Okay, so no idea if they even make tilapia in India…but I have SO many spices from an Indian market that I’ve been cooking with them a lot lately. Tilapia is a very mild fish, so it is a great protein to use with spice rubs. In this particular rub you have garam masala, which provides depth with hints of warm cinnamon and a peppery zing. Then there is turmeric, which I use mainly for color, but also for some warm earthiness. The combination of cumin and garlic gives you subtle smoky amazing-ness that you definitely shouldn’t omit. Cayenne pepper gives you a feisty little punch right at the end, but the sugar balances everything out so you’re not overwhelmed.
This recipe is light and simple! Get this – all you do is sprinkle the mixture onto the tilapia and bake. Super easy, right? Don’t be scared of the spices, the taste is subtle (not to mention a great way to ease yourself into Indian flavors). Lately we’ve been getting huge tilapia filets, but if your fish is a little smaller, you will need to decrease the baking time. Enjoy!
4 large tilapia filets (we used 1.8 lbs for all 4)
1 teaspoon garam masala
1 teaspoon turmeric
½ teaspoon coriander powder
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Oil (for drizzling before baking)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Combine all the spices in a bowl. Rub onto the tilapia filets, 1+teaspoon of the spice mixture per filet. Put filets on a greased baking sheet. Lightly drizzle with oil. Insert into the oven and bake for 20-23 minutes, or until done.
Serve and enjoy!
