GINGER AND CILANTRO BAKED TILAPIA

My favorite fish is tilapia. I am always looking for new tilapia recipes when I came across one on Pinterest.com that just blew my mind away! This recipe is not only one that you must try, but I promise it will end up being one you will make over and over again!

When I first decided to make this dish I was a little reluctant since it called for 'ginger' and I am not too familiar with cooking with that ingredient. I decided to go for the meal anyway just because it looked so great in the picture and I had a few tilapias just waiting to be cooked!

(The original recipe came from http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/main-dish/recipe-ginger-and-cilantro-baked-tilapia-024737)

My version of this amazing recipe is as follows... plus as I always say... when you find a great recipe WRITE IT DOWN! you never know when/if a website might disappear.

GINGER AND CILANTRO BAKED TILAPIA
serves 2, or 1 with leftovers

2 large fillets (I use the frozen packaged kind from Kroger or WalMart)
1 jalapeno pepper (this gives it the perfect amount of spicy!)
3 garlic cloves (I had actually used a 1/3 cup amount bc I misread the recipe and it still turned out great!)
1 inch grated ginger (1 tablespoon)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 cup white wine (I used a chardonney that I wouldnt mind drinking the rest later)
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
Green onions, chopped for garnish
Extra cilantro, to garnish

Heat the oven to 475F. Pat the fish dry and season lightly with salt and pepper. Place in a glass baking dish.

Chop the pepper and garlic, and grate the ginger. Put in a small food processor with the soy sauce, white wine, and cilantro. Whir unitl blended. Pour the sauce over the fish, rubbing it in a little. Bake for about 8 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily and is cooked through.

Serve immediately over brown rice, garnished with chives and cilantro.

I served this meal on a bed of Uncle Ben's Long Grain and Wild Rice Roasted Garlic and Olive Oil. Which was actually my firs time cooking Uncle Ben's rice and it was so great! The rice alone is just so full of flavor, soft, moist, a perfect fit for this entree.
I also prepared Sauteed Garlic Spinach as another side. I always love this side dish.

Upon eating the meal I was very nervous because I forgot to buy a back-up meal. (I always prepare myself!) But this meal was spot on amazing. It blew my mind how jam-packed full of flavor this fish had. Every bite was another treat for my taste-buds and I was very excited about my extra fish I had prepared. NOW I HAD A GREAT LUNCH FOR TOMORROW! I had the leftovers the next day and again, amazing. I even reheated it in the microwave which is something I try not to do very often.

This recipe is def going to be one for the books! I shared it with my sister-in-law who plans on making this dish as well. I will update this entry when I find out her opinion of it!

Let me know if you try this recipe! And when you do share your pics and comments!

HAPPY EATING!

Yum Yum Cha Cafe.

I remember about 3 years ago one of brothers, Eric, told me about this place that served dumplings that I just had to try. I also remember being a little hesitant because when I thought of dumplings I thought of East Texas chicken and dumplings- which I hate. He had declined to tell me that this place was of Asian decent and had been rewarded many acknowledgements of how awesome their food is. So we go and I haven't stopped spreading the word about the amazing dumplings of Yum Yum Cha Cafe.

I am going to start off with my fave dumplings here:
1. Ha gau (steamed shrimp dumpling)
3. Teow chow fun gau (pork and Nut dumpling (shrimp))
6. Hueng sai gau (cilantro shrimp dumpling)
31. Gow choy ha bang (pan fried shrimp and chive dumpling)

Other amazing foods on menu:
37. Tong Kai jiu (eggplant stuffed with shrimp)
38. Ha chung guen (deep fried shrimp roll)
39. Ja ha yuen (deep fried shrimp ball)
B. Steamed asparagus with oyster sauce
28. Gai Lang (Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce)

So you go into Yum Yums and they tell you to take a seat.
After choosing your seat they bring you a paper and you mark what you want.
The numbers/ letters above refer to the numbers on the menu.
Yum yums is a tiny place that needs some serious remodeling; however, it seems to fit them.
Its super laid back and you def don't need to dress up and it won't break the bank.
In fact, if you ordered everything above it would still be less than $30!
A soda is $1 and they have some pretty awesome hot tea.
My boyfriend and I go on a regular basis and we hardly ever order over $30 and when we do we can't even eat it all.
As much as I love this place, I do still have my critiques. Not every place can be perfect and they do have their drawbacks.
Such as the manager could use a bounce in her step... This is my nice way of saying she isn't very friendly. She airs out her problems to the staff and not quietly. My boyfriend and I have probably eaten here about 100 times (as it is my fave place to eat) and she has yet to come by to say, "welcome back" or even a courteous, "hello!" - and well... That bothers me!
The staff is ok friendly. I would say the best server is Kiera (I'm probably spelling her name wrong) and she is almost always there.
Another drawback is they need a serious deep clean. The place is clean, but like I said earlier... They need a serious makeover.
But even with my small complaints, you will never find dim sum this amazing. Seriously. It truly is the best.
Below you will find their location, hours, and website. I urge you to go!
Let me know what you think or if you know another dim sum restaurant I'm missing!

http://yumyumchacafe.com/index.html

Located in Rice Village!
2435 Times Blvd
Houston, TX 77005

PH: 713 527 8455

HOURS:
Sunday: 11a- 7p
Monday: 11a- 5p
Tuesday: CLOSED
Wednesday: 11a- 3p, 5p- 10p
Thursday: 11a- 3p, 5p- 10p
Friday: 11a- 3p, 5p- 10p
Saturday: 11a- 3p, 5p- 10p

Happy eating,
Ava Chino