Coconut Tilapia Recipes

COCONUT MILK TILAPIA

Steps:

• Special equipment: brown paper bags
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Soak 4 small brown paper bags in vegetable oil until saturated. Scrape off excess oil and set aside. Season the fillets with salt, grated ginger, lemon zest and juice. Top each with about 5 or 6 snow peas and 1 of the thinly sliced potatoes. Transfer each fillet into 1 of the bags and pour about 1/4 cup of the coconut milk into each bag. Fold well to seal in juices and steam. Place onto 2 rimmed baking sheets and bake until bags are puffed and fish and potatoes are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Serve immediately at the table in the puffed bags. Tear open.

COCONUT-CRUSTED TILAPIA (PALEO)

Steps:

• Heat coconut oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
• Mix unsweetened coconut, coconut flour, and salt together on a plate.
• Brush egg over each tilapia fillet. Press each fillet into coconut mixture until evenly coated. Gently toss between your hands so any coconut that hasn't stuck can fall away. Place the coated fillets onto a plate while breading the rest; do not stack.
• Fry fillets in the hot oil until golden brown and fish flakes easily with a fork, 5 to 7 minutes per side.

BUTTER-BAKED TILAPIA AND COCONUT RICE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add rice and cook and stir until toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Add coconut milk, salt, and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, season tilapia fillets with lemon-pepper seasoning on both sides. Place in a glass pan. Break the stick of butter in half and place directly on top of the fillets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until butter is fully melted and bubbling, 5 to 7 minutes. Ladle some of the butter back over the fish and reduce the oven temperature to 330 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Bake in the preheated oven until fish looks just about done, 3 to 5 minutes more. Raise the temperature back to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and bake until the edges start to get golden brown. Serve with rice.

COCONUT CRUSTED TILAPIA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees
• Place foil on a baking sheet and spray with non-stick spray.
• Combine coconut, bread crumbs, and crackers in a bowl. Put egg whites in another bowl.
• Dip the tilapia in the egg, then in the coconut crumb mixture. Place them on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until tilapia is done. (Check tilapia at about 15 minutes so it won't burn.)

COCONUT TILAPIA WITH APRICOT DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Toss together the coconut, flour and Creole seasoning in a bowl. In a separate bowl, toss the tilapia with the cornstarch, and shake off the excess. Pour the egg substitute into a separate bowl, and dip the fillets in the egg. Press fillets in the coconut mixture coating all sides.
• Heat canola oil in a frying pan to a temperature of about 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Fry fillets one or two at a time on both sides until golden brown. Remove to drain on a paper towel. Prepare the apricot dipping sauce by stirring together the jam, mustard, and horseradish in a small bowl. Serve the tilapia accompanied by the dipping sauce.

COCONUT CRUSTED TILAPIA

Steps:

• mix coconut with spices of your choice. curry goes really well, but anything you like would work.
• dip fish in milk.
• coat with coconut mixture.
• heat oil in a large skillet over med-high heat.
• add fish and cook about 4 minutes on each side.
• squeeze lime juice over the top.

COCONUT TILAPIA

Steps:

• In a wide bowl/container, mix coconut flakes, curry powder, garlic powder, paprika (set aside).
• In a small bowl, mix 1 egg, 1/4 cup water and 1/3 cup of corn starch.
• Dip the Tilapia fillets in the egg mixture. Use a plastic bag to cover your hands when handling fillets, if preferred. Coat the fillets thoroughly with the coconut flake mixture, especially along the top, as this dramatically improves the appearance of the dish while baking.
• Bake the Tilapia fillets at 350 degrees for about 12-14 minutes (or however long until the fish is fully white). Use cooking spray or butter the pan so the fish does not stick.
• While the Tilapia is baking, make the peanut sauce. Mix all of the ingredients listed above. Vary ingredient amounts to your liking. Cool or set aside until the Tilapia is ready.
• Broil the fillets for a few minutes until golden.
• Serve the fillets on a plate and scoop the peanut sauce on the side.

COCONUT/LIME TILAPIA

Steps:

• Place flour in flat bowl. (for coating filets).
• Stir lime juice and liquid egg together and put in its own bowl.
• Mix breadcrumbs and coconut together. Add salt, pepper, Basil, garlic salt and place in a flat bowl.
• With each filet, cover in flour, shake off excess, dip in egg/lime mix, and coat both sides with the breadcrumbs/coconut. Place on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
• Bake @ 375 for 15 min (or until it flakes).
• I served with a Broccoli & Rice dish, and steamed zucchini.

COCONUT CURRIED TILAPIA

Steps:

• Season tilapia fillets with salt, chile powder, and black pepper. Set aside.
• In iron pot, heat olive oil; add curry powder stirring often. Allow curry powder to practically burn. Add a little water whenever paste becomes too sticky.
• Add most garlic and onions until well coated.
• Add coconut milk. Stir. After 1 minute, add fish and remaining garlic and onions.
• Lower heat and cover for about 15 - 20 minutes.
• Serve over jasmine or coconut rice.