Stomach already feeling so hungry but all that's left in your fridge are a few pieces of frozen tilapia? Waiting for the fish to be really soft before cooking is actually very time-consuming, isn't it? So, when can fish be eaten then? Do not worry! In fact, frozen tilapia can be seasoned and grilled right away without having to be softened first, you know! To enhance the taste, you can first coat the entire surface of the fish with cajun seasoning, then grill it until the surface is crispy in texture and the color turns brown. Alternatively, you can also grill frozen fish and serve it with a condiment made from a mixture of butter and lemon. Want to make the dining experience even more interesting? Try grilling fish in an aluminum foil bag with mixed vegetables. When it's about to eat, you just need to open the bag and enjoy the delicious fish meat inside!
Ingredients
Blackened Tilapia (Roasted Tilapia with Cajun Seasoning)
- 450 grams of frozen tilapia pieces without spines
- 4 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, divided into two servings
- 3 tbsp. paprika powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tbsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 1/4 to 1 tsp. cayenne pepper powder
- 1 tsp. dry thyme
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
For: 4 servings
Baked Tilapia with Butter and Lemon
- 60 grams unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp. fresh lemon
- 1 lemon zest
- 4 pieces of frozen tilapia without spines each weighing 170 grams
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
For: 4 servings
Grilled Tilapia with Vegetables
- 4 pieces of tilapia without spines (total weight is about 450 grams)
- 1 large lemon, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp. butter
- 1 zucchini, thinly sliced
- 1 bell pepper
- 1 tomato, cut into pieces
- 1 tbsp. capers
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper
For: 4 servings
Step
Method 1 of 3: Making Blackened Tilapia Without Softening the Still Frozen Fish
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 232°C, and prepare a baking sheet for use
First, line the baking sheet with aluminum foil. Then, pour 2 tbsp. Extra virgin olive oil onto the foil and smooth with the help of a pastry brush. Set the pan aside while you prepare the fish to be grilled.
Step 2. Combine all ingredients to make cajun seasoning (blackening seasoning) in a small bowl
If you don't use up all of the spices in a recipe, you can store the rest in an airtight container and the seasonings will be of good quality for the next few months. To make cajun seasoning, you will need to mix:
- 3 tbsp. paprika powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tbsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 1/4 to 1 tsp. cayenne pepper powder
- 1 tsp. dry thyme
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
Step 3. Rinse and dry the fish
Prepare 450 grams of frozen tilapia, then rinse under cold running water. Then, lightly pat the surface of the fish with a paper towel to dry it, and arrange it on a baking sheet.
Step 4. Coat the surface of the fish with oil and cajun seasoning
Coat each piece of fish with 2 tbsp. olive oil. Then, sprinkle 3 tbsp. the cajun seasoning all over the surface of the fish, and massage the seasoning with your fingers so that it penetrates more deeply into the fish flesh.
Step 5. Spray the entire surface of the tilapia with oil, then bake for 20 to 22 minutes
If you don't have cooking spray, you can brush the surface of the fish with a little olive or canola oil using a pastry brush. Then, put the fish in the oven and bake it until the surface color turns dark brown.
Step 6. Remove the cooked fish from the oven and serve with tartar sauce
To check for doneness, try slicing the center with a fork. If the meat can tear easily, the fish is cooked. If not, return the fish to the oven and continue the roasting process for another 5 minutes. Cooked fish can be served immediately with tartar sauce, fried corn balls, and coleslaw.
Leftover grilled fish can be placed in an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days
Method 2 of 3: Making Baked Tilapia with Butter and Lemon
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 218°C, then grease a baking sheet with oil
Prepare a 22 x 33 cm tin, then spray the entire surface with oil so that the fish does not stick when baked. Set the baking sheet aside and start preparing the fish to be grilled.
Don't have cooking spray? Don't worry, you can also brush the surface of the pan with melted butter or olive oil using a pastry brush
Step 2. Combine melted butter, garlic and lemon
First, put 60 grams of unsalted butter in a heatproof bowl, then melt the butter in the microwave for 30 seconds. After that, remove the bowl of butter from the microwave, then add chopped 3 cloves of garlic, 2 tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon, and grated the rind of 1 lemon into it. Stir all ingredients until smooth.
Step 3. Season the frozen tilapia slices, then arrange on the baking sheet
Remove 4 pieces of tilapia from the freezer, then sprinkle the surface with salt and black pepper to taste. Then, arrange the fish pieces on a baking sheet and pour the seasoned butter over the top.
Step 4. Bake the fish for 20 to 30 minutes
Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven, then grill the fish until it is completely cooked through. To check for doneness, try slicing the center with a fork. If the meat can tear easily, the fish is cooked. If not, return the fish to the oven and continue the roasting process for another 5 minutes. Check again for doneness after 5 minutes.
If using fresh tilapia or frozen tilapia that has been thawed beforehand, the baking time can be reduced to 10 to 12 minutes
Step 5. Garnish and serve grilled tilapia with butter and lemon
Remove the fish from the oven, and sprinkle with 2 tbsp. chopped fresh parsley. Serve the fish warm with various accompaniments such as extra lemon wedges, warm rice, and grilled vegetables.
Place leftover grilled fish in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3 to 4 days
Method 3 of 3: Making Roasted Tilapia with Vegetables in Aluminum Foil
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 218°C, and prepare the aluminum foil to use
First, spread 4 sheets of thick aluminum foil, each 50 cm long, on the kitchen table. Then, spray some oil onto the glossy surface of the foil or brush the area with a little olive oil to prevent the fish from sticking when grilled.
If you only have aluminum foil, you can try gluing two pieces of aluminum foil together for a firmer, more sturdy texture when stuffed with fish pieces and various vegetables
Step 2. Rinse and dry the frozen tilapia
Remove 4 pieces of frozen tilapia from the freezer, then drain them with cold water. Then, arrange the fish pieces on a plate and lightly pat the surface with a paper towel to dry. If the fish pieces have been softened previously, you can skip this step.
Step 3. Arrange the fish pieces on the aluminum foil, then place the butter and lemon slices on top
Place 1 piece of frozen boneless tilapia in the center of a sheet of foil, and repeat the process until all the pieces of fish are used up. Then, sprinkle the surface of the fish with salt and pepper to taste. After that, prepare 2 tbsp. (28 grams) butter, thinly sliced, then place each slice of butter on top of each piece of fish. Finish by placing 2 lemon wedges on top of each piece of fish.
Step 4. Mix all the chopped vegetables with the olive oil and various prepared spices
First, add the sliced 1 zucchini and bell pepper, 1 sliced tomato, and 1 tbsp. capers into a bowl. Then, pour 1 tbsp. olive oil to the surface of the vegetables, then sprinkle also 1 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper. Stir all ingredients until well mixed.
If you want, you can also use a variety of your favorite vegetables to replace the vegetables listed in the recipe. For example, use chayote instead of zucchini or tomatoes
Step 5. Arrange various vegetables on top of the fish meat, then seal the aluminum foil bag tightly
Take about 40 grams of vegetables and place them on top of each piece of fish. Then, fold the four sides of the aluminum foil in the middle to form a tightly closed bag.
Step 6. Bake the fish for 30 to 40 minutes
Place each aluminum foil bag on the oven rack and bake for 30 minutes. To check for doneness, remove the bag from the oven and open the lid to let the steam out. Then, try to tear the center of the fish with a fork. If it can be torn apart easily, it means that the fish meat is completely cooked. If not, close the aluminum foil bag again and return to baking in the oven for another 5 to 10 minutes.
Step 7. Remove the fish from the oven and serve with the accompanying vegetables
Turn off the oven, then remove the entire aluminum foil bag inside. If you want to serve fish straight out of the bag, place a bag of aluminum foil on a serving plate, and let your guests open it themselves when they eat.
