Native to Africa's Nile River, tilapia has been enjoyed for nutritional sustenance for thousands of years. In fact, the Food Network website claims that nearly one billion pounds of tilapia are produced every year as of 2011, which makes it the most popular farm-raised fish in the world. When cooked, tilapia has a white, flaky flesh and a mild flavor. Although tilapia can be prepared in a variety of ways, coating it in a cracker crust gives the normally tender fish a delightfully crunchy texture. If you are going to use a cracker crust, you'll want to bake the tilapia to avoid adding unnecessary fat and calories.
Step 1
Preheat your oven to 475 degrees F.
Step 2
Pour your crackers into a large bowl. If you like a buttery taste, use a butter cracker. For a milder taste, opt for an unseasoned or plain cracker. Use cheese- or herb-seasoned crackers for added flavor.
Step 3
Crush crackers with a fork until they achieve a fine crumb texture. If you prefer a crunchier crust, leave the pieces slightly larger. Allow for at least ¼ cup of crushed crackers per tilapia fillet.
Step 4
Mix additional seasonings into the cracker crumbs as desired. Seasoning ideas include parsley, garlic powder, oregano, Parmesan cheese and fresh ground black pepper.
Step 5
Crack two eggs into a bowl, carefully removing and discarding the egg yolks. Use a fork to lightly beat the egg whites.
Step 6
Drizzle the tilapia fillets with olive oil, using your fingers to gently massage the oil into the fish. Olive oil is high in monounsaturated fat, a healthy nutrient for your heart.
Step 7
Dip the tilapia fillets into the egg whites and then into the cracker mixture. Use your fingers to gently press the cracker crust into the tilapia, encouraging its adherence.
Step 8
Arrange tilapia fillets on a baking sheet that has been coated with nonstick cooking spray.
Step 9
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, turning once midway through. The fish is done when the flesh flakes easily with a fork. If you have a meat thermometer available, check the internal temperature of the tilapia. It should be at least 145 degrees F.
Step 10
Serve alongside tartar sauce and lemon wedges.
Things You'll Need
- Crackers
- Tilapia
- Seasonings, as desired
- Egg whites
- Olive oil
- Cooking spray
- Tartar sauce
- Lemon wedges
- Bowls
- Fork
- Baking sheet
Member Comments