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

Chicken Piccata over Squid Ink Pasta

Serve this delicious lemony piccata over your favorite pasta. 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2-inch thick cutlets 1/4 cup flour 1 lemon sliced and de-seeded  2 Tbsp butter plus 1 Tbsp olive oil 2 Tbsp capers 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 cup dry white wine crushed red pepper flakes, to taste 8 oz squid ink pasta fresh parsley for garnish Melt butter in the oil in a skillet.  Fry the lemon slices for a few minutes, just until beginning to brown.   Set aside on a plate.  Lightly salt and pepper each chicken breast.  Dredge the chicken in the flour and brown the first side of each in the butter mixture in the skillet.  Flip to brown second side.  Cook over low heat for a total of about 15 minutes.   Meanwhile, bring 2 quarts of well-salted water to a boil for the pasta.  Cook until just al dente. Remove chicken to a plate when cooked through. Add capers and garlic to skillet a...

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...

Tzatziki

Tzatziki is a wonderful Greek yogurt dip and condiment.  It's great with pita bread or veggies, or as a topping on all kinds of grilled foods. Make sure you use a full fat, thick Greek yogurt, and that you squeeze as much water out of the grated cucumber as you can - you don't want a watery Tzatziki; it should be thick and rich. 1/2 English cucumber (about 6-inches), sliced lengthwise in half 1/4 tsp kosher salt 1 cup full fat Greek Yogurt (I used Fage 5%) 2 cloves garlic, grated with microplane or minced through a press 1/2 shallot, very finely diced 1 Tbsp fresh dill weed, minced (or 1/4 tsp dried dill) 1/8 tsp Aleppo red pepper (or fine-ground Korean chili pepper), or to taste 1 tsp red wine vinegar Cut cucumber in half lengthwise. Use a teaspoon to gently scrape out the seeds in the center of each half. Coarsely grate cucumber and toss in a colander with the salt.   Allow to sit 10-15 minutes. Squeeze water from cucumber and then tip onto the center of a full-sized paper t...