Oven-Fried Parmesan-Panko Crusted Tilapia

Even non-fish lovers will enjoy this oven-fried tilapia. Dressed up just like Chicken Parm with a Parmesan-Panko crust, you may not even be able to tell the difference!

Before I talk about this recipe I must add a little commentary about how sad yet excited I am for the finale of How I Met Your Mother tonight. I unfortunately won’t actually be watching it this evening as I have a couple other episodes to catch up on first, but either way cannot believe it is about to be over. It is time for it to end but I will miss it dearly. Now I’ll just have to wait for the boxed set to come out and then rewatch the entire thing!

For Secret Recipe Club this month, I was assigned to Mary Kay’s blog Homemade Cravings. With things such as Tortellini Pizza with Sausage and Alfredo, Cherry Lemonade, and Vanilla Souffle with Chocolate Sauce, I certainly had a fair amount of great recipes to choose from. Oddly enough I ended up picking a fish recipe in spite of my dislike for seafood in general. When I read the post about this tilapia and how all four of her kids enjoyed it despite only recently incorporating fish into the family meals, I knew I had to give it a shot. Mild fish coated in Panko and Parmesan cheese seemed like a safe starting point, and it turned out to be true. This fish-hater could not tell that it was fish. In fact the tilapia itself didn’t taste like much while the crust was the shining star – and Parmesan is delicious! Now if only all fish didn’t taste like fish.

Although I will continue to depend on the cheaper option of chicken most of the time, it’s good to know that I am capable of cooking and enjoying fish for the fish-loving people in my life and not needing to prepare something separate for myself. Thank you Mary Kay for opening my eyes to fish (even if only a sliver). Maybe I’ll get frisky and try another fish recipe such as the Root Beer Battered Fish which sounds like another I would enjoy. I do love root beer!

Three years ago: Orange Beef

OVEN-FRIED PARMESAN-PANKO CRUSTED TILAPIA

Serves 6

Ingredients:

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

Salt and pepper, to taste

1 egg

2 oz. freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

1 cup plain Panko

1-1/2 lb. tilapia or other white flaky fish

Cooking spray

Marinara sauce for serving

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Arrange a wire rack on a large baking sheet; coat rack with cooking spray. Set aside.
2. Place flour in a shallow bowl and season with salt and pepper. In another shallow bowl add egg and whisk well with a tablespoon of water until smooth. In third shallow bowl combine cheese and Panko.
3. Dip each fish piece first in flour, then egg and finally Panko-cheese mix, pressing to help breading stick.
4. Place on prepared baking sheet and lightly coat with cooking spray. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden.
5. Serve with marinara sauce.

Source: Adapted slightly from Homemade Cravings.