Fried Whole Tilapia With Basil And Chilies Food

FRIED TILAPIA PO' BOY

Steps:

• For the aioli: Preheat a pizza oven or regular oven to 450 degrees F.
• Coat the peppers with 2 tablespoons olive oil in a bowl, then place on a sheet tray. Roast until the pepper skin burns and blisters on all sides, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Place the peppers in a glass bowl and cover with plastic wrap to let steam for 10 minutes. Remove the peppers from the bowl and carefully remove the charred skins, seeds and stems. Finely chop and set aside.
• Add the egg yolk, lemon juice, garlic, mayonnaise and mustard to a medium bowl. Slowly drizzle in the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and whisk until emulsified. Add the basil and peppers and fold together until combined. Season with salt and set aside.
• For the onions and tilapia: Very carefully slice the onions into paper-thin rings on a mandoline and place in a large bowl. Cover the onions with the milk and let sit for 15 minutes.
• Preheat a fryer or fill a large Dutch oven with 3 inches canola oil and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line a tray with a wire rack.
• Slice each piece of fish down the middle, then slice on the bias into 2/3-inch pieces. Place the fish in a shallow dish and sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Add the flour to another shallow dish.
• Dredge the fish in the flour, then shake off the excess and carefully place in the oil. Cook until golden brown on all sides, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove to the wire rack.
• Fully drain the onions, then carefully place them in the oil. Cook, moving the onions around, until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes (be sure to watch, as they cook fast). Remove and season with salt.
• Slice the baguette pieces through the middle horizontally without cutting through. Add the aioli to both cut sides of the bread. Lay 3 to 4 pieces of fish in each, then top with the crispy onions and the arugula and serve.

BASIL BAKED TILAPIA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450*.
• Pour wine and butter into glass measuring cup and microwave on high until butter begins to melt, about 1 minute.
• Spread basil leaves over bottom of 9 X 13 glass baking dish, reserving a few large ones for the top of the fish.
• Place fillets over the remaining basil.
• Remove the wine mixture from the microwave and add fresh lemon juice.
• Stir or whisk the wine mixture and pour over the fish.
• Season the fish with the salt and pepper.
• Sprinkle the onion powder and bread crumbs evenly over the fish, then add paprika.
• Cover the pan with aluminum foil, place in lower third of preheated oven, for 12 minutes.
• Uncover fish and continue to cook until fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork, about 2-3 more minutes.
• Serve at once.

DEEP-FRIED TILAPIA (FISH)

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a 3- or 4-quart pan to at least 375-degrees F. (just a couple of drops of water flipped off your hand will really crackle when the oil has reached this heat level).
• Roll the DRY and THAWED fish in the flour, shake off excess flour, and let the filets sit on a rack or, on wax paper, for 5-10 minutes.
• Roll the fillets in the flour a second time, shake off excess flour, and deep fry, no more than 2 at a time. (frying more than 2 filets at once drives down the oil temperature which will make the fish and coating soggy!) Turn once in the pan after a minute or so and remove when golden brown. They should be done in under 4 minutes, white and flakey inside at the thickest section of the filet. Do not overcook!
• Drain each filet on paper towels for a few seconds and serve.

THAI TILAPIA

Steps:

• Prepare grill for indirect heat. Combine the rice, onions, red pepper and basil; place on a greased double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 15 in. square). Top with the tilapia, snow peas and peanut sauce. Fold foil around mixture and seal tightly. , Grill, covered, over indirect medium-hot heat for 8-10 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Open foil carefully to allow steam to escape.