Ginataang Tilapia

Method9 steps

1. 1

   Step 1: Score both sides of the 2 cleaned tilapia. Rub salt over the fish and into their cavities; use only enough to season them. Leave for 10 minutes in the refrigerator.

   Salt the tilapia · 10 minUses 2 whole tilapia, cleaned · Salt, enough to season both fish

2. 2

   Step 2: Heat enough frying oil in a pan to fry the fish. Carefully add the salted tilapia and fry the first side until golden, then turn and fry the other side until golden and cooked through, with the thickest flesh at 145 F (63 C) away from bone. Use a splatter screen if needed. Lift onto a rack and let excess oil drain.

   Uses Salted scored raw tilapia · Cooking oil, enough to fry both fish

3. 3

   Step 3: In a separate cooking pot, heat the 3 tbsp oil for sautéing the aromatics.

   Uses 3 tbsp cooking oil, for sautéing aromatics

4. 4

   Step 4: Sauté the chopped onion (1), crushed garlic (4 cloves) and ginger (1) strips in that oil until the onion softens and the aromatics smell fragrant.

   Uses Hot aromatic-sauté oil · 1 onion, chopped · 4 cloves garlic, crushed · 1 thumb-size piece ginger, cut into strips

5. 5

   Step 5: Pour the 2 cups coconut milk into the sautéed aromatics and bring to a boil. Cover and lower the heat to low-medium; simmer for 5 minutes.

   Simmer coconut sauce · 5 minUses Sautéed onion, garlic and ginger · 2 cups coconut milk

6. 6

   Step 6: Add the 2 Thai chilies and drained fried tilapia to the coconut sauce. Cover and simmer gently for 12 minutes, keeping the fish intact. If the sauce evaporates too quickly, add water as needed from the optional 1/2 cup allowance.

   Simmer fried tilapia · 12 minUses Coconut sauce with aromatics · 2 Thai chili peppers · Drained fried whole tilapia · 1/2 cup water, only if coconut sauce needs it

7. 7

   Step 7: Add the 2 long green peppers, 2 tbsp fish sauce and 1/4 tsp ground black pepper. Stir the sauce gently around the fish and simmer for 3 minutes.

   Cook peppers and seasonings · 3 minUses Tilapia and Thai chilies in coconut sauce · 2 long green peppers · 2 tbsp fish sauce · 1/4 tsp ground black pepper

8. 8

   Step 8: Add the 2 cups fresh spinach, cover and simmer for 1 minute, until wilted.

   Wilt spinach · 1 minUses Seasoned coconut tilapia with peppers · 2 cups fresh spinach

9. 9

   Step 9: Transfer the tilapia, vegetables and coconut sauce to a serving plate and share among three people. Remove the fish bones as you eat.

   Uses Finished ginataang tilapia