Matt and I had the most delicious dinner last night: Almond Encrusted Tilapia with Black Bean Olive Salsa!
I wish I had some better pictures because it was seriously the best thing I’ve eaten in ages, but alas it was dark outside and indoor lighting is not my friend for photography. Oh, well. Guess I’ll just have to make it again! ;)
This dinner was particularly exciting because I have a confession: I have been SUPER lazy about cooking dinner lately. And by lately I mean the past few months. At first I think it was just the heat of summer meaning I didn’t want to turn on the stove (plus I had a ton of leftovers usually from cooking all day at my dietetic internship), but now that the weather has gotten cooler I think it’s just become habit (combined with the fact that I’ve been really busy with school work). I mean, scrambled eggs, salads, and sandwiches for dinner are all well and good, but not every night of the week.
I decided yesterday that it was time to man up and stop being lazy. I don’t have to cook something extravagant every night of the week, especially when Matt’s not around (cooking for one is just not as fun as for two), but it’s time to remind myself that cooking can be fun and a nice stress relief, too! I especially love cooking with music on. :)
Matt was arriving back from DC around 7:30 last night, so I told him to get pumped because a delicious dinner would be awaiting him.
I decided to make one of my absolute favorites — Almond Encrusted Tilapia (click to see the recipe). I followed the recipe exactly, except that I didn’t use the optional butter (we’re out and it’s just as good with only olive oil).
At restaurants, I always love when fish is paired with some sort of creative salsa, so I decided to make something along those lines to go with the tilapia.
To make the salsa, I mixed together:
- Half a can of drained pitted ripe olives, chopped
- About 1/4 a jar of salsa (that’s the salsa we made and canned ourselves this summer!)
- Half a can of black beans, drained/rinsed (in the baggie — leftovers!)
It was seriously AMAZING on top of the fish. I loved the mix of the salsa with the crunchy toasted slivered almonds. Major yum.
We also had some broccoli on the side for good measure. :) Please make this dinner. You won’t regret it! And if you’re not a seafood fan — I bet this salsa would be really good on top of a similarly prepared almond encrusted chicken breast or even tofu!
Has anyone else been lazy about cooking lately? We can motivate each other to get back on the cooking bandwagon! I’m thinking the cooler weather will really help — I’m excited to start making soups and chili again!
I started a new job last month and I have less time so I’m finding it hard to get creative with dinner during the week. I try to make up for it at the weekend!
WOW. This looks delicious! The salsa, almond, and black bean combination sounds great! Do you buy your fish fresh or frozen?
I bought these fresh, but frozen would work too as long as you thaw in the fridge for awhile before cooking!
Yum! Sounds like a great combo :)
Love tilapia; this looks terrific! Thx for sharing…
The recipe looks great! I bet it would be equally delicious with a fruit salsa and maybe some unsweetened coconut added with the almond coating!
Have cooked lots of seafood lately since it takes only a few minutes to prepare. I did get in a cooking mode one day and made a butternut squash risotto (with lobster tails, shrimp and spinach)…used half for 2 dinners/2 lunches and froze half for future lunches! I’m going to have to get on the bulk cooking wagon this weekend as I’ll be working in Raleigh two days a week starting Wednesday. I’ll be preparing a lot of food this weekend so I can avoid the draw of eating out when I’m not home! Big fan of the slow cooker and baked casseroles (herbed brown rice and lentils = amazing)!
I have been horrible about cooking recently. I think about making dinner during the day at work but then when I get home I get lazy and end up having a bagel, or frozen pizza or something. Definitely need to get in the habit of cooking real meals again.
I’ve definitely been lazy about cooking lately. I usually assemble – rather than cook real meals. Some greens, some grains, maybe something else and I call it dinner but it would be great to have something with real flavor. The only meal I spend much time on is breakfast! Thanks for the inspiration!
I have ONLY wanted to bake lately. I don’t know what my problem is!!
I’ve been really bad about cooking dinner, too – but, I made an awesome crock pot French onion soup on Wednesday, so easy and I got to eat dinner when I got home at 7 instead of 8 or 830 as usual. I almost never use my crock pot but I think I have to find some recipes for it now!
Looks great ANNE. My husband and I took 4 of our 8 grand children to the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Ga. yesterday and today, (just got back) and we had Encrusted Tilapia at our hotel and it was delicious. Didn’t think of putting salsa on it, but I will certainly try it next time.
P.S. Our Tilapia was encrusted with pecans. Perry and Warner Robbins pecan capital of the world they claim.
Mmm this looks really good, I’ve been quite good about cooking dinners lately, it’s one of my October goals! I like to plan what I’m having in the week and then go shopping for the ingredients at the weekend because then I know I have to use them or they’ll go off and I can’t afford that :-P
I’m excited about making and eating colder weather comfort food :-)
Tilapia is not a fish I have come across in the main supermarkets in the UK, what would you substitute it with? thanks.
Any mild white fish would work just fine! For example: cod, bass, grouper, haddock, catfish, snapper, etc!