Tilapia with Lemon Caper Sauce

I used to be terrified of cooking fish.  It seemed like one of those
foods that was too tricky and complicated to do at home.  I almost
always order fish in restaurants, but now I've learned how to make
some really good seafood dishes in my own kitchen.  My husband
isn't a huge fan , but I have a few tricks up my sleeve which have
helped even "non fish" eaters to enjoy it.

I use a mild fish and a great pan sauce.  This tilapia recipe fits
that description.  It's super quick and easy.  When tilapia is on
sale, I usually buy a number of fillets and put them in the freezer.
Our dinner tonight was less than $4 each and would cost at
least $10 or $12 in a decent restaurant.   I seem to enjoy the
meal even more when I know how much money I save by
cooking at home!

All you need to make this dish is tilapia, fresh lemon juice, chicken

broth, flour and capers. 

In case you aren't familiar with capers, they are the unripened flower

bud of a plant native to the Mediterranean area and Asia.  They are dried

in the sun and then pickled or salted before bottling.  You find them

with the pickles and olives in the grocery store .  I used to buy them at

Fresh Market, but now my local Ingles carries them,   I adore capers.

I use them in a number of dishes that I make regularly, so I've added

them to my food storage.  I especially like them in my tuna salad.

To make this recipe, the first thing I do is salt

and pepper the fish on both sides.

Next I dredge the fish in flour.

Heat a little butter in a large skillet.

Pan fry the fish for about 3 minutes on each side.   Remove to

a plate.

Mix the ingredients for pan sauce in a bowl and then add to pan,

scraping any browned bits of fish off the bottom of pan.

Bring to a boil and cook for about 5 minutes until the sauce

is reduced.  

Whisk a couple of tablespoons of butter into sauce.

Spoon sauce over tilapia.  Be generous, because this sauce is

awesome and you aren't going to mind a bit if the other food

on your plate is swimming in sauce.  I served this with sauteed

squash and steamed broccoli.  It's really good with garlic 

mashed potatoes, rice, orzo or pasta.  I'm just trying to 

use foods from my garden right now.  

If your looking for a new recipe for fish, try this one.  It's delicious.

The only problem I find with cooking meals like this at home, is my 

husband never really wants to go out to dinner.  As long as he helps

with the dishes, I'm okay with it.  We save our restaurant meals for 

special occasions.  

Tilapia with Lemon Caper Sauce

3/4 cup chicken broth

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 t. drained capers

1 T. butter

1 t. vegetable oil

2 tilapia fillets

salt and pepper

1/4 cup plain flour

1 T. butter

Combine first three ingredients in small bowl.

Melt 1T. butter and vegetable oil in large skillet.

Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper.  Dredge

fish in flour.  Shake off excess flour.

Pan fry fish in butter until browned on 

each side - about 3 to 5 min.  Don't

overcook.  Remove fish from pan.

Add broth mixture, scaping up browned bits

from bottom of pan.  Bring to boil and cook

for about 5 minutes until reduced.  Add

butter and whisk until melted.  

Spoon over fish.

*MYOF Goals - #  Save $50 a week. (by eating at home)