Recipe du Jour

Grilled Tilapia with Cucumber, Tomato, and Dill


In an attempt to lighten up after a summer of gluttony, I decided to cook more fish.  I'm not sure why I think I can lose weight on fish…after all, three helpings of anything will eventually lead to a date with Jenny Craig.  Still, feeling like I'm eating right is almost the same as actually doing it.  And since I will no longer be topping off my meals with ice cream or strudel, I think I'm on the right track.    

Tilapia is a mild white fish.  You can find lots of tilapia in Southern California, especially in Mexican and Asian Markets.  If you have trouble locating it, use any mild white fish.  You can also make this recipe with filets, either grilled, pan fried, or broiled.  I like the flavor of the charred skin, though. 

This is the perfect recipe for a hot summer evening.  For the whole effect, use ripe tomatoes and cucumbers straight from the garden or farmers market.

This recipe calls for white pepper, which I like to use for a little added heat.  If all you have is black pepper, that's fine.

INGREDIENTS

3-4 green onions, chopped

Zest and juice of 1 orange

3 cucumbers, peeled, seeded and sliced

2 large ripe tomatoes, cut into wedges

1 TB. honey

1 TB. mustard

[1/4] cup fresh dill, minced

3 TB. olive oil

[1/2] cup plain yogurt

Juice of 1 lemon

[1/2] tsp. kosher salt

[1/2] tsp. ground white pepper

3 TB. olive oil

4 whole tilapia, cleaned and gutted

METHOD

1.  Preheat grill on high, or with white-hot charcoal.   In a large bowl combine green onions, orange zest and juice, cucumbers, tomatoes, honey, mustard, dill, olive oil, and yogurt.  Toss together and set aside in the fridge to chill.

2.  Coat tilapia with lemon juice, salt, pepper, and grill.  Cook 5-10 minutes per side, until meat is firm and cooked through.  Serve immediately topped with cucumber mixture.

 

 

Tilapia's pseudonym is Saint Peter's Fish, in reference to Matthew's story in which Peter catches a fish that carries a coin in its mouth (Matthew 17:24-27).  Its dark skin spots are said to Peter's fingerprints.  Tilapia is still plentiful in the Sea of Galilee.F A few years ago I wrote a book that deals with food from the Bible, and in my preparations, I discovered a St. Peter's Fish controversy.  Because Matthew's story describes Peter angling for the fish with the coin, some believe that it could not have been tilapia, a fish that swims so deep and must be caught with nets.  Food for thought.  (ha!)

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Techniques

Techniques

Techniques

Peeling and Seeding Cucumbers

Although most of the cucumbers nutritional value is found in the skin and seeds, these parts are often burp-inducing.   Unless you are planning to have an alphabet-burping contest, peeling and seeding is good form, especiallywhen you expect company. 

If you choose English or Persiancucumbers, there will be less seeds to remove.  And unlike the standard cucumber found in most markets, English or Persian  cukes are not waxed or oiled for appearances. 

First, peel the cucumber.  Please use a peeler.  Do not try to impress me with your paring-knife peeling skills.  No matter how good at it  you are, a peeler will still remove less edible flesh, and will always be faster.

Next, cut the cuke in half lengthwise.  Use a spoon to gently scrape out the seeds, then slice as desired.

You can crisp up your cukes in ice water before you serve them.  This is especially nice when using them for crudités.

 

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