Zesty Mediterranean-Style Baked Tilapia Recipe

 By R Ayite Okyne 

Photo: thumbs.ifood.tv
 
An easy recipe for one of the dishes I make that always gets a standing ovation and requests for encores is my Zesty Baked Tilapia Mediterranean-Style. It is a pretty easy to make baked fish recipe, can be prepped ahead of time and assembled "lickety-split"! What makes it so fragrant and tasty is that it is infused with flavor both from the top and the bottom and this style of baking keeps the fish moist throughout. I made it the other day and thought I'd share the recipe with you...
For this, I used ingredients from the Target Stores brand Market Pantry. You will need:

• 1lb Market Pantry® tilapia fillets (or 4-6 pieces)
• One large tomato or two medium tomatoes, sliced crosswise
• Grated zest and juice of two lemons
• Two tablespoons Market Pantry® chopped Kalamata olives
• ½ cup Market Pantry® mayonnaise
• ½ cup Market Pantry® grated Parmesan cheese
• One tablespoon olive oil
• Sea Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lay the sliced tomatoes in a rectangular glass dish and sprinkle with the chopped olives and lemon zest and drizzle with olive oil.
Season the fillets with salt and pepper and lay them over the bed of sliced tomatoes, olives and lemon zest and set aside. In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese together with some of the lemon juice. Add just enough lemon juice to achieve a pleasant balance of flavors, and a medium-thick consistency. Start with two tablespoons of lemon juice. Coat each fillet with the mixture and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the topping turns a golden brown.

When I'm entertaining, I usually assemble the dish and prepare the mixture, wrap them in plastic film and keep them in the refrigerator. While my guests are having cocktails, I coat the fish with the topping and put in the oven right away. It's best served fresh out the oven. This dish should taste citrusy on the top with the olive flavor as the middle note, and the cheese and mayonnaise following in close order, but less distinct. The rather bland fish is infused with the lemon zest and olives from below and the lemon in the topping, giving it that piquant taste. The citrus flavor is tempered by the tomatoes and the cheese and mayonnaise. The topping also helps keep the fish moist and seals in all the flavors.

I have served this with couscous and vegetables, a brown and wild rice medley, saffron rice as well as rosemary roasted potatoes and it works well. Whatever you choose to serve with this should not be too flavorful or acidic - there can only be one star at this table! My favorite wine to pair with this tends to be a Pinot Grigio, but a Chardonnay works just as well.
Try it and let me know how you like it - more importantly, how your guests like it! I can't wait to get your feedback! Many Thanks to Target Stores.

R. Ayite Okyne is The Lifestyle Maven - a style guru, epicure, lifestyle expert and cultural ambassador with a quest for the inspired life. He authors a blog http://ayiteokyne.blogspot.com and hosts a series of web episodes http://YouTube.com/TheLifestyleMaven. Send your questions to ayite@thelifestylemaven.com and he'll be happy to answer them!

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Step By Step Recipes - Chinese Fried Wonton and Shrimp Balls

 By Rienzi F 

Photo: rasamalaysia.com
 
Chinese culinary history is believed to have dated back to a thousand years already and over time it has also incorporated and blended with the cuisines of other cultures and traditions too. However, the styles and tastes of Chine vary with each region, which has wonderfully led to a dazzling array of techniques, ingredients and even eating styles. Here's a look at two of the most popular Chinese step by step recipes, fried wonton and shrimp balls.

Fried Wonton

To prepare fried wonton, you will require the following ingredients - 1/2pound minced pork, 12 chopped bay scallops, 1 pack wonton skins, three peeled and chopped water chestnuts, 1lightly beaten egg, two coriander sprigs, ½ teaspoon sesame oil, ½ teaspoon corn flour, ½ teaspoon fish sauce, salt, white pepper and oil for deep frying.

To cook this easy to follow recipe, mix bay scallops, minced pork, water chestnuts, corn flour and chopped coriander into a bowl, and then add half of the beaten egg (the other half will be used for wrapping the wonton). Mix these ingredients properly, and then and the white pepper, salt and fish sauce. Set aside, and wrap the wontons with the wonton skins, and fry these in a wok filled with cooking oil. Serve hot, and season with chilli sauce or ketchup.

Fried Shrimp Balls

To prepare fried shrimp balls with wonton skin, you will need the following ingredients - one teaspoon salt or fish sauce, one pound raw shrimp, one teaspoon sugar, 1 table spoon corn starch, 1 lightly-beaten egg white, ½ teaspoon sesame oil, one table spoon oil, wonton skins and a few dashes of white pepper.
To cook, de-vein the shrimp and toss it aside. Then, using a mini food processor, beat the egg white until it becomes frothy, and add the raw shrimp, along with the other seasonings. Carefully blend these ingredients until they form a shrimp paste. Next, cut the wonton skins into very small strips and place them on a flat surface.

Form the shrimp paste into balls and roll them in a bed of wonton skin, but ensure that the wonton skin will evenly coat the shrimp balls. Next, deep fry the shrimp balls in a wok, until they get golden brown. Serve with hot sauce, or preferably Thai sweet chilli sauce.
To find more delectable Chinese, and oriental-style step by step easy recipes with photos, log on to the Internet, and type "step by step Chinese recipes" on your search engine.

Additional Fact:

According to most food experts, most salad are served cold, but some especially the South German potato salad, are warm when served. Have fun serving this truly tasty Salad Nicoise and learn more step by step recipes at ( http://www.olgasflavorfactory.com/ ).

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Five Fantastic Clam Dishes

 By Ted Demopoulos 

Photo: i132.photobucket.com
 
Seafood is very popular and arguably healthy for you, or so says my doctor. It certainly has less fats and calories than red meats, no added hormones, and many health benefits. Growing up by the seacoast I often take seafood's popularity for granted, but on a recent trip to the Midwest, restaurants were featuring oysters from both coasts, Maine lobster, and plenty of sushi. My favorite seafood of all time is clams, and although perhaps not as popular away from the coast, the wide array of clams dishes on local menus and the proliferation of "clam shacks" along the New England coast reinforce the notion of the clam's popularity. Here are some of five of the most popular clam dishes.

Fried clams, deep fried to a golden brown and served with tartar sauce are a favorite. These are typically soft shell clams, briefly dipped in coating, and then deep fried. Although no one is going to claim these are healthy, if the coating, usually bread crumbs or some type of batter, is relatively light they do not absorb as much grease as would be expected. Everyone has their favorite place locally for these, whether it's a Spartan clam shack with benches and tables outside or a more upscale establishment.

Steamers are also soft shell clams, at least in New England, and steamed briefly perhaps for 2-3 minutes just until they open. They need to be served immediately when done, and are usually dipped in the broth from steaming and then into melted butter. They make a great appetizer. Many types of clams can be steamed, but my favorite is New England soft shell clams.
Baked stuffed clams are popular both on restaurant menus and also in supermarkets. These are available far and wide, and there are even several frozen varieties that are pretty good. That said, fresh is always better. These are hard shell clams, chopped and mixed with some combination of breadcrumbs, onions, spices, peppers, and more.

A clamcake is an interesting concept and not too far removed from the baked stuffed clam idea, except they are deep fried and served with tartar sauce. The best clam cakes have a high clam to other ingredient ratio. Besides clams, they often contain eggs, breadcrumbs, flour, and more.
Our last clam dish is Clam Pie. This is a traditional Native American dish enjoyed by The Puritans, and consists of a pie crust with filling that includes flour, sauteed onions, carrots, potatoes and of course chopped clams. Interestingly, this is often served for breakfast and makes a hearty breakfast indeed!

Visit All About Clams for much more information on tasty clam dishes!

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Four Super Simple Recipes For Fish

 By Stephen G John 

Photo: farm1.static.flickr.com
 
Some people are tired of eating meat but are also afraid of cooking fish. There are actually many reasons why some folks dread preparing and cooking a variety of fish and seafood. One reason is they hate cleaning up fresh fish from the market. Another is the appearance of freshly caught fish - scales, fins, tails, and all. The monk fish is one of the ugliest (pardon) fish you can find in the wet market, but this is also among the tastiest when cooked.

Here are some of the easiest recipes for fish that you can cook within minutes:

[1] Baked crusted fish fillet
You can use any tender, white fillets for this recipe. You may also use salmon if you wish. Pre-heat your oven at 350-420 degrees. On a baking dish, place your fillets and sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and juice of half a lemon. You may want to use some garlic or onion powder for added flavor. Rub both sides with this mixture to coat and flavor the fish all over.
Prepare the crust by mixing almonds, fresh bread crumbs, salt and pepper. Spread the crust on top of the fillets before popping the baking dish in the oven. Cook this dish for 10 to 15 minutes or until the fillets are tender and flaky.
You can serve this dish with steamed vegetables and rice or dinner roll.

[2] Baked fish n' chips
The classic fish n' chips is usually deep-fried in hot oil, but you can go healthy by baking the ingredients instead. You can use any tender fish that's cut into long thick strips. Use baking potatoes with their skins on and cut into wedges.
Flavor the fish with salt and pepper before dredging with flour or corn meal. Arrange the strips on a baking sheet that's been sprayed with vegetable spray or whipped with olive oil. Pop in a pre-heated oven and cook for 15 minutes or until brown. You may want to turn over the strips to crisp up the other side.

Place the potatoes on a separate baking sheet. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil and sprinkle salt and pepper. Popped the potatoes in the oven as well, and cook until potatoes are tender and crisp.
You can make a dipping sauce made with mayonnaise, a little Dijon mustard, sugar, pepper, and salt. You may also serve bottled sweet chili sauce on the side, too.
This dish is great for lunch and dinner, and can be served with mixed green salad and tomatoes.

[3] Steamed fish with soy
You can use fillet or whole grouper and other fleshy fish. Put slices of ginger and salt inside the fish cavity if you're using a whole one to remove the fishy smell. For fillets, just lay them side by side on aluminum foil before adding the soy sauce, thinly sliced ginger, sliced leeks, and lemon slices [optional].

Close the foil in such a way that there's ample space inside for the fish to steam. Place the aluminum-wrapped grouper in a steaming pot with already boiling water. Turn the heat to medium high. Cook until fish is tender.
Serve with hot rice and tea.

[4] Sweet and sour fish fillet
Any tender, fleshy fish is great for this recipe. Cut the fillets in thick strips and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Dip fillets in flour and egg batter before deep-frying. Make sure the fillets are golden brown before taking them out of the oil. Place cooked fillets on a plate with paper towels to drain excess oil.
Mix vinegar, sweet chili sauce, a dash of soy sauce, ketchup, salt, and sugar in a sauce pan. Taste the liquid sauce and adjust seasonings if needed. Add minced hot chili pepper if you want a spicy sauce. Add cornstarch to thicken.

On a saucepan, saute sliced onions, carrots, and bell pepper. Just cook the vegetables briefly. Pour in the sauce mixture. Cook over low to medium flame while stirring continually until sauce becomes translucent and thick. Add pineapple chunks before turning the flame off [optional].
It's best to eat this dish right away if you want the sauce and fillets served together. Garnish with pineapple chunks and parsley, and serve with hot rice.

Cooking with fish shouldn't be daunting. If you know what you'll cook at home, you'll have an idea of how the fillets or the whole fish should end up in a pot. But if you are a still learning how to cook, it is a good idea to stick with the easiest recipes for fish.

If you need more dishes in your menu, you can check recipes for fish here.

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Recipe - Mediterranean Seafood Soup

 By Caroline N Phelps 

Photo: schwartz.co.uk
 
I made this soup for the first time a few years ago as part of a romantic Valentine's Day dinner for my husband. My goal was to create something sexy and flavorful that brought memories of a hot summer evening somewhere in the Mediterranean coast. I'm happy to report that my attempt was very successful; this creation I whipped up in my tiny New York city kitchen tasted just like the sea! We instantly fell in love with it for its simplicity and depth of flavor.
Something magical happens when adding seafood to garlic, chilies, and sweet leeks: the flavors blend perfectly with one another, while the tantalizing aroma wafting through the kitchen makes it very difficult to resist. The flavors are mild yet very present throughout every bite and guzzle, and dipping a hand torn piece of baguette into this bowl of liquid gold, is incredibly satisfying.
This is a great dish to serve at family dinners if you want to impress anyone (mother-in-law perhaps?) as it looks and tastes sumptuous. I like serving this soup with a side of mixed olives and a bright and light bottle of prosecco or sauvignon blanc.
This recipe serves 2 people as a main dish or 4 as an appetizer.
Ingredients:

• 2 garlic cloves, crushed and finely chopped
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 small thai chili, finely chopped
• 3 small anchovy fillets, finely chopped
• 2 small leeks, roughly chopped
• 5 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 lb white fish (such as basa or cod)
• 1 cup shrimps, deveined and peeled
• 8 to 10 mussels, well rinsed and scrubbed
• 1/2 cup flat parsley, roughly chopped
• French baguette, for dipping

Directions:
In a large pot over high heat, add olive oil, garlic, chili and anchovies, and cook for a minute, until garlic becomes fragrant. Add leeks and cook for 3 minutes, until soft but still slightly firm. Add chicken broth and bring to boil. Lower heat and simmer for 15 minutes, to let the flavors develop.
Turn the heat up to medium and add fish, shrimps and mussels, and cook for 5 minutes, or until fish if fully cooked, and mussels have completely opened. Turn the heat off, add parsley, season with salt and pepper and serve immediately with sliced baguette.
*Toasting the baguette in the oven with a little butter and grated Parmesan makes the entire dish even more spectacular.

Caroline Phelps is a blogger for Huffington Post Taste and the administrator of http://www.pickledplum.net

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How To Cook Tilapia: A Tasty Dish

 by: Liz Funk

Photo: katskitchen.files.wordpress.com
 
The recipe is quick and easy you can get idea through this article. The fish can be cooked in many ways like baking, steaming and grilling etc. People enjoy eating fish in different flavors to enjoy this seafood. By looking some recipes online, one can easily learn how to cook tilapia in the best possible ways at home. There are some of the delicious and simple recipes that use the fish as a base ingredient.

It is kind of tropical fish that falls behind salmon and catfish in US. Tilapia is becoming more popular because it is neutral in taste, cheap and sustainable fish dish. Do you know what does tilapia taste like? It is very white, lean and contains high amount of proteins. This dish is crispy when served with ripping hot Sichuan sauce.

There are some recipes that will give you idea on How To Cook Tilapia:

1. Oil-poached tilapia with citrus salsa

2. More fish fillet recipes

3. Orange-Cilantro tilapia

However to make that perfect tilapia one should see some tips and techniques to make tasty tilapia. These tips should be related to how to properly sear a fish fillet? Choosing the freshest fish and storing your fish at home.

The best part about tilapia dishes is that they are not very oily have a mild sweet flavor that makes it extremely easy to cook. When crusted in blackening spice and thrown on grill tastes delicious while eating. If you are interested in a rich baking tilapia dish in the oven then you need to refer to rich baking dishes on internet. This will also help the fish stay moist for longer.

Conclusion: Learn the recipes of making healthy seafood at home that is an ideal course for health conscious consumers. Enjoy different ways of making tilapia by going online at various sites and searching how to cook tilapia.

About The Author
Liz Funk is a recognized writer with interest in writing for new parents preparation, making has browns, building toy box etc, however his expertise lies in writing cooking articles like How To Cook Tilapia.

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