Skip to main content

Millennial Guy Putanesca Tilapia


It's truly a new millennium when three guys gather around their cubicles at work and chat about how they recently prepared their fish. And going way beyond just grilling techniques, but elaborating on layering flavors and proper garnishing.  This was one dish discussed.


2 Tbsp butter plus 2 Tbsp olive oil, divided
1 pint grape tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise
1 leek, cleaned and diced

1.5 lb tilapia, enough for 4

1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives
2 cloves garlic
palmful fresh parsley leaves

2 Tbsp capers
1 Tbsp olive oil

Preheat oven to 400F.

Melt 1 tablespoon butter with 1 Tablespoon oil in a medium skillet. Add 2 tablespoons water and the leeks.  Simmer until the water evaporates, stirring often.  Cook leeks until they are softened and aromatic.  
Meanwhile in a separate medium skillet, melt the other tablespoon butter and oil over medium high heat.  Add the tomatoes and cook until they start to soften, but do not yet break apart.

In a small food processor, pulse the garlic and parsley to mince.  Add the olives and pulse a few times to coarsely chop.  
Tip the olive mixture into a bowl and stir in the capers and olive oil.
Mix the leek and tomatoes in a 9x13-inch casserole.  

Lay the tilapia on top of the leek and tomato mixture.  Spread the olive mixture over the tilapia.
Bake fish for about 20-30 minutes, until just cooked through.

Serves 4.



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Umami Beef Short Ribs Samin Nosrat

This is the penultimate prep for beef short ribs.  Based on the superb documentary by Samin Nosrat, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, this is the most umami rib dish you will ever have.  Its the combination of red miso and soy sauce that marinates and flavors the beef - give it a long time to work right - that means overnight in the fridge; it's worth the planning ahead. 6 beef short ribs on the bone, about 3-4 lb 1 large sweet yellow onion, diced 2 stalks celery, diced 1 jalapeño pepper, minced 4 cloves garlic, halved Marinade: 1/4 cup red miso 1/4 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup pale dry sherry or Mirin rice wine 1 Tbsp sesame oil 1 Tbsp honey 2 cloves garlic, minced Salt the ribs generously with coarse salt and let rest overnight in the refrigerator in a resealable plastic bag. Whisk together the marinade.   Pour into the plastic bag and allow to marinate on the counter for about 2-3 hours, or again overnight in the refrigerator. Preheat...

Vinaigrette Erique 2.0

From the archives:  Making a really, really good vinaigrette has been a craft in my family, and in my in-law family for generations. My late uncle, Jeannot, and Father-in-law, Bernard, (both best of friends) were each geniuses at the vinaigrette. And they both taught me. I have to say my siblings along with my sisters and brothers in-law do really now carry on the tradition as I strive to as well.  In our family cookbook "Cuisine Encore" I published my go-to vinaigrette - a basic version taught to me by my French mother, Monique.  It's great, yet I have been looking for something slightly more modern and upbeat.  So I merged Asian rice vinegar into the mix along with fresh (not powdered) garlic with the Dijon mustard, and toned down the salt. Make it your own. I now have what I think is an even better basic vinaigrette, today. Talk to you tomorrow! 1/4 cup cider vinegar 1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar 1 generous tsp Dijon mustard 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 cup ca...

Baked Grouper with Mushroom Wine Sauce

Fresh fish baked in a creamy mushroom sauce is always a rich reward after a hard day's work. 3/4 lb grouper (or other favorite white fish) cut into 2 portions Sauce: 2 Tbsp butter 1/2 cup onion, very finely diced 2 cloves garlic, minced through a press 1/3 cup pale dry sherry or dry white wine 1/3 cup half and half or cream 1 Tbsp corn starch 1 4-oz can mushrooms, drained and liquid reserved Preheat oven to 375F.  Sauté the onions in the butter, in a sauce pan for about 8-10 minutes, until slightly caramelized.  Add the garlic and cook for about 2 more minutes.  Add the sherry and half and half, and bring to a gentle boil. Whisk together the mushroom liquid with the cornstarch in a small bowl.  Whisk this mixture into the boiling sauce until thickened.  Add mushrooms and salt and pepper to taste.   Adjust thickness with wine, water or chicken broth if necessary, or allow sauce to thicken more by reducing slightly. Lay...