Baked Tilapia with Spicy Mango Salsa

The summer is nearing an end (the first day of fall is today at 5:18 PM!), and where most people have begun to bring out their cozy sweaters and cute Fall loafers, I am currently wearing shorts and tomorrow I will wear sandals! Yup, I'm in denial! I don't want to believe that summer will come to an end and it is evident not only in my dress, but in my cooking as well. This lead me to create this tropical themed meal, of light and flaky tilapia, with a bright, juicy, and spicy mango salsa to accompany it. Just eating this meal made me feel like I was being transported to a beach, eating dinner under a beautiful sunset!

I used my basic tilapia marinade, altering it slightly to mimic the flavours of the salsa. The Mango Salsa recipe is an adaptation of a mango salsa recipe from The Joy of Cooking (my new favourite cookbook!!). The salsa is delicious combining the sweet flavour of the mango, with spicy jalapenos, and zesty shallots, making this dish stand out as something extra special! I paired the tilapia and salsa with steamed asparagus and a simple whole wheat couscous with dried cranberries to balance out the plate. This meal is truly a show stopper, perfect for your next dinner party!

Tip: Layer eat part of the meal on top of each other to create a beautiful presentation. Begin with the couscous, placing the tilapia on top allowing the couscous to peak out, then top with salsa and asparagus. Garnish with slices of fresh lime and parsley.

Tip: I always keep jarred jalapeno peppers in my fridge. They are great to have on hand to throw into recipes, and they keep for a long time. You may use fresh or jarred jalapeno peppers in this recipe.

Ingredients:

Spicy Mango Salsa

1 large ripe mango, peeled, pitted,

1 small (or 1/2 a large) red bell pepper

1 shallot, minced

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

1 garlic clove (minced or pureed)

2 tbsp orange juice

about 2 tbsp finely chopped jalapeno pepper

salt and pepper to taste

Lime Balsamic Tilapia

4 tilapia fillets

2 garlic cloves (minced)

1/2 cup fresh parsley (chopped)

1/2 lime (including zest)

3/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1 tbsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp black pepper

2 dashes Tabasco sauce

Directions:

Spicy Mango Salsa

1. Cut the mango and red bell pepper into a medium size dice. Set aside.

2. In a small bowl whisk together the minced shallot, lime juice, garlic, and orange juice. Set aside

3. In a large bowl, combine the mango, red pepper, parsley, and jalapeno. Pour the reserved juice, garlic, and shallot mixture on top and careful mix to combine.

4. Season with salt and pepper and place in fridge to chill while preparing tilapia.

Lime Balsamic Tilapia

1. Place parsley, lime zest, and garlic into a jar. Squeeze in lime juice

2. Add olive oil, balsamic vinegar, oregano, pepper, and Tabasco sauce. Tightly close jar with lid and shake well.

3. Salt and pepper both sides of the tilapia fillets and, in a shallow dish, pour the marinade over top. Marinate for 20-30 minutes.

4. Bake tilapia at 350º for 25-30 minutes. Serve with spicy mango salsa on top, pouring the juices from the salsa over the tilapia.