Baked tilapia and veggie foil packets

So even though I typically buy the “same old stuff” when I purchase groceries, I’m always trying to find and think up new ways to make them so it’s not always boring. One of my favorite foods to cook with is tilapia. There are so many different ways to make it! Sautéed, baked, roasted, fried…I have dozens of favorite ways to prepare it. But a few weeks back I discovered a new way, it was quick, easy, fun and my daughter enjoyed helping. Every member of my family loved it, from the baby to the oldest and the husband. SCORE! Family friendly, and the bonus is easy clean up! Even better!

• one pound tilapia, thawed if frozen
• one sheet aluminum foil per tilapia piece
• extra virgin olive oil
• seafood or cajun seasoning
• lemon pepper
• garlic salt
• paprika
• cumin
• dried oregano
• dried parsley
• butter or margarine
• 2-3 lemons
• 1-2 heads of broccoli
• 1 medium onion
• 1/2 large red bell pepper

Directions:

Start by cutting up the veggies. You don’t want them chopped too big, they won’t cook through properly. If they’re too small they may shrivel up and burn. Cut up your onion, then the bell pepper, then trim just the top broccoli florets off the heads, leaving the stems aside. I divide the veggies evenly into 5-7 bowls depending how many tilapia filets I have.

Thaw out tilapia, pat to dry. Lay out your pieces of aluminum foil. You want them big enough to fit the brocolli and veggies into them, and once folded they have a little room inside for the heat to circulate.

Pour about 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil into your aluminum foil, then put your tilapia filet and roll it into the oil as shown in the pic.

Then you want to start seasoning both sides of your filet. I don’t have precise measuring on this, but I do have a heavy seasoning hand. You can gauge how much seasoning you want, but be careful not to overseason with the garlic salt or creole seasoning.  You don’t want the fish too salty!

Next, I cut up about 2 lemons into slices, and with the third lemon I squeeze a little over the top of the filet.

Then I place 2 of the lemon slices on top of the filet, and then add a few small dabs of butter or margarine.

Last step is to add one of the divided bowls of veggies on top of the filet.

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and start wrapping your foil bringing up the short sides first. Make sure it’s wrapped well enough to not allow air in, or let moisture out. Then bring up the long sides and fold them over twice to create a pocket.

Throw all your folded foil packets onto a cookie or baking sheet and bake in the oven for about 20 minutes.

Once done, open the packets pretty quickly, as it will still cook if you leave them folded up.

Carefully scoop out the fish filets and veggies onto your plate and serve.

I usually separate the veggies and fish and serve side by side, it’s great with steamed rice and I reserve most of the liquid and drizzle it over the fish and veggies on the plate. Delish!