Zesty White Fish + Coconut Rice Bowls: Cooking With Courtney

From Feed the Soul Blog:

Do you ever have those happy accidents in the kitchen that start out as you looking at the clock and being like, “Oops, time for dinner” and raiding your fridge/freezer in desperation? But then somehow you end up with a meal that you’re totally in love with?!

…Yeah, admittedly, it doesn’t happen that often for me either. This is why I’m so excited that this quick, way beginner-friendly bowl of heaven came out of my scatterbrained mess!

Tangy, sweet n’ sour tamarind paste really comes alive with the brightness of lemon juice in this tilapia recipe. Red bell pepper brings a bit of sweetness, while garlic and ginger add big punches of flavor as you chew through this dish.

The cozy backbone of this meal is the coconut rice. A can of thick, creamy coconut milk and healthy sprinkling of salt transform the already exceptional grain that is jasmine rice. I like to serve it next to (not underneath) my main course. The delicate flavors of the rice don’t get overwhelmed that way.

Skip to the full recipe.

This is optional, but I top it all off with cashews, which add a very satisfying crunch to this tilapia recipe with mostly softer textures. Cilantro and green onions are a nice, fresh contrast to the tender, savory, zesty fish and rice.

This tilapia recipe is easy enough to make it into your weekly rotation. I make rice bowls often because they’re ready in a pinch and you can dump whatever you want in ‘em. I also like to keep tilapia fillets in the freezer so I’ve always got a light protein ready.

The standout ingredient that makes this so awesome is tamarind paste, which you can easily order online if it’s not in your grocery store. Not sponsored, but I buy this brand off of Amazon for less than $4. It’s my best friend for margaritas, too!

Get the complete recipe, including ingredients, instructions, tips and more photos, at feedthesoulblog.com.

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Cooking with Courtney is a weekly series featuring recipes by Patch Editor Courtney Teague. She also features reader recipe submissions in her Reader Recipe of the Week series.

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