Blackened Tilapia

Blackened tilapia is one of my quick go-to recipes. I make this all the time, especially when I want to serve a quick and healthy dinner for my family. For this recipe, I used the whole tilapia, but if you have frozen tilapia fillets, then it is easy to whip up a quick meal. Not more than 10 or 15 minutes and your meal is ready! Serve it with some roasted potatoes or some salad and you have a filling meal. Growing up tilapia was never my favorite, but recently I have fallen in love with this mild-flavored fish. It is soft and flaky and pairs well with any kind of bold spice rub. And the added benefit, is an inexpensive lean protein, especially if you are on a diet.

The spice blend is very similar to the Cajun spice mix- bold and flavorful. Spice rub for this fish fry is versatile and can be used for other fish and poultry recipes. Blackened tilapia is skillet fried fish with flavorful spices and butter. You can also bake it in the oven.

This homemade spice mix is packed with flavor. The marinade is spicy, sweet and savory. The most common spices and herbs include paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, oregano, black pepper, cayenne pepper, salt, and brown sugar. Cayenne pepper and black pepper adds a spicy kick to the marinade. Oregano, cumin, paprika, and garlic adds a ton of flavor. Brown sugar adds a touch of sweetness and also helps in caramelization and blackening of the crust. It also creates a perfect balance of flavors. This recipe calls for smoked paprika, it gives a smoky flavor to the marinade. If you are not a fan of smoked paprika, use regular paprika powder. You can make a large batch of this spice rub, so you can always have it on hand in your kitchen. It makes it a whole lot easier. Squeeze lemon juice just before serving for fresh citrus flavor. Try this recipe, you will surely love it!

Ingredients
Tilapia whole- 1
Smoked paprika- 1 tsp
Cayenne pepper- 1 1/2 tsp
Black pepper- 1/2 tsp
Dark brown sugar- 1 tsp
Onion powder- 1/2 tsp
Garlic powder- 1/2 tsp
Ground thyme- 1/8 tsp
Ground oregano- 1/8 tsp
Cumin-1/8 tsp
salt to taste
Butter- 1 tbs
Oil- 1 tsp
lemon wedges

Mix smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, black pepper, brown sugar, salt, onion powder, garlic powder,cumin,thyme and oregano to make the spice rub.
Clean fish, pat dry with paper towel make small gashes. Rub the spice mix over the fish and allow it to marinate for 5-6 minutes. If you are using fish fillet, you can start cooking immediately.
Heat oil and butter in a pan/iron skillet. When hot place the fish and fry for 3-4 minutes on each side or till it changes to a deep dark color. Remove from the skillet and squeeze some lemon juice on top,just before serving.