Tilapia is a mild-flavored white fish in the salmon family. Cooking stuffed tilapia not only adds flavor and texture, but the stuffing can help stretch a few fillets to feed some extra mouths. Stuffing for tilapia can include any ingredients, from the most basic cornbread stuffing to a more exotic blend of lobster or even spicy vegetables and chili peppers. Tilapia cooks very quickly, so when making stuffed tilapia, cook the stuffing first and then let it come to room temperature.
Step 1
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 2
Rinse your tilapia fillets in cool water and pat them dry with paper towels. Sprinkle cracked pepper and coarse salt on both sides of the fillets.
Step 3
Coat a baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to keep the fish or any stuffing that might fall out from sticking to it.
Step 4
Slice thick tilapia fillets horizontally, making sure not to go all the way through. Turn thin tilapia fillets dark side down, but don't cut them.
Step 5
Pack your stuffing lightly inside of the slit you made in the thick fillets. Pile stuffing in the center of thin fillets and roll the fish around the stuffing, securing the rolls with toothpicks. Choose one method of stuffing or the other -- don't mix stuffed and rolled tilapia on a baking dish because they won't cook at the same rate.
Step 6
Place the stuffed tilapia fillets in the baking dish in a single layer. Place rolled fillets with the flaps on the bottom.
Step 7
Bake the stuffed tilapia for 15 minutes and then check for doneness. The fish should be opaque all the way through and should flake easily. Cook rolled tilapia for 20 to 25 minutes and then check for doneness.
Tips and Warnings
- Brush bread-stuffed tilapia with melted butter before baking for a crisper result.
- Never overcook tilapia because it gets dry and chewy.
Things You'll Need
- Paper towels
- Cracked pepper
- Coarse salt
- Baking dish
- Nonstick cooking spray
- Stuffing
- Toothpicks (optional)
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