Pumpkin Seed and Sage Crusted Tilapia with Roasted Garlic
Ingredients:
2 heads of Garlic
2 tsp Olive Oil (for roasting)
1 tsp Salt (for roasting)
4 Tilapia fillets
Salt and Pepper to Taste)
1 cup Pumpkin Seeds
1 Tbsp dried Sage
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
Directions:
- Preheat the Oven to 400°F.
- Take a 12″ x 12″ square of Aluminum foil and crinkle into a nest or bowl, big enough to support the heard of Garlic.
- Using a chopping knife, cut off the top of the Garlic head, exposing the tops of the cloves.
- Place the Head in the nest, and drizzle the Olive Oil over the exposed Garlic cloves.
- Sprinkle with Salt.
- Place nest on a baking sheet, and bake for 30 minutes or until the Garlic is tender to the touch. Remove when done and set aside.
- While the Garlic is roasting, place the Pumpkin Seeds and Sage in a food processor and pulse until mealy, like bread crumbs.
- Salt and Pepper both sides of the Fillets.
- Place the Pumpkin Seed crumbs in a bag, and dip the Tilapia filets one at a time, pressing the crumbs onto the fillets.
- Heat the Olive Oil in a large skillet on medium heat.
- Fry the Fillets for 3-5 minute on each side, until golden brown.
- Remove the fish and rest on a cooling rack or paper bag to remove excess Oil.
- Plate the Fillets.
- Using the Aluminum foil to hold the Garlic, squeeze the cloves out into a bowl, like a paste.
- Top the Filets with the Roasted Garlic paste.
Makes 2-4 servings, depending on the size of the fillets.
NOTES: Pumpkin Seeds are an almost forgotten ingredient, but used as a breading they add a healthy nutty crust. I love this dish also because it smells so good while its being prepared–tips hat to roasted Garlic. Though there are a lot of “steps” to the roasting of the Garlic, this is actually a rather simple yet flavorful meal–the best kind.
