Farmed Freshwater Fish Specimen from Greece
This delicious dish is perfect for busy weeknights. Pair it with some crusty bread to soak up the scrumptious sauce and a salad, and your family will be asking for seconds! The Mediterranean flavors work wonderfully with various firm, white fish.
Ingredients (8)
- 4 - 6 tilapia filets
- A generous coating of extra virgin olive oil
- 1 jar of prepared pesto (fresh pesto can also be used)
- 1 8 oz package of feta cheese
- 1 - 1.25 lbs of Roma tomatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tsp of salt
- Freshly ground pepper, to taste
- (Optional) Sliced black olives
Servings
4 - 6
Difficulty
Easy
Preparation Time
10 minutes
Baking Time
20 - 30 minutes
Directions
- Apply a layer of olive oil on the bottom of a large, glass baking dish.
- Lay the tilapia filets on top of the oil, ensuring they do not overlap.
- Season the filets with salt and pepper.
- Spread a layer of pesto on top of each filet.
- Halve the tomatoes and scatter them across the dish.
- Crumble the feta cheese over the tomatoes and fish. (Add the olives at this point if desired.)
- Coat the dish with an additional layer of olive oil (aim for olive oil that almost covers the fish).
- Bake the dish uncovered at 325 °F for 20 - 30 minutes (depends on the thickness of the filets). Aim for the fish to be flaky and the tomatoes to soften slightly. The dish will produce a substantial amount of liquid, forming a scrumptious sauce for dipping.
From the Kitchen: Variations & Substitutions
This Mediterranean Tilapia dish welcomes numerous adjustments and substitutions to cater to your preferences:
- Fish:
- Switch tilapia with other white fish like halibut, cod, or grouper for similar texture and mild flavor.
- Tomatoes:
- Use canned diced tomatoes for convenience, or opt for fresh cherry tomatoes or fire-roasted tomatoes for added depth.
- Onions:
- Substitute onions with shallots or scallions for a sweeter or more delicate flavor.
- Olives:
- Adopt Kalamata olives, Niçoise olives, or omit olives altogether in favor of artichoke hearts for a similar Mediterranean character.
- Capers:
- If capers are unavailable, utilize chopped fresh dill pickles for a tangy flavor.
- Herbs and Spices:
- Incorporate fresh parsley, thyme, oregano, basil, or lemon zest to augment the Mediterranean essence.
- Seasonings:
- Rather than simple salt and pepper, experiment with a blend of Mediterranean spices like paprika, cumin, or coriander for added depth.
Here's a sample recipe that blends some of these variations:
```markdown
```
This speedy, mouthwatering dish is guaranteed to tantalize your taste buds with its Mediterranean-inspired flavors!
Sure, here are some sentences that incorporate the given words:
- The pesto used in the recipe adds a cultural Italian touch to the Mediterranean Tilapia dish.
- If you prefer to make your own pesto, you can replace the jarred pesto with a homemade recipe using fresh basil, garlic, and pine nuts.
- The addition of olives and feta cheese in the recipe give the tilapia filets a tangy, Mediterranean flavor that's sure to impress.
