I was talking with some girlfriends the other day about meal planning and grocery shopping and somehow we got on the topic of fish. In our house, we typically eat fish on Monday’s because I get my grocery delivery on either Sunday or Monday which means the fish is super fresh. I also like eating something pretty light and healthy on a Monday since we tend to indulge on the weekends.

I’ve slowly gotten my husband to like salmon, but early on in our relationship I eased him into seafood that wasn’t of the friend fish basket variety with this simple recipe. Tilapia is such a nice mild fish -it’s a good one to start with if you have fish-phobic eaters. The creamy topping on this is essentially a jacked up tartar sauce which is the other pest part of a fried fish basket (the first part being the fried crust, duh.)

Yes, this is perhaps one of the ugliest photos ever. But I wanted to show you what it looks like coming out of the oven. That crispy crust is the best part!

The other best part of this meal: it only takes 20 minutes! Now that is how to make Monday easier. I always serve it with box couscous that also takes no time and steam-in bag green beans. (What’s funny is this recipe was on the original The Rose Record in 2014 and I served it with the exact same thing in the photos!). Give it a try and let me know what you think. It’s some pretty good fish fresh fish!

Broiled Parmesan Tilapia

Hands On Time: 5 minutes

Hands Off Time: 15 minutes

Serves: 2 (double the “sauce” if using more than two fish fillets)

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened (not melted!)

3 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (fresh is best)
1 Tablespoon tartar sauce (If you don't care for tartar sauce, just use more mayo. Same thing with the mayo - don't like mayo, use more tartar sauce.)
1 Tablespoon mayonnaise (this is what keeps the fish moist. I you don’t like mayo, just try it here, I promise it doesn’t make it taste like mayo.)
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (or shake combo of dried basil, oregano, and parsley into your palm)
2 teaspoons lemon juice (about half a lemon)
2 - 8oz. tilapia fillets
salt and pepper
cooking spray

Directions:

Place oven rack a few inches from the broiler. I put mine on the highest possible rack.
Preheat broiler to high.
Line a sheet pan with foil and spray lightly with cooking spray.
Pat tilapia dry with paper towel. Lightly season with salt and pepper. Place on pan.
Place under broiler for two minutes.
After two minutes, remove pan and using a flat spatula, gently flip over the tilapia.
Place back under broiler for two minutes.
While the tilapia is broiling, combine the butter, Parmesan cheese, tartar sauce, mayonnaise, Italian seasoning, lemon juice, and salt and pepper.
After the second two minutes, remove pan, flip the fish and top each filet with the parmesan cheese mixture. Using the back of a spoon, spread the mixture evenly over the tops of the fish.
Broil two to three minutes more until sauce is just starting to brown and fish is cooked through (you can tell when fish is cooked all the way if it easily flakes with a fork).
Serve immediately.

I have a post it taped inside my cabinet with quick recipes and this for this one I just have written, “2 - flip - 2- flip - spread - 2” to quickly remember the cook times, flips and when to spread.

Let me know if you make this and what you think! It’s a bi-weekly staple in our house.