Tilapia --- a whitefish --- is used in a wide range of dishes and is relatively low cost, compared to other whitefish. Crab stuffed tilapia is a maritime favorite, especially around Chesapeake Bay. When paired with crab, the sweet, mild flavor of the tilapia enhances the crab, while its firmness provides contrast to the crab stuffing.
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Mince the onions and celery and add them to a saute pan with a stick of unsalted butter; if you've chosen to use fresh jalapeno, mince it and add it to this mix. Cook until tender.
3. Add parsley to the saute pan and remove it from the heat. Mix in the breadcrumbs, crab meat, artichoke dip and cayenne pepper with a large fork.
4. Spray the baking dish with cooking spray or grease it with shortening.
5. Lay four tilapia fillets in the baking dish leaving space between each.
6. Cover the fillets with the crab stuffing mixture.
7. Sandwich the stuffing between two tilapia fillets by laying a second tilapia fillet on top of the first.
8. Fill in the areas between the fillets with any left over stuffing.
9. Drizzel the tops of the tilapia with extra virgin olive oil.
10. Sprinkle the tops of the fillets with lemon juice and paprika.
11. Bake the crab stuffed tilapia for 25 minutes.
12. Remove the tilapia from the baking dish and cut each in half, creating eight equal portions.
13. Serve with a dollop of the extra stuffing on the side.
Tags: baking dish, fillets with, crab stuffing, tilapia fillets, with crab
