Thread: Grilled tilapia

On Sun, 09 Sep 2012 20:35:37 -0400, [email protected] wrote:

>I want to try grilling some tilapia. My main question is, do I need to go out
>and buy a basket or will it hold up to being turned with a spatula on the grill.
>I use a gas grill.
>
>And if anyone who grills tilapia has any good recipes, I'd appreciate it.
>Thanks.

Most fish doesn't like being turned on a grill. I'd make a different
plan for the tilapia.
Janet US

On Sunday, September 9, 2012 8:39:18 PM UTC-5, Janet Bostwick wrote:
> On Sun, 09 Sep 2012 20:35:37 -0400, [email protected] wrote:
>
>
>
> >I want to try grilling some tilapia. My main question is, do I need to go out
>
> >and buy a basket or will it hold up to being turned with a spatula on the grill.
>
> >I use a gas grill.
>
> >
>
> >And if anyone who grills tilapia has any good recipes, I'd appreciate it..
>
> >Thanks.
>
>
>
> Most fish doesn't like being turned on a grill. I'd make a different
>
> plan for the tilapia.


Me too. Apply S&P to both sides, then dredge in corn meal. I shake in a bag. Fry it in a good, neutral oil, and serve with lemons and/or limes. We'd have that about twice a week if it were just my wife and I, but my son isn't very fond of fish. He pretty much always ends up eating some, even though we never make him put anything onto his plate that he doesn't want to.My rule is, you put it on your plate, you are responsible for eating it. He is never required to eat any food he dislikes, but may have to settle for a self-made PBJ if he doesn't like my dinner choice. None of us really eat as much green veggies as ideal, but otherwise, he gets good nutrition, and I have zero desire to compel another sentient person to put anything into his/her mouth unless it's for medical reasons, but I digress. He is never pressured to eat the tilapia, but he almost always does so. The only thing I can think of is that the smell of the raw fish is off-putting, but bythe time it's done, that smell has been completely replaced by the smell of cooked fish, fried corn meal and cut lemons.

I swear, other than lady parts and a few select fruits, I can think of nothing I'd rather put in my mouth than fried fish with liberal amounts of fresh lemon juice. I like it better than beef or chicken wings, and that's saying a lot.
>
> Janet US

--Bryan

On 9/9/2012 9:39 PM, Janet Bostwick wrote:
> On Sun, 09 Sep 2012 20:35:37 -0400, [email protected] wrote:
>
>> I want to try grilling some tilapia. My main question is, do I need to go out
>> and buy a basket or will it hold up to being turned with a spatula on the grill.
>> I use a gas grill.
>>
>> And if anyone who grills tilapia has any good recipes, I'd appreciate it.
>> Thanks.
>
> Most fish doesn't like being turned on a grill. I'd make a different
> plan for the tilapia.
> Janet US
>
I can't say that I've ever grilled tilapia (rather a tasteless fish,
IMHO) but you can buy holders for fish that allow you to turn it on
grill without damaging the thing. Try looking for "fish grilling
basket"; they cost $25 or so.

--
Jim Silverton (Potomac, MD)

Extraneous "not" in Reply To.

On Sun, 09 Sep 2012 22:28:57 -0400, James Silverton
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On 9/9/2012 9:39 PM, Janet Bostwick wrote:
>> On Sun, 09 Sep 2012 20:35:37 -0400, [email protected] wrote:
>>
>>> I want to try grilling some tilapia. My main question is, do I need to go out
>>> and buy a basket or will it hold up to being turned with a spatula on the grill.
>>> I use a gas grill.
>>>
>>> And if anyone who grills tilapia has any good recipes, I'd appreciate it.
>>> Thanks.
>>
>> Most fish doesn't like being turned on a grill. I'd make a different
>> plan for the tilapia.
>> Janet US
>>
>I can't say that I've ever grilled tilapia (rather a tasteless fish,
>IMHO) but you can buy holders for fish that allow you to turn it on
>grill without damaging the thing. Try looking for "fish grilling
>basket"; they cost $25 or so.

A whole tilapia fish might work in one of those baskets, but I'm
thinking that a filet is so tender and light tasting that grilling
will overwhelm it. Fish for grilling are those fish with a strong
personality of their own -- salmon, swordfish, halibut, etc. Fish
with strong bodies and fatty meat.
Janet US

On Sun, 09 Sep 2012 20:35:37 -0400, [email protected] wrote:

> I want to try grilling some tilapia. My main question is, do I need to go out
> and buy a basket or will it hold up to being turned with a spatula on the grill.
> I use a gas grill.
>
> And if anyone who grills tilapia has any good recipes, I'd appreciate it.
> Thanks.

Outdoor grill? Use a basket... even a hamburger basket will do to
facilitate flipping the fish, otherwise you'll have to put in on some
foil but IMO that negates why you're grilling. Have you ever made
fish tacos? Use your grilled tilapia. Make Veracruz sauce to serve
over the fish.
http://mexicanfood.about.com/od/supe...acruzsauce.htm

These recipes actually specify grilling tilapia
http://28cooks.blogspot.com/2009/08/...iki-sauce.html
http://bbq.about.com/od/fishseafoodr...r/bl51028b.htm
http://bbq.about.com/od/fishseafoodr...r/bl30907a.htm
http://bbq.about.com/od/fishseafoodr...r/bl60319b.htm

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

<[email protected]> wrote:
> I want to try grilling some tilapia. My main question is, do I need to go out
> and buy a basket or will it hold up to being turned with a spatula on the grill.
> I use a gas grill.
>
> And if anyone who grills tilapia has any good recipes, I'd appreciate it.
> Thanks.

I have a folding grilling gizmo I never tried yet. It holds everything
together. You can easily flip, even rotisserie. Mine was dirt cheap.

Greg

wrote in message news:[email protected]..

I want to try grilling some tilapia. My main question is, do I need to go
out
and buy a basket or will it hold up to being turned with a spatula on the
grill.
I use a gas grill.

And if anyone who grills tilapia has any good recipes, I'd appreciate it.
Thanks.


Get some heavy duty aluminium foil and poke holes in it. (You can also find
foil "grill pans" at most any grocery store.) Spray the surface with some
cooking spray before grilling the fish. If it falls apart when you turn it
at least you won't lose half of it through the grate.

Jill

"Janet Bostwick" wrote in message
news:[email protected]..

On Sun, 09 Sep 2012 22:28:57 -0400, James Silverton
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On 9/9/2012 9:39 PM, Janet Bostwick wrote:
>> On Sun, 09 Sep 2012 20:35:37 -0400, [email protected] wrote:
>>
>>> I want to try grilling some tilapia. My main question is, do I need to
>>> go out
>>> and buy a basket or will it hold up to being turned with a spatula on
>>> the grill.
>>> I use a gas grill.
>>>
>>> And if anyone who grills tilapia has any good recipes, I'd appreciate
>>> it.
>>> Thanks.
>>
>> Most fish doesn't like being turned on a grill. I'd make a different
>> plan for the tilapia.
>> Janet US
>>
>I can't say that I've ever grilled tilapia (rather a tasteless fish,
>IMHO) but you can buy holders for fish that allow you to turn it on
>grill without damaging the thing. Try looking for "fish grilling
>basket"; they cost $25 or so.

A whole tilapia fish might work in one of those baskets, but I'm
thinking that a filet is so tender and light tasting that grilling
will overwhelm it. Fish for grilling are those fish with a strong
personality of their own -- salmon, swordfish, halibut, etc. Fish
with strong bodies and fatty meat.
Janet US


I agree with that, Janet. Grilling requires a more sturdy fish. Preferably
cut into "steaks", not fillets.

Jill

"James Silverton" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:k2jj99$90e$[email protected]..
> On 9/9/2012 9:39 PM, Janet Bostwick wrote:
>> On Sun, 09 Sep 2012 20:35:37 -0400, [email protected] wrote:
>>
>>> I want to try grilling some tilapia. My main question is, do I need to
>>> go out
>>> and buy a basket or will it hold up to being turned with a spatula on
>>> the grill.
>>> I use a gas grill.
>>>
>>> And if anyone who grills tilapia has any good recipes, I'd appreciate
>>> it.
>>> Thanks.
>>
>> Most fish doesn't like being turned on a grill. I'd make a different
>> plan for the tilapia.
>> Janet US
>>
> I can't say that I've ever grilled tilapia (rather a tasteless fish, IMHO)
> but you can buy holders for fish that allow you to turn it on grill
> without damaging the thing. Try looking for "fish grilling basket"; they
> cost $25 or so.

I think Tilapia is just plain nasty tasting. Wouldn't eat it cooked any way.

Cheri

On 9/9/2012 7:45 PM, Cheri wrote:
> I think Tilapia is just plain nasty tasting. Wouldn't eat it cooked any
> way.
>
> Cheri

Most people raised in Hawaii think they're nasty and repulsive, and
that's just the outside of the fish. I you had told me that people would
be eating those critters 5 years ago, I would have thought you were out
of your gourd.

On Mon, 10 Sep 2012 01:32:13 -0400, "jmcquown" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>
> wrote in message news:[email protected]..
>
> I want to try grilling some tilapia. My main question is, do I need to go
> out
> and buy a basket or will it hold up to being turned with a spatula on the
> grill.
> I use a gas grill.
>
> And if anyone who grills tilapia has any good recipes, I'd appreciate it.
> Thanks.
>
>
> Get some heavy duty aluminium foil and poke holes in it. (You can also find
> foil "grill pans" at most any grocery store.) Spray the surface with some
> cooking spray before grilling the fish. If it falls apart when you turn it
> at least you won't lose half of it through the grate.
>
> Jill

He's using a gas grill so if he's going to grill it on foil, there's
no point whatsoever in grilling it.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On Sun, 09 Sep 2012 20:35:37 -0400, [email protected] wrote:

>I want to try grilling some tilapia. My main question is, do I need to go out
>and buy a basket or will it hold up to being turned with a spatula on the grill.
>I use a gas grill.
>
>And if anyone who grills tilapia has any good recipes, I'd appreciate it.

When grilling delicate fish either leave the skin on or use the time
honored method, wrap it in leaves... any Hispanic/Asian market sells
packages of banana leaves in their refrigerated case, or use any
lettuce leaves, even collards. If your neighbor has a grape vine
steal some leaves. Those grilling baskets are a pain to clean, leaves
go in the composter.

On Sun, 09 Sep 2012 22:28:57 -0400, James Silverton
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On 9/9/2012 9:39 PM, Janet Bostwick wrote:
>> On Sun, 09 Sep 2012 20:35:37 -0400, [email protected] wrote:
>>
>>> I want to try grilling some tilapia. My main question is, do I need to go out
>>> and buy a basket or will it hold up to being turned with a spatula on the grill.
>>> I use a gas grill.
>>>
>>> And if anyone who grills tilapia has any good recipes, I'd appreciate it.
>>> Thanks.
>>
>> Most fish doesn't like being turned on a grill. I'd make a different
>> plan for the tilapia.
>> Janet US
>>
>I can't say that I've ever grilled tilapia (rather a tasteless fish,
>IMHO) but you can buy holders for fish that allow you to turn it on
>grill without damaging the thing. Try looking for "fish grilling
>basket"; they cost $25 or so.

The large outter leaves from a head of iceberg cost nothing, most
folks toss em in the trash.

Reading this thread I'm utterly amazed at how many never used a grill
for more than tube steak.

[email protected] wrote:
>
> I want to try grilling some tilapia. My main question is, do I need to go out
> and buy a basket or will it hold up to being turned with a spatula on the grill.
> I use a gas grill.
>
> And if anyone who grills tilapia has any good recipes, I'd appreciate it.
> Thanks.

Tilapia is a bland fish and takes well to added flavors. For this fish, I
would do my old favorite:

Fillet it, leaving skin on
Put those on a cookie sheet (with foil)
spread a tiny amount of mayo on them...it will melt on the fish
sprinkle with very tiny minced onions
squeeze a little lemon juice over them

Put under broiler until the fillets are opaque and the onions brown.

You'll like this. It works well with many varieties of smallish fish.

G.

[email protected] wrote:

> I want to try grilling some tilapia. My main question is, do I need
> to go out and buy a basket or will it hold up to being turned with a
> spatula on the grill. I use a gas grill.
>
> And if anyone who grills tilapia has any good recipes, I'd appreciate
> it. Thanks.

Just a hint about grilling any fish de-scaled (scales removed): before
grilling, pass a lemon slice on the skin. That makes it a bit more elastic
and less prone to breaking

"sf" wrote in message news:[email protected]..

On Mon, 10 Sep 2012 01:32:13 -0400, "jmcquown" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>
> wrote in message news:[email protected]..
>
> I want to try grilling some tilapia. My main question is, do I need to go
> out
> and buy a basket or will it hold up to being turned with a spatula on the
> grill.
> I use a gas grill.
>
> And if anyone who grills tilapia has any good recipes, I'd appreciate it.
> Thanks.
>
>
> Get some heavy duty aluminium foil and poke holes in it. (You can also
> find
> foil "grill pans" at most any grocery store.) Spray the surface with some
> cooking spray before grilling the fish. If it falls apart when you turn
> it
> at least you won't lose half of it through the grate.
>
> Jill

He's using a gas grill so if he's going to grill it on foil, there's
no point whatsoever in grilling it.
****************

He was asking about grill baskets. While I prefer a charcoal grill, that
wasn't what the OP was asking. He wants to be able to grill fish. I made a
suggestion. Sorry if you don't like it.

Jill

On 9/11/2012 4:29 PM, Michael Kuettner wrote:
>> I want to try grilling some tilapia. My main question is, do I need to
>> go out
>> and buy a basket or will it hold up to being turned with a spatula on
>> the grill.
>> I use a gas grill.
>
>> And if anyone who grills tilapia has any good recipes, I'd appreciate it.
>> Thanks.
>
> Never try to grill a fish with flaky flesh like Tilapia unless it's a
> whole fish
> with intact skin. Otherwise, you'll end up with pieces of fish in the fire.
> As others have mentioned, Tilapia is pretty tasteless. You'd do better
> to marinate the filets, then breading and frying them.
> For grilling use a fish with firmer flesh and more taste.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Michael Kuettner
>
>

I saw some Southwestern breaded tilapia filets on some home shopping
channel and it was something like 14 pieces for $50. I have deep seated
anxiety/hatred about the fish but boy, did they look attractive!

Personally, I feel that everybody should eat tilapia because I abhor
them and think that yoose guys should be eating them fishes rather than
mahimahi or ahi, which I consider to be a valuable resource.

> I want to try grilling some tilapia. My main question is, do I need to go
> out
> and buy a basket or will it hold up to being turned with a spatula on the
> grill.
> I use a gas grill.

> And if anyone who grills tilapia has any good recipes, I'd appreciate it.
> Thanks.

Never try to grill a fish with flaky flesh like Tilapia unless it's a whole
fish
with intact skin. Otherwise, you'll end up with pieces of fish in the fire.
As others have mentioned, Tilapia is pretty tasteless. You'd do better
to marinate the filets, then breading and frying them.
For grilling use a fish with firmer flesh and more taste.

Cheers,

Michael Kuettner