Pistachio Crusted Tilapia

I must have been living in a cave somewhere, because I have just discovered Foodie Friday, which has been held every Friday at Designs By Gollum for some time now. How could I have missed any event that has to do with food? Well, this is my first time to participate, and I have an unexpected recipe to share, that I can’t stop talking about, so the timing is perfect!

 

We tried a new tilapia recipe last night, and it turned out so wonderfully that I grabbed my camera and took a last-minute shot right before I served it. I didn’t know I would be writing about this meal when I was cooking it, so I don’t have photos of the preparation. But it’s so easy, and came out so delicious, that it’s worthy of writing about, even without all of the evidence!

 

 

 

Ingredients

rice

3-¾ cups water

¾ cup brown rice

¾ cup jasmine rice

1 small bunch fresh spinach, washed and roughly chopped

1 lemon

1/3 cup blue cheese, crumbled (or more, to taste)

 

fish

1 lb Tilapia filets

1 egg

25 roasted, salted pistachios, finely chopped

½ cup plain bread crumbs

 

Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add brown rice, reduce heat, and simmer for 25 minutes. When time is up, add white rice and cook another 15 minutes. Turn off heat, stir in spinach leaves, cover and let sit for 5 minutes to wilt spinach. Squeeze lemon juice over rice, add blue cheese, and stir all together. Serve with fresh cracked pepper.

 

About 20 minutes after you start your rice, set oven to 450. While rice is cooking, rinse fish and pat dry. Whisk egg in a shallow dish, and in another shallow dish, mix pistachios and bread crumbs together. Dip fish in egg, then in pistachio mixture. Cover both sides generously. Sprinkle any extra over top. Bake fish for 10 minutes.

 

That’s it!

 

The ”breading” on the fish was toasted and crunchy. Most of the nut-crusted recipes I have seen required more complicated ingredients, but I wanted something simpler. I thought the saltiness of the pistachios would provide plenty of flavor. Turns out I was right! This was perfectly seasoned with just the pistachios and plain bread crumbs.

 

The same was true of the rice. After adding the salty cheese and tart lemon, the rice only needed a bit a fresh black pepper to finish it off.

 

 

Again, this was such a surprise for me! It was an elegant and delicious dinner, worthy of a special occasion but simple enough for everyday.

 

I hope you try it, too! And visit Foodie Friday if you’re a foodie. Have a good weekend, everyone.

 

xo, Andrea

 

Comments

[joyce]

Looks delicious. Thanks for sharing as I am always looking for good fish recipes and since I like Pistachio and Tilapia this is a perfect flavor balance for my tastebuds.
joyce

[Nicole Feliciano]

Gorgeous, we love tilapia. I tried making Soft Shell Crabs while this week. I hope you'll share this on my recipe exchange. Here's my link for Friday's Feast.

http://momtrends.blogspot.com/2009/07/friday-feasts-soft-shell-crab.html

[Stacey]

My family would be so happy if I made that. It's a pretty plate of food.

[Sheila]

Oh, this looks so delicious. Put pistachios on something, and you've got me hooked! Thanks for sharing the recipe for this...

Happy Foodie Friday!

XO,

Sheila :-)

[Newlyweds]

oh wow that looks like a wonderful meal. Thanks for sharing.

[Cass at That Old House]

This looks amazing! Blue cheese, fish and nuts all in one meal -- you've hit them all. Yum....
Cass

[Mary]

This looks so good. Thanks for sharing your pictures and your recipe with us. Have a wonderful day.

[Darnold23]

We love tilapia, and I have done a variation of this dish. I will be giving yours a try soon. Thanks for sharing. Beginning August 5, I will be hosting Crock Pot Wednesdays at DiningwithDebbie.blogspot.com. I hope you will plan to join in the fun. Thanks. Debbie Love the rice! Thanks for sharing.

[~ ~AHRISHA~ ~at JoyouslyLivingLife]

This sounds so yummy. Thanks for sharing It's nice to meet a new blog friend.
~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

[Designs by Gollum]

I am so thrilled that you found Foodie Friday and hope you will join us again and again. I was just telling my family that we ought to cook tilapia this week. Your crust is just the thing I was looking for--and the rice is beyond wonderful. Again--a big welcome!
--Gollum

[rue]

Hi Andrea :)

Boy oh boy that looks and sounds soooo good! I'll have to make it for sure :)

rue

[Cindy]

Looks wonderful...will have to give it a whirl! I tried one today that you would like...Tomato Pie...especially good with locally grown toms! :D

-c
yapping cat

[Term Paper]

You have just discovered Foodie Friday, which has been held every Friday at Designs By Gollum.I have no Doubt that this Friday will be delicious Foodie Friday.

[Plaza hotel salt lake city]

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