Au Gratin Tilapia Fillet: Delicious Recipe Made in a Glass Dish-Perfect for Special Moments

Hello, everyone! Welcome back to our cooking blog, where we share delicious recipes every week. Today, we’re preparing a Gratin Tilapia. So, grab your pen and paper to jot down the ingredients and let’s dive into this easy, step-by-step recipe that’s perfect for breakfast, appetizers or even to accompany fresh salads!

How to Make Au Gratin Tilapia Fillet

Gratinated Tilapia Fillet is a simple and special recipe, perfect for sharing meaningful moments with loved ones during Holy Week. You don’t need cooking classes or costly meal delivery services to prepare something delicious at home. With a bit of planning and our detailed meal prep guide, you can create amazing dishes with confidence and ease.

Recipe Ingredients:

1.75 lb tilapia fillets, fresh or frozen (28 oz / 800g)
1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese (5.3 oz / 150g)
3/4 cup cream cheese or Brazilian requeijão (7 oz / 200g)
Juice of ½ lemon
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
Black pepper, to taste
6 medium potatoes
1 tablespoon salt (for the potatoes) (0.6 oz / 18g)
5 tablespoons olive oil (2.5 fl oz / 75ml)
1 large onion, sliced into half-moons
½ green bell pepper, ½ yellow bell pepper, and ½ red bell pepper, sliced into half-moons
1 pouch tomato sauce (12 oz / 340g)
1 small bottle coconut milk (6.8 fl oz / 200ml)
1 teaspoon chimichurri seasoning
1 teaspoon hot paprika (or sweet/smoked, if preferred)
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Chopped fresh herbs (green onion, parsley, and cilantro)

Instructions:

Preparing the fish:
First, cut the tilapia fillets in half lengthwise. Then, in a glass baking dish, mix the lemon juice, crushed garlic, salt, and black pepper. After that, gently massage the fillets with the mixture, making sure they are well coated. Next, cover and refrigerate the fish to marinate for about 15 minutes.

Cooking the potatoes:
Then, peel the potatoes and place them in a pot with enough water to cover them. Add a level tablespoon of salt. After that, cook over medium heat until the potatoes are soft when pierced with a fork.

Searing the fish:
Next, heat a drizzle of olive oil in a skillet. Then, sear the tilapia fillets for about 1.5 minutes on each side. Be careful not to overcook them, as tilapia is a delicate fish.

Preparing the sauce:
After that, in the same skillet, sauté the onion for about 2 minutes. Then, add the chopped bell peppers and cook for another 2 minutes. Add the tomato sauce, coconut milk, salt, black pepper, chimichurri, and paprika. Stir well until combined. Then, add the creamy cheese spread and stir until melted into a smooth and creamy sauce. Finally, mix in the chopped parsley or cilantro.

Assembly and baking:
In a glass baking dish, spread a layer of the sauce. Next, place the cooked potatoes over the sauce. Then, lay the tilapia fillets on top of the potatoes. After that, pour the remaining sauce over the fish and sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
Lastly, bake in a preheated oven at 356 °F (180 °C) for about 22 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden.

Finishing:
To finish, sprinkle some more fresh herbs (parsley or cilantro) on top before serving.

Tip:
Feel free to adjust the recipe to your taste, using different seasonings or types of cheese. Baking time may vary depending on your oven.