In our house the kids noses get turned up by any suggestion of a meal served with fish that doesn’t involve tuna from a can.  It is unfortunate for the wife and I as we are big fans of the tilapia.  Perhaps some would say it’s fortunate for us, because it’s more for us!  The thing to really like about tilapia is it’s mild, slightly sweet taste.  For someone such as the wife, who is turned off by the strong “fishy” taste of many popular catches it’s something she finds very enjoyable.  Even better is the fact that tilapia is considered a “clean fish”, free of seeped toxins, is not at risk of being over fished, and like most fish is really, really nutritious.

So anyway, last night on short notice for dinner I whipped out about 6 small frozen tilapia fillets, and thawed them in the sink.   I hit them with a little salt and pepper, and cooked them over medium-high heat for about 90-120 seconds on each side.  At the same time, I fired up the broiler, and threw a couple tablespoons of flaked coconut on a cookie sheet, and put them under the broiler for all of 30-60 seconds, at the most.  Just long enough to get the ends of the flakes a nice toasted singe.  Put the fish on a platter, and topped them with the toasted coconut flakes.

To go along with the fish I made 3 cups of white rice, and popped a bag of those frozen mixed steamed vegetable thingies in the microwave.  Plated the rice, the steamy mixed veggies, topped with the coconut fish, and sat the family down to eat.  The wife loved it.  The daughter, well, she was in a mood, (that ended with her skipping dinner going to bed.) The boy picked out all the veggies, and the “ewe”, “icky” soft carrots, and made his way to asking for thirds, at which point he was stopped and forced to eat a handful of baby carrots first.   I thought the sweet coconut just melted into the sweetness of the fish perfectly.  It was great.