Cajun Fish and Savory Cheese Grits

Method21 steps · about 30 min

1. 1

   Step 1: Pat the two thawed tilapia fillets dry and brush both sides lightly with olive oil.

   Uses 2 tilapia fillets (thawed) · Olive oil

2. 2

   Step 2: Rub the fish with 2 crushed garlic cloves and season with salt to taste.

   Uses oiled tilapia · 2 cloves garlic · salt

3. 3

   Step 3: Season both sides with Cajun seasoning, Old Bay, parsley and black pepper to taste.

   Uses garlic-seasoned tilapia · Cajun seasoning · Old bay seasoning · Parsley · Black pepper

4. 4

   Step 4: Melt enough of the fish-pan butter to lightly coat a hot skillet; the source does not give a measured amount.

   Uses Butter for the fish pan (quantity unspecified)

5. 5

   Step 5: Add the fish and cook for about 5–7 minutes on the first side, then flip and cook for another 2–3 minutes, adjusting for thickness.

   Cook fish, both sides · 10 minUses seasoned tilapia · melted fish-pan butter

6. 6

   Step 6: If desired, sprinkle the cooking fish with onion powder and oregano.

   Uses cooking tilapia · Onion powder (optional) · Oregano (optional)

7. 7

   Step 7: Place a thin slice of finishing butter on each fillet and let it melt as the fish finishes cooking.

   Uses seasoned cooking fish · Thin slices of butter for finishing the fish (quantity unspecified)

8. 8

   Step 8: Finish cooking until the flesh is opaque and flakes readily, and the thickest part reaches 145°F / 63°C.

   Uses butter-finished tilapia

9. 9

   Step 9: Transfer the cooked fish to a plate and cover loosely with foil while you finish the grits.

   Uses fully cooked tilapia

10. 10

    Step 10: For the grits, combine 1 cup chicken broth, 1 cup water and ½ cup half-and-half in a saucepan.

    Uses 1 cup chicken broth · 1 cup water · ½ cup half-and-half

11. 11

    Step 11: Bring the prepared grits cooking liquid to a boil.

    Uses grits cooking liquid

12. 12

    Step 12: Slowly whisk in ½ cup five-minute quick grits.

    Uses boiling grits cooking liquid · 1/2 cup grits (5-minute Quick Cooking Grits)

13. 13

    Step 13: Reduce the heat to low.

    Uses grits in cooking liquid

14. 14

    Step 14: Cover and simmer for about 10–15 minutes, stirring frequently, until the grits are tender and creamy.

    Simmer grits · 15 minUses low-heat grits mixture

15. 15

    Step 15: Stir the tender grits thoroughly, scraping the bottom of the saucepan.

    Uses tender cooked grits

16. 16

    Step 16: Remove from the heat and stir in the grits’ separate 1–2 tbsp butter.

    Uses stirred cooked grits · 1-2 Tablespoons butter

17. 17

    Step 17: Stir in ⅛ tsp each paprika, onion powder (1/8 teaspoon) and garlic powder (1/8 teaspoon), plus ¼ tsp white pepper.

    Uses buttered grits · 1/8 teaspoon paprika · 1/8 teaspoon onion powder · 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder · 1/4 teaspoon white pepper

18. 18

    Step 18: Stir in ½ cup shredded cheddar until melted.

    Uses spiced grits · 1/2 cup cheddar cheese

19. 19

    Step 19: Season the grits with salt to taste.

    Uses cheesy grits · salt to taste

20. 20

    Step 20: Stir in the source’s two dashes of hot sauce. If the grits are too thick, stir in a little extra hot water to loosen them.

    Uses salt-seasoned cheesy grits · 2 dashes hot sauce for grits (volume unspecified) · Extra water to thin the cooked grits, if needed (quantity unspecified)

21. 21

    Step 21: Serve the cooked tilapia with the finished savory cheese grits.

    Uses prepared cooked tilapia · finished savory cheese grits