This Tilapia is served with Bacon Mashed Potatoes, and Spinach then 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.
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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
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Steps to prepare the mashed potatoes
- Fry up some bacon until crispy, crumble and set aside.
- Peel and cut the potatoes into cubes, boil until fork-tender.
- Make the mashed potatoes using butter, milk, or cream and salt and pepper to taste.
- Cover and set the potatoes aside until ready to use.
- Add the bacon to the potatoes just before plating.
Steps to prepare the spinach
- Add a small amount of butter and/or olive oil to a skillet.
- Add the spinach and toss with the garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Cook the spinach as desired. This should only take a couple of minutes. Do not overcook.
- Set aside.
- Or, you can always cook the spinach in leftover bacon grease.
How to prepare the tilapia fillets
- Place butter and /or olive in a frying pan.
- Sprinkle the Tilapia fillets with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Add the tilapia to the pan.
- Turn when golden brown.
- Finish cooking until done and fish flakes easily with a fork.
- Place on a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
How to prepare the creamy tomato sauce
- Drizzle olive oil into the frying pan.
- Saute onion and garlic for a minute or two.
- Add the cut-up tomatoes, salt, and pepper.
- Stir.
- Mix in heavy cream.
- Make more sauce by adding heavy cream, milk, or half 'n half if desired.
How to assemble this dish
- Mix the bacon into the mashed potatoes.
- Place a serving of bacon and mashed potatoes onto the plate.
- Top the potatoes with a layer of spinach.
- Lay a tilapia fillet on top of the spinach.
- Cover with creamy tomato sauce.
- Garnish with chopped fresh spinach if desired.
- Serve!
Delicious!
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Recipe
Tilapia with a Creamy Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
For the Bacon Mashed Potatoes
- 4 Russet Potatoes peeled and diced
- 6 slices Bacon
- 4 tablespoons Butter more if desired
- ½ cup Milk adjust as desired
- ½ teaspoons Salt
- ¼ teaspoons Pepper
For the Sauteed Spinach
- 1 bag Baby Spinach or bunch
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Pepper
For the Tilapia Fillets
- 4 Tilapia Fillets depending on size
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 tablespoon Butter
- ½ teaspoons Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Pepper
For the Creamy Tomato Sauce
- 3 Roma Tomatoes diced
- ⅓ cup Onion diced into small pieces
- 2 cloves Garlic or garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons Heavy Cream add additional heavy cream, milk, or half 'n half as desired.
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.
Meg
So delicious! It was so easy and so yummy :). Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Cook This Again, Mom!
Thank you!
Anonymous
I made this tonight for my family (excluding my little who is picky) they absolutely loved it!
Cook This Again
I am so glad! Thank you very much for the feedback. 🙂