Tilapia Summer Vegetable Packet Food

FOIL PACKET GRILLED TILAPIA WITH VEGGIES

Steps:

• Preheat the grill to high (between 450-500 degrees)
• For each packet, you will need 2 large (about 20 inches long) sheets of foil, or just 1 sheet of heavy duty aluminum foil.
• Create four packet making stations with the foil, then spray each with cooking spray or brush with olive oil.
• Mix together seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, and dill) in a bowl. Layer each foil packet with one tilapia fillet and 1/4 of the veggies. Sprinkle evenly with the seasoning mixture, turning the fish over to coat both sides.
• Place several slivers of butter on top of each packet, a few on both the fish and the veggies. Put two slices of lemon on top of the fish, then toss the capers over everything.
• Fold the long sides of the foil in towards the center and roll over to seal, then roll up the short edges.
• Place on the preheated grill, cover, and cook for 10-12 minutes. If the fillets were frozen, add a few minutes to the cooking time.
• To serve, carefully remove the fish from the grill and peel back the foil layer. Fish are done when they are white (not translucent) and flake easily with a fork. Serve in the foil packet or on plates with the sauce from the bottom of the packet.

TILAPIA & SUMMER VEGETABLE PACKET

Steps:

• Preheat grill to medium. (No grill? See Oven Variation, below.)
• Combine tomatoes, squash, onion, green beans, olives, lemon juice, oregano, oil, capers, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl.
• To make a packet, lay two 20-inch sheets of foil on top of each other (the double layers will help protect the contents from burning); generously coat the top piece with cooking spray. Place one portion of tilapia in the center of the foil. Sprinkle with some of the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper, then top with about 3/4 cup of the vegetable mixture.
• Bring the short ends of the foil together, leaving enough room in the packet for steam to gather and cook the food. Fold the foil over and pinch to seal. Pinch seams together along the sides. Make sure all the seams are tightly sealed to keep steam from escaping. Repeat with more foil, cooking spray and the remaining fish, salt, pepper and vegetables.
• Grill the packets until the fish is cooked through and the vegetables are just tender, about 5 minutes. To serve, carefully open both ends of the packets and allow the steam to escape. Use a spatula to slide the contents onto plates.
• Oven variation: Preheat oven to 425°F Place green beans in a microwavable bowl with 1 tablespoon water. Cover and microwave on High until the beans are just beginning to cook, about 30 seconds. Drain and add to the other vegetables (Step 2). Assemble packets (Steps 3-4). Bake the packets directly on an oven rack until the tilapia is cooked through and the vegetables are just tender, about 20 minutes.

DILAPIDATED TILAPIA PACKETS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Clean the scallions, cutting off most of the green. Cut them in two pieces, and slice each piece in half lengthwise.
• On each sheet of foil, place 1/2 teaspoon butter. Drape 1/4 of the tilapia filets over the butter, add salt and pepper to taste and one quarter of the slice scallions. Add about 1/2 teaspoon of water to each packet, sprinkle 1/4 of the herbes de provence on top of each, then fold the foil up and over the filet until you have a loose packet, making sure there's some room inside to steam. Seal all edges. Repeat for the other filets.
• Put the packets on a baking sheet. If you've folded them correctly they should not leak while they're in the oven. If you're in doubt, put them in a large oven dish instead. Put into oven for 20-25 minutes.
• It's very difficult to overcook fish this way, so if you're leery of the fish being undercooked, leave it in slightly longer.
• Open each packet at the table -- you don't want to miss that aroma!

GRILLED TILAPIA PACKETS WITH MUSHROOMS, ZUCCHINI AND POTATOES

Steps:

• Cut four 8x14 pieces of foil.
• .Preheat barbecue to medium.
• Brush foil with oil, fold in half (to crease), then open. On one half, layer potatoes, zucchini and mushrooms. Place Tilapia on top of vegetables. Spoon pesto over fish; sprinkle with cheese.
• Fold foil over to cover and crimp edges to seal packages. Grill packages, with lid closed, until fish is firm and opaque and vegetables are tender, 10-15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.