Many of my friends, swear by the wholesale retail store Costco and shop there pretty regularly. I am also their member, courtesy of one of these friends who has an executive membership. She gets some cash back rewards and I get to enjoy the membership for no fees. This sort of works for me, because I only go there to buy special items or a quarterly supply of nuts, seeds and toilet paper. How much do you think, a family of three can buy paper towel or laundry detergent or packaged food? The only time I buy food in bulk is when I have to donate or have a gathering at my home.
On my recent trip to Costco I did not get the things on my list, I thought to buy something so I bought frozen tilapia fillets. Of course, even this was in a package, more than I required so I shared with a family of fish lovers who eat this fish like potatoes. Tilapia is wonderful for a quick week night meal. I have cooked only a few times and my family loves this recipe in particular. This is a very simple and straight forward recipe and is the outcome of ideas collected from a bunch of recipes.
First, I moisten the fish fillets with lemon juice, season with salt and black pepper. Then lay it on foil, top with crunchy mixture of pumpkin seeds, mesa sunrise cereal, fresh oregano, garlic powder with some more salt and pepper for taste. The fish is then baked till the exterior is crisp and flaky inside.
Since tilapia has very mild flavor and light meat it goes well with different flavors. I paired with sweet and spicy mango salsa and millet. This was light, healthy and flavorful meal, yet warmly satisfying for spring and summer. And, it took no more than 30 minutes to feed my hungry family.
Ingredients
- 4 tilapia fillets
- 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1/4 cup mesa sunrise cereal flakes (you can use any)
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/2tsp garlic powder
- 1 (5") sprig of fresh oregano
- salt and pepper for taste
- 2 large altaufo mango, (2 cup) diced
- 1/4 red pepper,(1/2 cup) diced
- 1/8 red onion (1/4 cup) chopped
- 1 tbsp cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 green pepper chillies
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- To prepare tilapia , preheat oven to 375°F. spray a tinfoil lined baking sheet and set aside.
- Place fish fillets in a baking dish. Pour lemon juice over it. season with salt and black pepper on both sides.
- Place pumpkin seeds, cereal, oregano leaves in a bowl of food processor and pulse until the mixture is coarsely ground. Season to taste with salt and black pepper and garlic powder( be careful about how much salt you put as you already seasoned the fish before).
- Arrange the fish on prepared baking tray. Spoon Pepita mixture on each fillet, spread to cover the fish and pat lightly. Spray with oil.
- Bake for about 10-12 minutes or until they easily flake with a fork and edges are browning. while the tilapia is in the oven, prepare mango salsa.
- Combine the mango, red pepper, onion,green chilli and cilantro in a bowl.
- Add lemon juice and toss well. Season with salt and black pepper.
- Serve crusted Tilapia with mango salsa on top.
Ansh | Spiceroots
Love those flavors. I will try them with some other fish. It’s still kind of like winter here with 10 inches of snow in forecast and mangoes look like a distant future :))
Balvinder
Hmmm, with so much snow you outside in April you do need to bring some spring flavors in your home. Try with any fish that you like.
Choc Chip Uru
This is a new flavour combo I have seen for fish and it looks like a winner 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Nava Krishnan
Something new yet something exciting and trilling. Nice crust, that from pumpkin seeds and flakes. Of course I can’t resist the mango salad for a complete meal with the fish.
Balvinder
That pumpkin crust is the highlight of the dish and mango salsa boost the crusted fish’s flavor more. simple and flavorful!
easyfoodsmith
Hi Balvinder! I have tried a nut crusted fish and it sure tastes great. Your versions sounds even crispier! Lovely clicks.
Jennifer Eloff
Oh yum, this sounds amazing! I love fish. The one I like the most lately is Swai (Ours is imported from Japan, I think). It is completely boneless and I love the texture.
Balvinder
Tilapia is also boneless and skinless. Never heard of swai fish.
anne
Bal , Costco ? Big bags of chocolate chips / nuts / dried fruits ? Swoon lol It’s near your place ? …… Love the crispy and nutty flavor of your fish . The mango salsa itself is so refreshing and very appetizing !
Balvinder
Anne, Costco is 2 minutes away from my house, its an interesting store but not the kind of store for my small family.
Mango salsa is always so refreshing anytime with anything.
Coffee and Crumpets
I love your idea of pumpkin crusted fish and the mango salsa. I will try this with my favourite fish.
Nazneen
yummychunklet
That’s an interesting coating for tilapia! I’ll have to try it!
Amelia
Hi Balvinder, your baked tilapia look awesome, very interesting recipe. Pumpkin seed is excellent, lots of health benefit.
Mango salsa look appetizing and refreshing, it sure pair very well with your baked fillet.
Have a great week ahead,regards.
Balvinder
We are a nut and seed loving family so I use it a lot. You are right mango salsa pairs well with this baked fillet. Glad that you liked it.
Whisk
Thanks for stopping by today. This is the first I am
seeing your blog. I put you on my food roll and will
be back again to see all your yummy foods.
As for mango, I love it. As for chocolate and garbanzo
bean flour, it worked well with the chocolate – thought
the bite too strong for Hubby. Though I fancy bitter.
Happy Cooking & Baking.
Balvinder
You were very quick to respond and you are on my list, too. I think all bean flours have strong taste and we also love it. Try roasting it next time when you use, that way the bitterness is reduced.
Whisk
That is most interesting. I never considered roasting the chickpea flour before baking.
Yes, I was on the computer working on coupons when your comment went through. Getting ready for a week of savings.
Liz
Really interesting idea. I usually have some Pepitas in the pantry too so if I find some nice fish at the market tomorrow I’ll give this a go – sounds really good.
Malti Sharma
Balvinder, I love that you make simple and healthy recipes. Will try this weekend, if not tilapia, definitely the mango salsa 🙂
Juliana
Yes, I love the tilapia from Costco, as a matter of fact I always have it in my freezer…I love the way you crusted with the seeds and cereal…looks delicious with the mango salsa Balvinder. I need to give this a try next time cooking tilapia.
Hope you are having a great week 🙂
Vicki Bensinger
Ooh this sounds delicious! This is right up my alley. I love tilapia, it’s so mild and coated with pumpkin seeds and then covered with a mango salsa sounds utterly delicious. I often munch on pumpkin seeds alone and eat mangoes often as well as adding them to smoothies. This is a keeper! Thanks for sharing.
Ambreen (Simply Sweet 'n Savory)
That looks so delicious with crispy coating & interesting flavors. Wonderful recipe!
Bam's Kitchen
I really love Tilapia as it is such a mild flavored fish. I love pumpkin seeds for the crunch and of course we are in mango season so perfect time for the salsa.
Lail | With A Spin
Very interesting. I love crispy fish dishes. Oh, and accompanying the fish with mango salsa, pure goodness.