Howdy Folks! 😊
I will continue to sing the praises of fish, especially when it’s a simple, but delicious dish where the fish gets to shine! 😋
Sometimes, Less is More. 😉
This fish is steamed in the oven and gently seasoned with fresh herbs and lemon – And with those few ingredients- you’ll be amazed at the flavors that can develop. Quite tasty 👌🏾
So, if you’re ready for this tasteful experience….here’s what you’ll need to do 👇🏾
Oven-Baked whole Tilapia
Course: MainDifficulty: EasyServings
2
servingsPrep time
10
minutesCooking time
40
minutesIngredients
1 Whole Bream fish, scaled and gutted
2 Tablespoons Dill
2 Cloves Garlic
1 Tablespoon fresh Ginger, minced
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 Medium Lemon
2 Red Chilies (optional)
1 Aubergine (optional)
1 Green Pepper ( large)
Directions
- Start by making sure the fish is fresh (clear eyes and firm flesh). It should also be clean and gutted 😊. With a sharp knife, score the skin and flesh of the fish about 1/2 a centimetre deep, or just before reaching the bone. Sorry I forgot to take a 📸🤦🏽♀️.
Rub with a bit of olive oil and generously season with salt and pepper 😊
- Here’s a shot of the aromatics I used. You can use dry seasonings, but I preferred to use the fresh ones for a more vibrant and stronger taste. Especially that the fish is basically being steamed, which can sometimes make food ‘tasteless.’ 😊 No regrets here though! 👌🏾
- So – In a bowl, mix the chopped onions, dill, mined garlic and minced ginger, with a squeeze of lemon juice (about a teaspoon) and a dash of oil. This will go into the belly of the fish, generously – and will season it from the inside. 😊 You can also squeeze a few bits into the slits made on the fish surface 😋
- This step is optional 😊 – But, some people place the fish directly onto the pan. And that’s Ok 😉. I prefer to cut up a few vegetables, in this case Green pepper and and Eggplant/Aubergine 🍆 . Season these lightly with a little salt and pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil. These will catch all the drippings from the fish and taste delicious once done! 😋 Also, they prevent the fish from sticking to the foil/pan – which sometimes happens 😊 – Plus, it means I don’t have to cook vegetables separately 💃🏽
- Next, place the seasoned fish on top of the vegetables and arrange a few thin slices of lemon on top. 😊 I also added a few bits of the red chilli just for Colour.
- Cover the fish and the pan with foil, and bake at 200 degrees Celsius for 40 minutes ⏰
- After 40 minutes, remove the foil – and you’ll find the fish is nicely steamed and ready. 😊 You can serve it, at this stage. However, for the aesthetic 😉 – and to make the skin on top a bit firm and crisp, return the uncovered fish back to the oven and broil for about 7-10 minutes. No more than that 🙅🏾♀️, as we don’t want the fish to dry out, but still be moist and soft.
- This is what it will look like afterwards 🤩. Remove the fish from the baking pan and transfer to a platter to serve. You can drizzle with a bit of oil and lemon dressing! And Enjoy! 😋👌🏾
- P.S You can scrape out the cooked herbs from the belly of the fish when/before serving. They may prove be a bit too concentrated to eat on their own 😉.
40 minutes is wasaaay to long. A large fish (enough for 2) is cooked in 20 minutes.
Hi Dave, You’re welcome to do the 20 minutes if that works best for you
This sounds delicious! I’m going to try it with tilapia on a bed of kale and veggies. Onions aren’t listed on the ingredients list. What quantity do you use?
Hi Tracey 🙂
Did the recipe work out?
1 Medium onion was enough – so as not to over power the fish.
Thanks for the spot, I will update the recipe with the quantity.
Yummy recipe
Thanks for the feedback