Viva Ceviche!!

Tags

appetizer, ceviche, citrus, fish, lemon, lime, peruvian ceviche, rawfish, recipe

Hello my friends and fellow foodies! It has been a while since my last post but I finally had the opportunity to get back to what I love with this new Ceviche recipe. I was thinking of the various ways it can be prepared and how different countries use different combinations of the marinade. From lemon to lime or sour orange..even all 3 the possibilities are many! The acid in the citrus juice combined with the salt in the recipes prevent growth of micro-organisms in the fish, softening the fibers as they penetrate. Add the enhancing ingredients of hot peppers, green peppers, garlic, cilantro and onion give the civeche its pleasing gusto. Today I bring my take on the dish that can be served as a starter or main course as I did. Enjoy!

1. 2 LBS of Tilapia fillets.
2. 3 Limes.
3. 3 Lemons.
4. 1 Tsp of salt.
5. 1 Tsp of pepper.
6. 1 Tsp of ground cumin.
7. 1 Tsp of red pepper flakes.
8. 1 Large red onion, thinly sliced.
9. 1 Clove of garlic, thinly chopped.
10. 1 Cup of fresh chopped cilantro.
11. 2 Sliced Haas avocados.
12. 1 Yellow bell pepper, diced
13. 1 Orange bell pepper, diced
14. 3 Green Plantains thinly sliced.
15. 2 Tbsp of olive oil*.
16. 5-6 Cherry tomatoes(thinly sliced for garnish).
17. 5-6 Radishes (thinly sliced for garnish).

Method:
There are 2 ways to make this dish. You can cut the tilapia into 1 inch cubes or you can slice it really thin as I did in this recipe (which also cuts down the cooking process).  Combine all ingredients (except avocado and tomatoes) in a large bowl, mix and set aside. Stir in the sliced tilapia and cover the bowl. Set in refrigerator for 15 minutes.
While the tilapia is marinating, heat a large skillet and add 5-6 tbs of canola oil. (vegetable oil works well too) Fry the plantains for about 5-6 minutes or until golden and crispy. Remove from oil and place on a plate covered with a paper towel to soak up excess oil. Sprinkle a bit of salt to taste.
Arrange the ceviche on a place and add the avocado, tomatoes and plantain chips and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Blackened Tilapia

Tags

blackened, cajun, dinner, fish, healthy, recipe, seafood

Here is a quick way to have dinner that is healthy, light, full of flavor and best of all it can be ready in 20 minutes.    Tilapia is a flaky fish that can be prepare in so many different ways, and can also be serve with anything from rice, to potatoes, to veggies, or in between  two pieces of bread.  This Cajun-inspired dish will sure make you dinner time a breeze.

1. 5 Tilapia fillets (about 6oz. each)
2. 1 Lemon
3. 3 Cloves of garlic, finely minced
4. 1 Bag of frozen veggies (any kind you like)
5. 3-4 Tbsp of Cajun seasoning(old bay works well)
6. 3 Tbsp of fresh cilantro, finely chopped
7. 4 Tbsp of unsalted butter.

Sprinkle the fillets  on both sides with a generous amount of Cajun seasoning.  In a large saute pan, heat up 2 Tbsp of butter heat until butter gets smokey, add the fillets to the pan and cook undisturbed for about 3-4 minutes on each side.(the trick here to let  the spice seasoning get crusty and dark). repeat with the rest of the fillets.  Meanwhile, combine the lemon juice, garlic and cilantro and mix well together, add the remaining butter  into a small sauce pan and heat  on low temp. add the lemon, cilantro and garlic  in the pot and stir a few time. (do not let the butter heat up too much, just enough to make a nice sauce). For the veggies, all you have to do is put them into a medium size bowl with salt pepper and steam in the microwave until soft and tender.  Serve the tilapia fillets  with a side of veggies and pour a few teaspoons of the butter sauce over the fish and veggies and enjoy.