Feel right as if you are in a tropical land while you learn how to make this fresh and flaky Lemon Pepper Tilapia!
Welcome back to another installment of food & vacation pics!
As I told you before, our Paraguay trip was both a babymoon as well as a family visit. This awesome Lemon Pepper Tilapia was inspired by a meal Konrad's cousin - who graciously hosted us for a few days - prepared for dinner one night.
Usually Konrad and I aren't very big on fish and seafood, but these white Tilapia fillets that don't actually taste fishy at all might in fact turn us around. The key flavor ingredients in this recipe is Lemon Pepper. Konrad's cousin brings over this seasoning mix from Canada whenever she visits and even has it shipped to Paraguay when she runs out 🙂
Fast, Exotic, Delicious
I love how quick and simple this Tilapia meal comes together - 30 minutes or less and you're plating up! I am scared to call it easy because I wasn't able to keep many of the fillets intact when flipping them. But I think this is just my inexperience with preparing fish. Tongs are probably not the right utensil for turning delicate, flaky white fish. So don't be like me and use a spatula instead!
Served with a side of rice (I like to add some frozen peas to the rice cooker) that pretty much cooks itself in the cooker, this meal can be ready on the table in no time flat.
Second Stop: Visit in the Gran Chaco
Moving on to our travels now; Paraguay's geography can be split into 2 different parts. The southeastern part (where the capital Asuncion is located) can be described as lush and tropical. It makes up only one third of the country's area, but the majority of people live here. The other two thirds are called the Gran Chaco. Only 2% of the population live here.
Inside the Gran Chaco, there are colony-like Mennonite settlements. These settlers of German origin came here by way of Canada, Russia or Mexico (between 1920's - 50's), and to this day, everyone still speaks mainly a German dialect. How cool!
From Asuncion, it took a 7-hour bus ride to get to Loma Plata - the Mennonite town Konrad was born and grew up in. During this time I kept my constant pregnancy hunger at bay with empanadas that were sold everywhere! I tried all different kinds, but my favorite were Empanada con Queso - a very nice cheese (sometimes with ham) filling.
We started our first day in Loma Plata with a walk along the town's main street. Agriculture is the main economic driving factor. There is a Cooperative that pretty much everyone sells to, be it milk, cattle or crops. These are 2 warehouse buildings of the Cooperative connected across the street via pipeline.
The town even has a small museum documenting the history of the Mennonites settling in the area. I can't help but love all the quaint red brick buildings.
Signing the guest book
The Cooperative also has a large supermarket in the town. It had a candy gazebo with all the Easter chocolates on display. Just wow.
During our visit with Konrad's dad, he even shot a little wild chicken - a quail of some sort.
And typical of the outdoor lifestyle, it was barbecued straight away (Sorry for the graphic content)
The cutest calves
Almost fitting in
Would love to be there when all these papayas ripen
Like I mentioned before - I couldn't keep myself from taking pictures of all the flowers
And this is how Konrad's cousin prepared the tilapia - that is, outdoors, over a charcoal fire in a wok-like pan (and a little more oil than I ended up using). The very warm temperatures make outdoor cooking very appealing. It doesn't heat up the house and you might catch the occasional breeze to cool down. Enjoy!!
30-Minute Sautéed Lemon Pepper Tilapia
Ingredients
- 1 pound Tilapia 4-5 fillets
- ¼ cup flour
- lemon pepper seasoning
- 2 tablespoons oil olive/avocado/oil etc.
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons parsley chopped
Instructions
- Rinse the Tilapia fillets under cold water and pat dry with paper towel. Place flour in a shallow bowl and flour the fillets from both sides. Shake off excess. Season fillets with lemon pepper from both sides.
- Heat a non-stick skillet over high heat, add 1 tablespoon oil and heat as well. Place half of Tilapia fillets in pan, turn heat down to medium and sauté for about 4 minutes on each side.
- Repeat with another tablespoon of oil and remaining fillets. Remove Tilapia from pan and cover to keep warm.
- Turn heat to high and add butter and lemon juice to the pan. Cook for 1-2 minutes for butter to turn golden and take on a nutty aroma. Whisk in parsley and remove from heat.
- Serve sautéed Tilapia with rice (or carb of choice) and drizzle each fillet with a little lemon-butter sauce.
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Chris
Came out delicious! Thank you!
Elaine Kowalske
each month we have a brothers' lunch and we meet from different parts of Michigan at Cheddar's in Lansing. I just love the the lemon pepper whitefish. I would love to know exactly how you cook it. I try cooking fish but it never comes out how I would expect to look but yours is fantastic. Can you tell me how you cook it and whether it is oil or butter or both.
David @ CookingChat
looks like a delicious version of tilapia! Sounds like a great trip, too.
Regina
Thanks so much David!
Jacquee @ I Sugar Coat It!
So before I get into the fish, let me just say that I have an empanada addiction! They are on my list to make, but in the meantime I get a steady supply from this little place in Kensington Market - THE BEST! OK, I love Tilapia, especially topped with mango salsa. This looks so inviting. Outdoor cooking is quite common in the islands, as well - the food somehow tastes better too...
Regina
Oh how I would love a place close by to feed me empanadas! And that mango salsa is definitely on my to-try list.
Faith @ Pixie Dust Kitchen
That tilapia looks fantastic! I love that you were able to learn how to make it at home. One of my favorite parts of vacation is remaking the delicious food at home! Pinning this to my dinner ideas board. 🙂
Regina
Thanks so much Faith. You are so right, this vacation was like food blogger inspiration heaven for me. I came home with so many ideas and can't wait to try them all.