Tilapia with a Creamy Tomato Sauce

This Tilapia is served with Bacon Mashed Potatoes, Spinach and topped with a Creamy Tomato Sauce. This recipe is my version of a dish I had at Bubba Gumps Shrimp Co. in Monterey, CA. They call it Jenny’s Catch.

This is an updated version of the very first recipe I blogged. We were on vacation when I tried the most delicious tilapia dish.

As soon as we were back home I tried to duplicate it.  My family loved it so much, and I didn’t want it to become another one of those ‘how did I do that’ recipes, so I decided to start a food blog.

Ingredients needed

• Tilapia
• Spinach
• Roma Tomatoes
• Potatoes
• Onion
• Garlic
• Bacon
• Olive Oil
• Butter
• Salt and Pepper
• Garlic Powder
• Heavy Cream
• Milk or Half ‘n Half

Other recipes you might like to try…

• Tilapia Sandwich with Fresh Citrus Sauce
• Grilled Salmon with Black Bean Salsa
• Rosemary Roasted Potatoes

Steps to prepare the mashed potatoes

1.  Fry up some bacon until crispy, crumble and set aside.
2. Peel and cut the potatoes into cubes, boil until fork-tender.
3. Make the mashed potatoes using butter, milk or cream and salt and pepper to taste.
4. Cover and set the potatoes aside until ready to use.
5. Add the bacon to the potatoes just before plating.

Steps to prepare the spinach

1. Add a small amount of butter and/or olive oil to a skillet.
2. Add the spinach and toss with the garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
3. Cook the spinach as desired. This should only take a couple of minutes. Do not overcook.
4. Set aside.
5. Or, you can always cook the spinach in leftover bacon grease.

How to prepare the tilapia fillets

1. Place butter and /or olive in a frying pan.
2. Sprinkle the Tilapia fillets with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
3. Add the tilapia to the pan.
4. Turn when golden brown.
5. Finish cooking until done and fish flakes easily with a fork.
6. Place on a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.

How to prepare the creamy tomato sauce

1. Drizzle olive oil into the frying pan.
2. Saute onion and garlic for a minute or two.
3. Add the cut-up tomatoes, salt, and pepper.
4. Stir.
5. Mix in heavy cream.
6. Make more sauce by adding heavy cream, milk, or half ‘n half if desired.

How to assemble this dish

1. Mix the bacon into the mashed potatoes.
2. Place a serving of bacon mashed potatoes onto the plate.
3. Top the potatoes with a layer of spinach.
4. Lay a tilapia fillet on top of the spinach.
5. Cover with the creamy tomato sauce.
6. Garnish with chopped fresh spinach if desired.
7. Serve!

Delicious!

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Recipe

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5 from 2 votes

Tilapia with a Creamy Tomato Sauce

Tilapia with a Creamy Tomato Sauce- Served with Bacon Mashed Potatoes and Spinach

Prep Time30 mins

Cook Time40 mins

Yield: 4 people

Author: Cook This Again, Mom!

Ingredients

For the Bacon Mashed Potatoes

• 3 – 5 Potatoes peeled and diced
• 6 slices Bacon
• Butter
• Milk
• Salt and Pepper to taste.

For the Sauteed Spinach

• 1 bag Baby Spinach or bunch
• Olive Oil
• Salt and Pepper
• Garlic Powder

For the Tilapia Fillets

• 4 – 6 Tilapia Fillets depending on size
• Olive Oil and/or Butter

For the Creamy Tomato Sauce

• 3 – 4 Roma Tomatoes diced
• 1/3 cup Onion diced into small pieces
• 2 cloves Garlic or garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons Heavy Cream
• Milk or Half ‘n Half

Instructions

Instructions for Bacon Mashed Potatoes

• Fry the bacon until crispy. Crumble and set aside.
• Peel, and dice the potatoes. Add the potatoes to boiling water and cook until fork-tender. Drain.
• Mash the potatoes with butter, milk, salt, and pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste. Set aside. Add the bacon just before serving.

Instructions for Sauteed Spinach

• Add olive oil to a frying pan. Next, add the spinach and sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Sautee for a minute or two only. Do not overcook. Set aside.

Instructions for the Tilapia Fillets

• Sprinkle Tilapia with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook in olive oil and butter until golden brown and fish easily flakes with a fork. About 3-4 minutes per side. When the fish is done, put on a plate, cover with foil and set aside.

Instructions for the Creamy Tomato Sauce

• Slightly wipe out the pan and add more olive oil if needed. Add onion and garlic, cook and stir for a minute or two.
• Next, add tomatoes, salt, and pepper, stir. Mix in heavy cream, stir, the sauce will start to thicken. Add more heavy cream, half-n-half, or milk to make the sauce. Add as little or much as you like. Taste, and adjust seasoning if necessary.

Assemble the Tilapia with a Creamy Tomato Sauce

• Place bacon mashed potatoes on a plate. Top with a layer of sauteed spinach, then add a tilapia filet. Finish with the creamy tomato sauce and some chopped fresh spinach if desired. Serve.

Course: Main

Cuisine: American

Keyword: bubba gumps, easy recipe, jenny’s catch, seafood dinner, tilapia

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