Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Tilapia Piccata

A couple of years ago I ordered this in a restaurant and instantly loved it, and ever since then I've been making it at home. I still love the classic chicken piccata, but piccata done with fish is high on my list of favorites! Not only does it taste delicious with that tangy lemon butter sauce, you can have it on your table in 20 minutes!! Great for midweek, and just as good for a special dinner party.

In a saute pan heat some butter and olive oil. Dredge your fish in some flour seasoned with salt and pepper. Nicely brown both sides of your fish, I prefer tilapia in this, I think it holds up really well and I like the "non fishy" taste.

Gently remove your fish, deglaze your pan with some white wine scraping up the brown bits. Squeeze a half of a juicy lemon in, more if you like, a nice splash of chicken stock, a couple tablespoons of capers, and a little more butter. After it reduces a while, put your fish back in along with some sliced lemons and fresh parsley. Cook a couple minutes more just till the fish is done, and the all the flavors blend together.


A couple of months ago I bought this hand held julienne peeler and put it in my kitchen drawer and forgot about it. I just saw it the other day when I was making this fish and decided to give it a try, much to my surprise I love it, my new favorite toy!! So easy to use, and the blade is nice and sharp, does the same thing as a mandoline would do, and it's very inexpensive! I would highly recommend it to anyone. The one I have is an Oxo Good Grips.


I quickly sauteed the carrots and zucchini in olive oil and garlic, it literally took seconds till they wilted slightly and then they were done. A great side dish to go along with the fish!!
Can't wait to try my new little gadget on potatoes next!
Buon Appetito!!

54 comments:

Nina Timm said...

A lovely meal! The fish is moist and I can the imagine that the veggies were still crunchy!

Elra said...

Too bad that my husband and my son don't like tilapia. I think I will use salmon for this recipe. Delicious.

New gadget seem fun to use.
Cheers,
Elra

LaDue & Crew said...

Looks spectacular! I never thought to do that with fish! I have that same gadget and you're right, it is wonderful- so easy to use, and pop in the dishwasher when done!

The Italian Dish said...

What a great idea! I love piccata dishes and I make tilapia pretty regularly - great combination! Your photos are beautiful.

Ciao Chow Linda said...

I love that recipe and use a similar one many times when I make tilapia, or chicken. The little veggie stripper looks like a lot of fun to use and the results are great.

Happy cook said...

I made chicken piccata and love it, never thought of making them with fish.
I am sure going to make them with fishtoo now.

Navita said...

oh i love ur toy!...n the fish looks delish :)

Bellini Valli said...

Love the peeler, love the dish. This is such a wonderful idea:D

wosnes said...

That sounds wonderful to me. I've not been cooking fish enough this winter.

The new toy looks great, too!

Sally

Psychgrad said...

Oh yum. I can just imagine how good this would smell. Thank you for the excellent recipe to add to my repetoire.

Maria said...

I love tilapia, it is a great fish! And I love the colorful veggies, what a great side!

Michele said...

Both of those dishes are beautiful! I love all the colors! That new toy looks so cool! I cried and cried that I wanted a mandoline and now that I finally got one...i never use it. It's a pain in the neck!

Ben said...

Very nice, I also like the non fishy taste of tilapia and I bet preparing it like this is just a feast.

Rowena said...

With Lent coming up, you are one step ahead of the game Marie! I'll keep this dish in mind for fishy Fridays -- not that we are practicing catholics (sshhh, don't tell my suocera!), but fish is good to have other than red meat all the time.

I think I better have that florentine steak before it's too late!

Sandi said...

This is one of my favorite ways to cook Tilapia. And I'm excited about the new tool! I don't want to spend money on a mandoline and don't want to have to find a place to store it. I'll be buying one of these puppies this week!

Cathy said...

This looks incredible, Marie! I have resolved to try to cook more fish this year. I love it, but usually only order it in restaurants because I'm afraid to cook it at home. You make this look easy, and I know that I like the non-fishy taste of tilapia!!

Mila said...

I love Tilapia cooked this way! It's one of my personal favorites as well! Always an impressive dinner for friends! Those julienne look so elegant, you would think you're dining at a French Bistro!

Foodie with Little Thyme! said...

Lent is on it's way. I'll be sure to give this a try on one of non-fish-fry-fridays.

CaptnRachel aka Tha Pizza Cutta said...

I LOVE tilapia and am always looking for new ways to prepare it. The piccata flavors are perfect for that fish. BRAVA! Yet another one of your dishes I will be trying, :)

The Food Hunter said...

The fish looks really good and I love that peeler. I have to get myself one of those.

Aggie said...

Wow, you read my mind!! I was thinking of cooking fish tonight and a while back made grouper piccata...I was trying to think what other fish would be good like that. This looks so great!! and I just bought a mandoline today and can't wait to make my veggies look like that!! So colorful and yummy!!

Lucy said...

A fantastic dish w/all the right flavors, Yum!!

I have a Pampered Chefs tool just like that, you'll come to love ;-)

Paula said...

Oh my gosh, what a great idea! Chicken piccata is my favorite chicken pasta dish, so you know I'll love this. I purchased one of those peelers recently, but haven't tried it yet. Now I know what to make with it! :-)

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I love tilapia ...it's such a nice mild fish and it absorbs flavors so well so this must have tasted incredibly good.

That is a nice gadget! It made the vegetables look like you spent hours slicing them. I have to buy one!

Stacey Snacks said...

Marie,
I make this with flounder or sole. It's always good.
Read about the potato/carrot peeler salesman from the Union Square Market on Serious Eats.....it's a lovely article.
Your peeler reminded me of him.

http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2009/02/video-legendary-nyc-vegetable-peeler-guy-salesman-joe-ades-dies.html

Michelle said...

You've really hit the bigtime with this one, Marie. This is just the type of food my family loves, so I'm definitely looking forward to making this as a special meal once we get settled into our new place.
Thanks!

A Feast for the Eyes said...

Made it tonight. Loved it! Fast and easy.

Thanks for the inspiration.

Peter M said...

Marie, a flat fish fillet is a natural for a piccata dish...as seafood loves citrus.

casalba said...

This looks delicious and your julienne gadget is on my wish list.

Knitting Mania said...

Love Tilapia any which way. Any this way looks very yummy! Love the lemon butter sauce. Mmmmmm

Karen said...

Uh-oh, a gadget I don't have yet! Must get one! LOL I love chicken picatta too and the lemony sauce would be just right with fish.

Cathy said...

Love the gadget and the pretty julienne slices it produces. Lemon, butter and capers make such a delicious sauce.

This looks wonderful, Marie.

Kevin said...

Chicken piccata is one of my favorites and I really like the sound of a fish version.

Mary Coleman said...

This is fabulous. What a great idea. I usually don't do tilapia, because, well, I'm not sure why not, but this is inspirational. Can't wait to try it! And I'm loving your new gadget too.

glamah16 said...

I imagine Piccata with fish is way more mure intewresting than Pizza. Looks wonderful and healthy.

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

I love this fish and the recipe is soooo simple. Great gadget your veg looks great !!

erynchandler said...

oh my goodness this recipe looks so spectacula. and your photos are so colorful and zesty looking!!!

my husband and i have tilapia at home and needed a recipe for tonight!

a huge thanks! ciao ciao!

Lanxi said...

Made this last night and it was a hit with everyone - even the baby and the 7 year old! I love to cook and try new things, but for those intimidated by new recipes - don't be with this one. It is a keeper and easy enough for a novice.

Have to get me a new julienne tool. My last one was cheap-o and it broke before I could enjoy it.

Laurie said...

This dish looks so creamy and good Marie! I prefer fish to chicken myself. Unless the chicken is thin and pounded really really flat. This looks perfect!

And I need to get me one of those gadgets.. I love it!

a woman who is said...

Both the recipe and the gadget look wonderful.

Lori Lynn said...

That is a neat gadget Marie. Your piccata looks fabulous, I rarely cook tilapia, I mostly use petrale sole, but I think I will give that tilapia a try next time. Love the colorful veggies too.
LL

katie said...

Marie, those look wonderful! I have been looking for a way to add some fish to the menu and tilapia is such a nice fish. Your veggies are always done so creatively, we always have the same steamed broccoli at every meal. I bet the kids would eat this though-veggie noodles!

Linda Lou said...

I love tilapia...I make barbecued fish tacos with them, a little black beans on the side and guacamole, corn tortillas and a few margaritas!

Bren said...

I love tilapia for that reason; it's such a freakin' easy fish to prepare. and not to mention the different ways it can be made... nice looking fish!

sunita said...

What a wonderful recipe, we adore tilapia... thanks for sharing Marie :-)

jesse said...

That looks good enough to be served at a restaurant! Two thumbs up from me!

iamjaytee said...

you are my new hero! That tilapia looks delish! I am from Chicago area too, have you ever had the tilapia at Francescas? I have always wanted to recreate something similar! I cant wait to make this!! My new favorite blog!!

Dee said...

The Tilapia looks great, but really I'm lusting after your julienne peel. I'm going hunting for this as soon as I can.

Jen of A2eatwrite said...

I used to have this with veal growing up, and I started making it with tilapia years ago... it is, indeed, a total winner. And tilapia is perfect for it!

Halla said...

I tried this yesterday but didn't have white wine but red and it was delicious!! can't believe how simple..

Millie said...

I got one of those julienne peelers you talked about and I just love it. I can't believe I've lived without!

Jeanne said...

You had me at hello... I had veal piccata in Italy as a teenager and it was a life-changing experience. I have never tried it with fish, but now I plan to! Also love the Good Grips vegetable Julienne tool - a gadget that actually works! Who knew!

Lisa said...

Tagging to Delicious right away! I love the piccata preparation but never thought of this. I must try it soon, as I don't do enough with fish.

I have one of those gadgets languishing in a drawer; your veggies there have inspired me also. Thanks!

Vanessa said...

Wow!! delicious dish.... I love tilapia, I was searching the recipe, at last I got it. All pictures are looking good. Thank u for posting it.