Friday, April 12, 2013

Nutty Tilapia with Mango Salsa

Tonight was one of those nights where at 4:45 I thought "crap...TJ will be home in 15 and I have no dinner!" While I have a very accommodating and go with the flow husband, I do like to have a meal on the table when he gets home around 5:30ish.  Well instead of freaking out (okay maybe there was a little of that), I looked in my fridge and saw that I had leftover tilapia and mango salsa from last nights fish tacos, as well as some almonds and coconut that were dying to be utilized in some way, shape, or form.

Any who...I decided to make a toasted coconut and almond crusted tilapia and top it with the mango salsa.  It was AMAZING!!  The sweet, tanginess from the mango salsa paired with the crunchy, sweet crusted tilapia was simply delicious.  It was thrown together in moments and tasted as though it was on purpose :)  LOVE these types of meals!!!


4 tilapia pieces
1/2 cup sweetened coconut
1/2 cup crushed almonds
lemon pepper
salt

1 large mango, chopped
1/2 red onion, chopped
1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped
1/2 lime
salt and pepper to taste

In a large skillet over medium heat, toast the coconut and almonds until they are a beautiful brown.  Take the tilapia pieces and generously coat with the lemon pepper and salt.  Coat with coconut and almonds.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until the fish flakes and is no longer translucent in color.

Mix the mango, red onion, cilantro, and lime.  Add salt and pepper a little at a time with tasting after each addition.  These should be used as a flavor enhancer, not flavor take over...This is easy to do!

When the tilapia comes out of the oven, top with mango salsa and serve immediately!  Enjoy!!!