Crispy Baked Tilapia.

Enjoy the crispiness of fried fish with a simpler and healthier recipe. Toasted bread crumbs (crunchier than traditional bread crumbs) create a flavorful coating for tilapia fillets, but the mixture could also be used with other fish, like salmon, and even chicken.Adjust the cooking time based on thickness of fillets.


Summary Ingredients

• 2/3 cup bread crumbs

• 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil , plus more for the pan

• 2 teaspoons dried basil

• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

• 4 tilapia fillets

Method

• Spread bread crumbs on a rimmed baking sheet and place into the oven.

• Preheat the oven to 425°F (timing depends on your kind of oven) toasting bread crumbs while the oven preheats.

• Timing will depend on the oven, but it should take about 5 to 6 minutes.

• Remove the baking sheet when bread crumbs are lightly golden, stirring once (watch carefully so crumbs don't burn).

• in a medium bowl,stir together lemon zest, oil, basil, salt and pepper.

• Stir in toasted bread crumbs and mix until evenly blended.

• Brush the baking sheet lightly with additional oil.

• Pat fillets dry with paper towels.

• Coat both sides of fillets by pressing into crumb mixture in the bowl and then place them onto the oiled baking sheet.

• Press remaining crumbs on top of fillets. Bake until fish is opaque and flakes easily, about 15 minutes.

NOTE
  you can buy the tilapia fillets in any wholefoods market if you live outside Nigeria. For those in nigeria, look for it in the frozen food section in either shoprite or any other big supermarket,you wouldn’t regret the experience.