Sweet and Sour Fish Tilapia: A Deliciously Tangy Recipe

If you're a fan of seafood, you might want to try sweet and sour tilapia. This dish is a popular recipe in Asia and Western cuisines. The tilapia fillets are fried and then mixed with a sweet and sour sauce made from pineapple syrup, ketchup, vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, carrot, bell pepper, onions, garlic, minced ginger, pepper, and slurry. The dish is then garnished with spring onions, making it both visually appealing and delicious.

Apart from being a tasty dish, sweet and sour tilapia also has nutritional benefits. Tilapia is a low-fat, high-protein fish that is rich in vitamins and minerals. It is also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for good health. The sweet and sour sauce is made from natural ingredients, making it a healthier alternative to processed sauces.

Key Takeaways

• Sweet and sour tilapia is a popular dish in Asia and Western cuisines that is both delicious and visually appealing.
• Tilapia is a low-fat, high-protein fish that is rich in vitamins and minerals, making it a healthy choice.
• The sweet and sour sauce is made from natural ingredients, making it a healthier alternative to processed sauces.

Sweet and Sour Tilapia Recipe

If you're looking for a quick and easy meal that's full of flavour, then you can't go wrong with sweet and sour tilapia. This dish is a perfect blend of sweet and sour, and it's sure to delight your taste buds. Here's how you can make it at home.

Ingredients Breakdown

• 1 tilapia fish
• 2 tablespoons of flour
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Cooking oil for frying
• 1 red bell pepper, julienned
• 1 green bell pepper, julienned
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 thumb of ginger, sliced
• 1 carrot, julienned
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 can of pineapple chunks and juice
• 2 tablespoons of ketchup
• 2 tablespoons of vinegar
• 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon of cornstarch

Cooking Instructions

1. Begin by cleaning the tilapia fish and patting it dry with a paper towel.
2. Season the fish with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Coat the fish with flour and shake off any excess.
4. Heat the cooking oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
5. Fry the fish until it turns golden brown and crispy. Set it aside.
6. In the same pan, sauté the onion, ginger, and garlic until fragrant.
7. Add the julienned carrots and bell peppers and stir-fry for a few minutes.
8. Pour in the pineapple juice, ketchup, vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, and cornstarch. Mix well.
9. Bring the mixture to a boil and let it simmer until the sauce thickens.
10. Add the fried tilapia fish to the sauce and stir gently to coat it with the sauce.
11. Serve hot with rice.

Serving Suggestions

Sweet and sour tilapia is best served with steamed rice. You can also garnish it with some chopped scallions or cilantro for added flavour. This dish is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner, and it's sure to impress your family and friends.

In terms of nutritional value, sweet and sour tilapia is a great source of protein and healthy fats. However, it's also important to note that the frying process adds extra calories to the dish. To make it a bit healthier, you can try baking the fish instead of frying it.

Nutritional Information and Health Benefits

Caloric Content

Tilapia fish is a low-calorie food, making it a great option for those looking to manage their weight. A 3.5-ounce serving of tilapia has only 128 calories, which is much lower than other types of meat. This means that you can enjoy a filling meal without worrying about consuming too many calories.

Balanced Diet Contribution

In addition to being low in calories, tilapia is also a good source of protein. A 3.5-ounce serving of tilapia contains 26 grams of protein, which is essential for building and repairing muscles. It also contains important nutrients such as niacin, vitamin B12, phosphorus, selenium, and potassium.

Tilapia is also low in saturated fat, which makes it a healthier option than some other types of meat. It is also low in cholesterol and sodium, which is great for those who are watching their blood pressure. However, it is important to note that tilapia does not contain much fiber, so it may not be the best option for those looking to increase their fiber intake.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the essential ingredients for making sweet and sour tilapia?

To make sweet and sour tilapia, you will need tilapia fillets, flour, salt, pepper, Knorr Liquid Seasoning, oil for frying, bell peppers, onions, garlic, catsup, ginger, cornstarch, and vinegar.

Could you provide a step-by-step recipe for sweet and sour tilapia?

Sure, here's the recipe for sweet and sour tilapia:

1. Season the tilapia fillets with salt, pepper, and Knorr Liquid Seasoning.
2. Dredge the seasoned fillets in flour and fry until crispy.
3. In a separate pan, sauté bell peppers, onions, and garlic until fragrant.
4. Add catsup, ginger, vinegar, and a little water to the pan. Bring to a boil.
5. Mix cornstarch with water to make a slurry, then add it to the pan to thicken the sauce.
6. Add the fried tilapia fillets to the pan and coat them with the sweet and sour sauce.

How can I incorporate pineapple into my sweet and sour tilapia dish?

To incorporate pineapple into your sweet and sour tilapia dish, you can add pineapple chunks to the sweet and sour sauce. This will give the dish a sweeter taste and a tropical twist.

What's the secret to a crispy sweet and sour fish fillet?

The secret to a crispy sweet and sour fish fillet is to dredge the fish in flour before frying it. This creates a crispy coating that will hold up well in the sweet and sour sauce.

Can you suggest a Filipino twist on the sweet and sour tilapia recipe?

Sure, you can add atchara, a Filipino pickled papaya relish, to your sweet and sour tilapia dish. This will give the dish a tangy and refreshing flavour that complements the sweet and sour sauce.

Why might tilapia turn out soggy when cooked in a sweet and sour sauce?

Tilapia might turn out soggy when cooked in a sweet and sour sauce if it is not fried properly. Make sure to dredge the fish in flour and fry it until it is crispy before adding it to the sweet and sour sauce. Also, be careful not to overcook the fish in the sauce, as this can cause it to become mushy.