Tilapia steak. Recipes for tilapia fish dishes. Tilapia fillet in cream sauce

Tilapia, like most fish, is very beneficial for the human body. It contains a large amount of B vitamins, vitamin K, PP and E. It also contains minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus. Many different dishes are prepared from this fish, and today we will look at recipes for preparing tilapia fillet.

If you need to make dinner quickly, this recipe is perfect for you. Everything is simple, fast, and most importantly delicious.

Required Products:

  • Tilapia fillet – 1 kg;
  • onions – 2 pcs.;
  • – 2 pcs.;
  • hard cheese – 0.10 kg;
  • sour cream – 4 tbsp. l.;
  • greens (of your choice) – 2-3 sprigs;

Preparation:

The fish should be removed from the freezer in advance so that it defrosts naturally. Rinse tomatoes and herbs. Remove the skins from the onion.

Place the completely thawed fish fillets on a baking sheet, having previously greased it with vegetable oil. Sprinkle with salt and other spices of your choice.

Cut the tomatoes into circles or half-circles and place them over the entire area of ​​the fish. Cut the onions into half rings and sprinkle them over the fillets. Pour sour cream on top. Finely chop the greens you choose and sprinkle on top.

Good to know! If your sour cream is too thick, it is better to dilute it a little with chilled boiled water.

Grate the hard cheese on a coarse grater and sprinkle over the entire contents of the baking sheet. Send it to a preheated oven to 200 degrees. Cooking time 20-25 minutes. Tilapia with vegetables is ready.

Tilapia in a frying pan in cheese batter

This is a simple dish that can be prepared, as they say, in a hurry. But all members of your family will be satisfied with the result.

Required Products:

  • Tilapia fillet – 1 kg;
  • hard cheese – 0.18 kg;
  • flour – 0.20 kg;
  • eggs – 2 pcs.;
  • kefir – 0.2 l.;
  • vegetable oil – 3 tbsp. l.;
  • salt to your taste.

Preparation:

Read also: Mussels in tomato sauce – 8 recipes

Beat the eggs into a deep bowl and beat lightly. Pour kefir into the eggs and stir. Then add flour and mix vigorously so that no lumps remain.

Grate the hard cheese on a coarse grater and place in a container, add salt and stir.

Rinse the tilapia fillets and dry them lightly using paper towels or napkins.

Interesting to know! Tilapia fish can change sex depending on the current situation. Most often, females become males.

Heat a frying pan with vegetable oil. Before frying, dip each fillet in batter so that it completely covers the fish. Then transfer to the frying pan. Fry on both sides until browned.

Tilapia fillet cooked in a slow cooker

You can cook delicious fish using a miracle technique called a multicooker.

Required Products:

  • Tilapia fillet – 0.40 kg;
  • bell red pepper – 0.10 kg;
  • onion – 0.10 kg;
  • lemon juice – 0.02 l.;
  • olive oil – 0.02 l.;
  • parsley – 0.01 kg;
  • garlic – 2 cloves;
  • salt and other spices to your taste.

Preparation:

Rinse the fish and pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Rinse bell pepper and parsley. Peel the onion and cut into rings. Pepper is also used in rings. Finely chop the parsley. Grate the garlic using a grater with the smallest holes.

Rub the fish with salt and garlic. If desired, you can use other spices. Squeeze the juice from the lemon and drizzle it over the fish. Set aside and wait 1 hour for the fish to marinate.

Wrap the fish in foil so that it is covered in two layers. Place this bundle in the multicooker bowl and close it with a lid.

Select the “baking” mode and set the cooking time to 30 minutes. Press the “start” button, thereby starting the cooking process.

Interesting to know! The direct descendant of the multicooker is the Japanese wooden rice cooker, which appeared in 1937. Oddly enough, it ran on electricity.

Quick microwave recipe

You won't believe it, but a delicious fish dish can be prepared in 15 minutes. A microwave oven will help us with this.

Read also: Pumpkin fried in a frying pan – 10 recipes

Required Products:

  • Tilapia fillet – 3 pcs.;
  • onions – 2 pcs.;
  • hard cheese – 0.05 kg;
  • olive oil – 1 tbsp. l.;
  • green onions - 2 feathers;
  • salt to your taste.

Preparation:

Peel the onion and cut into rings. Without disconnecting the rings, place them on the bottom of the bowl in which we will cook. Sprinkle salt on top and, if you want seasoning, drizzle with olive oil.

Important! Choose a heat-resistant vessel for cooking so that it does not break during strong heating. Also, there should be no pattern on the dishes.

Place the fish on top of the onion and also sprinkle with salt and drizzle with olive oil. Next, you need to grate the hard cheese on a coarse grater and sprinkle it on the fish.

Place the bowl of fish in the microwave, close the door and set the grill mode for 10 minutes. If your kitchen appliance does not have such a function, you can use another mode. The power of the microwave oven should be at least 600-700W.

Tilapia, unlike many other fish, is not at all fatty, and it contains very few calories, but a lot of useful substances. That is why, when I have the opportunity to buy and cook her fillet, I immediately try to do it.

You can prepare it in a variety of ways and none of them require much time. The fish itself is not very bony and relatively inexpensive, so I don't have any problems with it. I will share with you some of the recipes that I have in my collection so that you too can try to cook it.

Fried tilapia

Kitchenware and appliances: plate, bowl, spatula, frying pan.

Ingredients

Cooking process

Video recipe for cooking tilapia fillet in a frying pan

If you want to be sure how to cook tilapia fillet in a frying pan , watch this video. It is very clear and shows all the nuances so that you succeed the first time.

Tilapia fillet in the oven

Cooking time: 40 minutes.
Number of servings: 6.
Kitchenware and appliances: baking dish, cutting board, oven, grater, knife, bowl.

Ingredients

Cooking process

  1. Mix one and a half tablespoons of oil, three tablespoons of lemon juice and another three teaspoons of lemon zest in a bowl.

  2. Take a piece of fillet and dip it into the citrus marinade on each side for 10 seconds. Repeat this with all the pieces.

  3. Place the fish in a mold, add spices.

  4. Cut one and a half or one large clove of garlic into slices and add to the fish without stirring.

  5. Cut the basil into thin strips so that you get about 3-4 tablespoons and also add it to the fish.

  6. Peel 6 tomatoes, remove seeds and cut them into pieces. Place them evenly on the fish. Grate 75g Parmesan and sprinkle it over the tomatoes.

  7. Make a lid out of foil, make several holes for air and place the mold in an oven preheated to 200°C for 20 minutes.

  8. Ready!

Tilapia recipe video

Watch this video to be sure how to cook tilapia fillet in the oven one of the beautiful recipes . The man shows and tells everything one by one, so you have no chance of doing anything wrong.

Tilapia fillet in a slow cooker

Cooking time: 30 minutes.
Number of servings: 3
Kitchenware and appliances: knife, slow cooker, cutting board, foil.

Ingredients

Cooking process


Recipe video

So as not to worry about how to properly cook tilapia fillet in a slow cooker, watch this video. It's as short and easy as the recipe, so you should love it.

How to choose the right ingredients

  • It is best not to take frozen fish, as there are almost no useful elements left in it. Better look for chilled one.
  • If you take a whole fish, then do not take one that weighs more than a kilogram, as it is most likely raised on stimulants.
  • It is better not to buy fish at the market, since you will not be able to check its quality and cannot know exactly where and how it was grown.
  • The fish should not smell like medicine or have any other foreign odors.
  • There should be no spots or blemishes on the fillet, and the meat itself should be elastic.

What to serve with

Tilapia fillet , just like fillets of any other fish, you can cook deliciously and deliciously served. One of the most popular options is tilapia fillet cooked in the oven with potatoes , but you can replace it with other baked vegetables. Or serve it with boiled potatoes, mashed potatoes, and various cereals. Fish goes well with fresh vegetables, as well as any salads. If you have cooked boiled or steamed fish, it won’t hurt to prepare some kind of white sauce for it. You can serve it with spaghetti, pasta or plain pasta. And of course, a glass of good white wine wouldn't hurt her.

  • If you want to get a dietary dish, then simply boil the fillet and pour lemon juice over it. How long to cook tilapia fillets depends on what you want to get, but in this case 15 minutes will be enough.
  • To prevent the fish from becoming greasy after frying, place it on a paper towel, which will absorb the oil.
  • You can decorate pieces of fish by simply cutting lemon into slices and adding a little greenery.
  • Start frying the fillets only when the pan is well heated.

Other options

Besides tilapia, there are many other types of fish that are very easy to prepare. For example, there are so many options on how to cook pangasius fillet to get the perfect second course for your side dish.

You can simply boil it, stew it, fry it, or make a salad or soup with it. It turns out very tasty if you bake pangasius in the oven and choose a good sauce for it. Or cook hake in the oven, adding more vegetables and a good marinade. You can do the same thing if you bake it—solefish in the oven—if you find a good quality fillet in the store.

And if you have fishermen in your family, then you definitely need to know - carp recipes in the oven - because you will have to deal with it more than once.

What do you think of the tilapia recipes? Which one did you use? If you have your own cooking options, write about them in the comments so that we can evaluate the new recipe for us.

Fried tilapia

If you don’t have the time or special desire to stand in the kitchen for a long time and prepare lunch, dinner or breakfast, fried tilapia is the most ideal option for your meal. This dish is prepared very quickly and without much effort. The taste is simply finger-licking, and the aroma will be the envy of the best chefs in the world, not to mention the neighbors who will drop by to visit you to find out if you are cooking something delicious. This fish can be cooked every day, for holidays, birthdays, picnics, parties. Both adults and children will be happy with this dish. I present to your attention – fried tilapia!

Tilapia fillet in dough

Pies, meat and other products baked in dough have always been loved by people of different nations. The main advantage of such dishes is their satiety and versatility, since there is no need to use bread. Fish baked in dough is not very common in Russia, so the recipe “Tilapia fillet in dough” will look original at any table: both at a holiday and with loved ones.

Tilapia in mustard-honey marinade

The fish called tilapia has very tender and quite tasty meat. Recently, it has become very popular among chefs because it cooks very quickly and is liked by almost everyone. Tilapia fillets are fried, baked, smoked, marinated, and also stewed. Particularly popular and easy to prepare is a dish called tilapia in mustard-honey marinade.

Tilapia under bread crust

Tilapia is one of the most delicious types of freshwater fish. Cooks work truly great wonders with it. Even in ancient Egypt, the taste of this fish was appreciated. Especially for its reproduction, large pools were built next to the kitchens, so that there was always fresh cooked tilapia on the table. Nowadays, we can also work wonders with this delicious fish. I would like to present to you one of the miracles, a brilliant recipe for a meeting with friends or dinner for two - Tilapia under a bread crust.

Tilapia baked with zucchini

Currently, fish is becoming an increasingly popular dish. This is not strange, since fish contains many vitamins, minerals, a rich supply of protein, and fish dishes are low in calories. Tilapia baked with zucchini is a delicious fish dish that is ideal for a light dinner.

Tilapia stewed with vegetables

The meat of this fish contains a lot of protein and at the same time has a low content of animal fats. This is just the perfect combination for people who want to lose weight. Tilapia meat is tasty, absolutely lean, quite juicy, white, a little sweet and perfect for any cooking method. Any dish made from tilapia meat, be it tilapia stewed with vegetables, or boiled, or fried, turns out incredibly colorful and tasty.

Steam tilapia

Tilapia is a tasty and juicy fish of the perch family. This fish is loved by many peoples and is now bred in many countries around the world. According to legend, even Saint Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, caught tilapia when he was an ordinary fisherman. Behind the gills of this fish one can see dark spots, supposedly left by the fingers of St. Peter himself. Therefore, tilapia is also called “St. Peter’s fish.” Steamed tilapia - our recipe for preparing this wonderful fish!

Fresh tilapia fillet Mediterranean style

Delicious dish prepared with fresh tilapia. This type of fish has long earned the respect and love of many cooks and eaters around the world. It is prepared in every possible way and the tilapia always tastes fantastic. Light, airy, melt-in-your-mouth fish. Cooking fresh tilapia fillet Mediterranean style.

Fish fillet with potatoes

Fish has always been and remains one of the important elements in our diet. But I really want to diversify its preparation. Everyone has long been tired of ordinary fried fish. I would like to bring to your attention one interesting, in my opinion, recipe. Its name is most unusual, but the taste of this dish is somehow unusual. I would even call it special. The name of this dish is Fish fillet with potatoes.

Today is Thursday and, as usual, I am preparing a fish dish. This tradition has started in our family since Soviet times, and no one is going to break it. Not because we are adherents of traditions, but everyone knows about the benefits of fish - it contains a huge amount of phosphorus and calcium, which are so necessary for the human body. Fish Parisian style is an amazing dish that I cook quite often as it is one of my family's favorites.

Tilapia with mint pesto

Extravagant tilapia dish with mint pesto. Amazingly tasty and aromatic fish meat in combination with cheese, shrimp and mint delights and wins hearts. A romantic dish for an amorous date or for a great breakfast for the whole family. Dedicated to gourmets and lovers of fish dishes - we are preparing tilapia with mint pesto!

Tilapia in avocado sauce

Fish cooked in American style is delicious. In appearance and taste, the usual simple tilapia fish in combination with avocado sauce delights and evokes a huge appetite with its exquisite appearance. I borrowed this recipe from my friend, a chef who came to visit Ukraine from America. As it turns out, this dish is easy to prepare and you only need a few ingredients. I am pleased to present to your attention stunning tilapia in avocado sauce.

Fish in the oven with mayonnaise

Tender fish in the oven with mayonnaise is a delicious homemade recipe that will help you diversify your everyday meals. All products in this dish are perfectly combined and complement each other, creating an instant culinary masterpiece!

Telapia in a fur coat

Telapia is bred in many countries involved in fishing and in terms of total consumption in the world, it is in second place, after fish of the carp family. Telapia meat is rich in protein, very tender and tasty. Tilapia can be steamed, fried or baked in the oven. Telapia in a fur coat is a tender telapia fillet in a fried potato crust.

Fried fish with vegetables

I love fish very much and eat it in any form, but sometimes it just gets boring by itself and my soul asks for some variety. And then fried fish with vegetables comes to my rescue. This is a very simple dish, and it's quick to prepare. You will spend a little less than half an hour at the stove, and as a result you will get a complete dish that can be served for lunch or dinner.

Tilapia in batter

Good afternoon, dear readers! Tilapia (tilapia) meat is very tender and juicy, has no bones and simply melts in your mouth. Cooking tasty tilapia is very easy.

In just 20 minutes you will have a delicious dish that your family will appreciate. Let's cook!

Tilapia in batter in a frying pan

You will need:

  • 4 pcs. – fillet
  • 1 piece – small or lime
  • 50 gr. – flour and breadcrumbs
  • 2 pcs. –
  • 2 pcs. – cloves
  • Salt, seasoning,

How to cook:

1. Pat the fillet dry with paper towels; you can cut it into portions if the fillet is large.

2. Rub the meat with salt, fish spices (or just black pepper), pour in the juice of half a lemon, squeeze the garlic directly onto the fish, and leave to marinate for 15-20 minutes.

3. In one bowl, beat the eggs, in another mix the breadcrumbs and flour.

4. Dip the fish pieces into the egg, then into a mixture of flour and breadcrumbs, fry in vegetable oil on both sides until cooked. The fish fries very quickly; cooking usually takes 3-4 minutes on each side.

Calorie content per 100 g. – 128 kcal

Bon appetit!

Video recipe: Tilapia in batter

With vegetables

How to deliciously cook tilapia with vegetables in a frying pan

You will need:

  • 3-4 pcs. – tilapia fillet
  • 1 piece – small lemon
  • 2-3 pcs. – garlic clove
  • 1 piece each - and onion
  • 2 tbsp. spoons - tomato paste or mayonnaise
  • Salt, seasonings, vegetable oil

How to cook:

1. Rub the fillet with spices, salt, lemon juice, and leave for marinating.

2. While the fish is soaking in the marinade, cut the onions into half rings and coarsely grate the carrots.

3. Fry the onion in vegetable oil, add the carrots, and sauté the vegetables until tender. Add chopped garlic, tomato paste, you can add a mixture of herbs for flavor, mix everything.

4. In another frying pan, fry the marinated fillet on one side for 4-5 minutes, turn it over, then spread the vegetable mixture on top in an even layer, close the frying pan with a lid, reduce the heat, and simmer for another 5 minutes until done.

Bon appetit!

Note! For a side dish with fish, boiled rice is ideal, maybe mashed potatoes, fresh vegetable salad, or.

Video recipe: Tilapia fish in the oven with vegetables

In cream

Tilapia fillet in cream sauce

It's just finger licking good! Incredibly tasty dish.

You will need:

  • 3-4 pcs. – fillet
  • 2 pcs. – bulbs
  • 1 cup – cream 20% – fat content
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • Fresh
  • Vegetable oil
  • Salt, spice mixture

How to cook:

1. Cut the fillet into small pieces 2-3 cm wide, pour in lemon juice, salt and pepper, and leave for marinating.

2. Chop the onion into half rings, fry until transparent, place marinated pieces of tilapia on top, simmer for about 2-3 minutes under the lid.

3. Now add the cream to the frying pan, heat it a little, but do not let it boil, reduce the heat, simmer until the cream has reduced by half.

4. Sprinkle the finished dish with chopped fresh herbs.

Bon appetit!

Fish balls

Fish balls

How to cook:

  • 500 gr. – fillet
  • 6-8 pcs. – cracker cookies
  • 2 pcs. – eggs
  • 1 tbsp. spoon – starch
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • Salt, spices, vegetable oil
  • Fresh herbs

How to cook:

1. Grind fish fillets and crackers through a meat grinder or in a blender. If you don't have cookies, you can add a spoonful of breadcrumbs.

2. Add egg, salt, spices, lemon juice, finely chopped herbs to the minced fish, mix everything.

3. With wet hands, form small balls 3 cm in diameter, roll the balls in starch. Instead of balls, you can form simple cutlets. Everything is at your discretion! The taste will not change!

4. In heated vegetable oil, fry the balls on all sides (3 minutes on each) until golden brown.

5. Place the finished fish balls on paper towels to remove excess fat.

Bon appetit!

Note! Lemon juice for pickling can be replaced with white wine.

Cutlets with rice

Tilapia fish cutlets with rice

You will need:

  • 0.7-0.8 kg. – fillet
  • 1 piece - large onion
  • 1 piece - egg
  • 100 gr. - already boiled rice
  • 30 gr. – flour or breadcrumbs
  • Vegetable oil, salt, spices

How to cook:

1. Grind the fish fillet along with the onion in a blender or grind through a meat grinder.

2. Add an egg, boiled rice, salt, spices to the prepared minced meat; you can add chopped fresh dill.

3. Mix the minced meat, form even cutlets, roll in flour or breadcrumbs, fry in vegetable oil on both sides until cooked.

Note! The cutlets will turn out very tender if instead of rice you take 2-3 slices of dry loaf soaked in milk.

Bon appetit!

Video recipe: Polish Tilapia with mashed potatoes

Tilapia with potatoes

Baked tilapia fillet with potatoes in the oven

Very tasty tilatia meat is obtained if you cook it in the oven.

You will need:

  • 0.5 kg. – fillet
  • 1 kg. –
  • 2-3 pcs. – carrots and onions
  • 1-2 pcs. - sweet
  • 300 gr. – hard cheese
  • 200 ml. – cream 20% fat
  • Juice of half a lemon or white wine
  • 3 tbsp. spoons – olive oil
  • Salt, pepper, Provençal herbs

How to cook:

1. Peel the potatoes, cut them into large circles, onions into large half rings, grate the carrots on a coarse grater or cut them into circles.

2. Grease a baking sheet with olive oil, lay out a layer of potatoes, then onions, distribute carrots on top, salt and pepper everything.

3. Rub the fish fillet with Provençal herbs and place it on a vegetable bed so that it is completely covered by the fish.

4. Sprinkle the tilapia with lemon juice or white wine; you can also coat it with olive oil.

5. Cut the bell pepper into small pieces and place it on the fish.

6. Now sprinkle everything on top with grated cheese and pour cream.

7. Place in the oven for 40-50 minutes at t=180 C until cooked.

Bon appetit!

Fillet in coconut flakes

Tilapia fillet for a festive table in coconut flakes with pomegranate sauce

Tender tilapia in coconut shavings with pomegranate sauce is recommended to be included in any holiday or New Year's menu, and this delicious fish dish can be served with dessert wine.

You will need:

  • 3-4 tbsp. spoons – coconut oil for frying (you can add sunflower)
  • 2 pcs. – fresh tilapia fillet
  • 3-4 tbsp. spoons – unsweetened coconut flakes
  • 4-5 sprigs – fresh parsley
  • Finely ground salt, ground black pepper - to taste
  • 3 tbsp. spoons – freshly squeezed orange juice
  • – to taste (can be replaced with or)
  • 1 piece – fresh (optional)
  • 3 tbsp. spoons – freshly squeezed lemon juice

How to cook:

1. Thawed tilapia fillets should be transferred to a paper towel, dried, cut into small portions, salt and pepper, and left to marinate for 10-15 minutes.

2. Prepare the sauce. Add lemon juice and orange juice to a separate bowl, mix well, add chopped parsley, pomegranate seeds, add chopped chili pepper to the same bowl (if you want it spicier), mix the finished sauce thoroughly.

3. Prepare a dry frying pan, pour small coconut flakes into it, fry with regular stirring until light beige in color for about two minutes.

4. Pour coconut oil into a separate frying pan, heat to the desired temperature, fry the tilapia fillets on each side for three to four minutes.

5. Sprinkle the tilapia with toasted coconut and continue frying for a few more minutes on each side until done.

6. Transfer the fish to a large serving dish, pour over the pomegranate sauce, and now you can invite guests to the festive table.

Bon appetit and good mood!

Tilapia with tomatoes and cheese

Baked tilapia fillet in the oven with tomatoes - “fish under a fur coat”

You will need:

  • 1 kg. – fillet
  • 3-4 pcs. – onions
  • 3-4 pcs. –
  • 1 piece – lemon
  • 1-2 pcs. – carrots
  • 20 gr. – olive oil
  • 40 gr. – hard cheese
  • 100 gr. – mayonnaise
  • Salt, pepper, Italian herbs, fresh herbs

How to cook:

1. Rub the fish fillet with spices, salt, Italian herbs, sprinkle with lemon juice, and leave for marinating.

2. In the meantime! Cut the onions and tomatoes into slices, grate the carrots and cheese on a coarse grater.

3. Place the fillet on a greased baking sheet, then a layer of onion, then grated carrots, a layer of tomato. Vegetables also need to be salted and peppered.

5. You need to cook in the oven at t=180 C for about 40-50 minutes.

6. Before serving, sprinkle the finished dish with herbs.

Bon appetit!

Video recipe: Tilapia with tomatoes and basil in the oven

If you want to impress your family and friends with your culinary skills, then be sure to cook tilapia for them. No one can resist the juicy fillet, fried until crisp, and its amazing aroma. Making a dish from this fish is quite easy; it is prepared in a matter of minutes using a minimum amount of ingredients. The meat is very tender, has almost no bones and literally melts in your mouth.

Composition and calorie content of the product

Tilapia lives in freshwater bodies and is often called “river chicken.” In Russian stores you can find both fresh fish and frozen fillets. Meat is rich in calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and B vitamins. But the protein content is especially high: 26 grams per 100 grams of product, which corresponds to almost half the daily requirement required by the adult body.

The calorie content of fried tilapia is 128 kcal, which is not high. For example, the energy value of cooked trout is 210 kcal, and herring - 183 kcal. In addition, you can cook fish without flour, then the calorie content in the dish will be even lower. Due to the small amount of fat and relatively low calorie content, this type of fish can be safely classified as a dietary product.

Preparation

Frying tasty tilapia is very simple, and every housewife has the necessary products in the kitchen.

So, you will need the following ingredients:

  • tilapia (fillet or whole fish) – 3 large pieces;
  • lemon or lime – 1 piece;
  • flour – 60 grams;
  • breadcrumbs – 60 grams;
  • vegetable oil – half a glass;
  • egg - 2 pieces;
  • salt and spices - to taste;
  • garlic – 3 cloves.

Also prepare the following equipment: a whisk, a spatula, a cutting board, paper towels, two deep bowls and a large non-stick frying pan.

How to marinate fillet correctly?

To make the dish as appetizing as possible, you need to properly prepare its main ingredient. If you purchased fresh fish, fillet it: remove the head and clean the meat from the bones. If desired, cut the tilapia into portions, although many people prefer to cook it in whole pieces. Be sure to remove excess moisture by patting the fish with a paper towel, otherwise the dish will turn out too watery.

Now let's add a special taste to our tilapia. Rub it well with salt, sprinkle with black pepper and pour plenty of lemon juice. For this, one part of the citrus is enough, the second part will be useful for decorating the finished dish. Garlic will add a special piquancy - crush three medium cloves directly onto the fish and leave everything to marinate for 20 minutes.

Together with pepper (or instead of it), you can use other spices, of which there is now a large selection in stores. In general, seasonings containing coriander, basil, cumin, garlic and fennel work well. By successfully combining them, you can prepare a delicious dish with an extraordinary aroma.

Fry the fish until golden brown

While the fish is marinating, prepare the remaining necessary ingredients. Beat the eggs with a whisk in a deep bowl until foam appears, and in another bowl mix flour and crackers in equal proportions. Thanks to the breading, the fish will retain its shape when fried and acquire a beautiful golden crust. Pour oil into a thick-bottomed frying pan and place over high heat to heat.

Dip the tilapia first in the egg, then in the breading. We do this with all the fish and let the pieces lie in a bowl with flour and breadcrumbs for a couple of minutes. By this time, the oil in the frying pan will have warmed up, which means you can begin the main process. Carefully place the tilapia into the hot oil and fry until golden brown, usually about 4 minutes per side. The fish cooks quickly - the total time is no more than 10 minutes. A beautiful crust and an appetizing smell are signs that the frying pan can be removed from the heat.

Without flour and eggs

There is another way to fry tilapia. We will cook without breading, but this will make the fish no less tasty. In this recipe we will do without flour, breadcrumbs and eggs, but we will need two carrots and an onion.

First salt the fillet and marinate it in lemon juice and spices. While the fish is soaking, peel the carrots and grate them on a coarse grater, and cut the onion into half rings. Then sauté the vegetables in a separate frying pan. You can add tomato paste, a clove of garlic or Provencal herbs to the onion-carrot mixture for flavor.

Heat the sunflower oil and place the tilapia pieces into it. Fry the fish on one side for 5 minutes, turn it over and add the sautéed vegetables. Cover the frying pan with a lid, reduce the heat and leave for another 5 minutes to simmer. The total cooking time in this case will be 12–15 minutes, which depends on the individual characteristics of the stove.

As you can see, cooking fish is easy, and if you are missing some ingredient, you don’t have to run to the store. Read the important recommendations, perhaps you will find another solution there:

  • instead of wheat flour, you can use corn flour, and instead of breadcrumbs, a piece of bread crushed in a blender;
  • the whisk can be easily replaced with a fork, but in this case the whipping process will take a little longer;
  • if you don't feel like filleting, just cut the fish into small pieces;
  • You can cook without eggs - before frying, roll the fillet in breading;

If you don’t like a crispy crust, then do the following: after the fish is cooked, pour a teaspoon of water into the frying pan, turn off the heat, close the lid and let the dish stand for about 10 minutes

  • lemon neutralizes the specific fishy smell; if this aroma does not bother you, then it is not necessary to use citrus for pickling;
  • fish can be fried not only in sunflower oil, but also in olive, corn and even butter;
  • It’s convenient to bread fillet pieces in a plastic bag: place flour, crackers and fish there, close the bag and shake.

It's hard to mess up a tilapia dish, so you can experiment. For example, before frying, roll the pieces in ground almonds or sprinkle the fish with cheese at the end of cooking.

Serving tilapia correctly

Fried tilapia goes best with the following side dishes:

  • boiled potatoes;
  • fluffy long grain rice;
  • salad of fresh or pickled vegetables;
  • cooked vegetables, such as a mixture of broccoli and cauliflower.

Potatoes can be served in the form of mashed potatoes, but it should not be dry, it is better to add more milk. Rice is considered one of the most compatible foods with fish; it can be cooked with carrots and red pepper. But what fish does not go well with is pasta and buckwheat. This proximity on the plate will not allow the taste of the tilapia to fully develop.

The fillet can also be served as an independent dish. Place the delicious golden piece on a plate and garnish it with lemon slices and sprigs of herbs. Don't forget the sauce! Classic tomato, as well as egg, garlic and mustard sauces go well with dishes made from this fish.

To learn how to cook tilapia in batter, watch the following video.