Tilapia is a great fish to serve your family. It is a good source of protein, has very low levels of mercury is low in saturated fat, carbohydrates and calories. It also tastes great!
Because tilapia has is so versatile, you can serve it with a variety of seasonings and sauces. It tastes just as good served over a bed of rice and beans as it does blackened or glazed with a peach sauce.
You can use it for sandwiches, tacos, appetizers and more. Tilapia can be baked, grilled, fried, boiled or broiled.
Today we’ve chosen to deep fry our tilapia in a cornbread coating. Using a deep fryer, it takes just minutes to make and is great served with a side of slaw and hush puppies.
Ingredients
1/2 cup bread crumbs (Italian or plain)
1/2 cup corn meal
2 tbsp. lemon pepper seasoning
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
4 tilapia fillets, thawed
Directions:
Preheat deep fryer oil to 375 degrees.
In a small bowl, combine the corn meal, bread crumbs and seasonings.
Once your oil is at temperature, coat one filet in breading mix and immediately submerge into the heated oil. Repeat with the remaining filets.
Depending on the size of your deep fryer, you may only get 2 fish filets in at a time. Do not overcrowd your fish or it may become greasy!
If your oil temperature is correct, it will only take a few minutes for your fish to cook. The filets should float when they are done. If they don’t, simply use a pair of tongs to turn the filets over so they cook evenly on all sides.
If you aren’t sure of doneness, remove a filet and test it. It should be fully cooked on the inside and golden brown on the outside. Drain filets on a paper towel.
Important! Carefully watch your temperature as you cook. If it drops too low, your fish will be greasy. If the temperature is too high, your fish will be overcooked on the outside but still raw on the inside.