Edible Interiors: Spiced Citrus Tilapia

Remember how I said I had some new stuff in store?  Well, this is the first installment of "Edible Interiors", which will be posts featuring beautiful spaces and the goods that fill them mixed with some of my favorite recipes.  Combining my passion for food & design makes me kind of giddy!

For today's post, I choose Mexican inspired design being that it is Cinco de Mayo.  Think bold colors and ethnic touches.  Keeping with the Mexican theme, my recipe is going to be spiced citrus tilapia that can be eaten alone or made into fish tacos.  Holy guacamole - I'm hungry just thinking about it! 

Colorful & Eclectic Dressing Area via Undecorate

 

Bold Fabric with Bright Whites via Pinterest

Pillow via Burke Decor; Mexican Blanket Lamp Shade via Design Sponge; 
Cactus & Earth Tones via Pinterest; Pops of Color in Bedroom via Elle Decor

Festive Chair via Name Design Studio

Spiced Citrus Tilapia
Serves Four 

Ingredients:
- 4 tilapia filets (fresh is preferred)
- black pepper (to taste)
- sea salt (to taste)
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- dash of cayenne pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil 
- 2 large lemons
- 3 limes 

Steps:
 1: In a bowl, mix the cumin, chili powder and cayenne pepper.
  2: Take the tilapia filets and place on a plate.
  3: Pour the olive oil on the filets, ensuring you coat both sides of the fish thoroughly.
  4: Pour the seasoning mixture on the filets, again, ensuring you coat both sides of the fish.
 6: Cut the lemons and limes in half and pick out any visible seeds.  This will save you from having to pick them out of the hot pan or the cooked fished.  Ain't nobody got time for that...
 7:  Squeeze the lemons and limes into a measuring cup ensuring you get as much juice as possible.  If you find a few seeds floating in the citrus (trust me, you will) then remove them using a spoon.  
 8:  Heat a medium sized pan on low heat.
 9:  Once the bottom of the pan is warm, place the fish in the pan.
10:  Real quick like, you will want to pour HALF of the citrus on top of the fish.
11:  Let the fish cook until brown and flaky on the bottom side.
12: Flip the fish and pour the reminder of the citrus juice on the fish.  
13:  Let the fish cook until flaky on this side.
14:  Season with salt and pepper to your liking.  
15:  Remove the fish once you know it has cook thoroughly.  It is now ready to serve as an entree or broken into pieces for use in salads or tacos. 

Now folks, if you don't like spice (really?) then you can skip the steps 1 & 4 and just use the oil, salt, pepper and citrus.  I have never met a fish eater who didn't like it prepared this way, but the spice makes it much more fun.  Of course, this does ensure kids and picky adults will enjoy the meal, as well.     

 

Mexican Inspired Outdoor Oasis via Sunset Magazine

The spiciness and citrus notes added to the fish make it perfect for eating by itself or adding to a salad or as a taco.  This interior design style, just like spicy food, might not be for everyone.  However, small doses of a color are a great way to add a little heat.

Cinco de Mayo Image via VK Rees Photography; Food Styling Images via Pinterest