side. Broil for 2 to 3 more minutes or until the topping is browned and fish flakes easily with a fork. Be careful not to over cook the fish.
Serve immediately. Rice or couscous makes a very nice side dish.
Yield: about 4 servings
Time to make: about 10 minutes
Source: Altered from a recipe from allrecipes.com (submitted by Angela Peterson Hoffman)