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Crab and Cheese Stuffed Tilapia

Soph

Prep: 10 minutes + marinade Bake 20 minutes

This was as much fun to put together as it was to eat. I wanted to try something new with the tilapia I had leftover and this dish was a fun dinner to make. It has color, herbs, and more to bring together a plethora of flavors into a satisfying meal. This is about 1 serving.

Ingredients

  • 1 tilapia

  • 2 tbls olive oil

  • 1/2 tbls garlic powder (or to taste)

  • 1/2 tbls onion powder (or to taste)

  • 1/2 tbls Italian seasoning (or to taste)

  • 1 tsp paprika (or to taste)

  • 4 tbls butter

  • 1/2 cup cubed stuffing

  • 1 tbls chopped green pepper

  • 1 tbls chopped red pepper

  • 1 tbls shredded cheese (or to taste)

  • 1/4 cup chicken broth at least

  • 3 oz milk

  • 2 g claw crab meat

  • shot of lemon juice

Prep

  1. Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C)

  2. Add the tilapia to a bowl and smother in the olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and paprika.

  3. Cover and place in the fridge to marinade for at least 15 minutes up to a half hour

  4. Melt 2 tbls of the butter and warm with the milk

  5. Warm the broth in another container

  6. Add the butter and milk to a bowl with the cubed stuffing

  7. Add the chicken broth gradually while mixing with a fork to make sure it softens and goes mushy without drowning it. You might not need all the broth.

  8. When sufficient, add the peppers, crab, and cheese and mix well

  9. Prep a baking tray with aluminum foil

  10. Remove the Tilapia and slice open the center. Part it as best you can

  11. Shove in the stuffing and pile on top

  12. Melt the last 2 tbls of butter and pour over the top

  13. Spritz with the lemon juice

  14. Cover with more foil and bake 10 minutes

  15. Remove the cover and finish baking 10 more minutes until stuffing is starting to brown and fish cooked through

Afterthoughts

This was everything I hoped it would be. The dressing was warm, and just getting crunchy on the outside and soft and delicious on the inside. The crab melded great with the dressing and cheese and all of it added to the flavor of the tilapia making it not dry, and just bursting. Everything mixed well and the flavors were just gorgeous. The peppers gave extra crunch and juiciness and the tilapia fell apart easily. I highly recommend this dish for all seafood lovers.