Cooking fish

I have a specific problem, but wanted a more open topic..

Tilapia is my problem.  I really don't like this fish.  I've grilled it, fried it, baked it.. and I can't stand the taste.  Anyone have a good recipe?  Or an idea for a sauce to cover up the flavour?  I don't think it would go well with salsa, and it really doesn't fit soy sauce.  Maybe a caper-heavy sauce?  Or maybe marinading it in something for a long time would work?

(If you're wondering why I keep buying it.. well, it comes in the big boxes of mixed frozen fish, and them's a bargain!)

Put your fish in a casserole dish, season with salt and pepper.
In a seperate bowl mix together:  1/2 finely chopped onion, 1 small can corn, 2 small fresh tomatoes cut into smallish pieces, about 2 cups of your favorite crutons, juice of 1/2 lemon, a good amount of grated cheddar cheese and enough mayo to make the mixture moist and creamy maybe 3/4 cup.  Put this on top of your fish, bake in oven 180C about 1/ hour or until the cheese has melted and the topping is slightly browned.  I don't have exact measurements because I just do it by how it looks but the topping it wonderfully flavorful and it hides the taste of the fish.

If you don't do something Asian with it like a soy and ginger flavor the only thing I can really think of would be to curry it or do it in a mornay sauce http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mornay_sauce
with some really strongish cheese to cover the flavor.  I personally don't like Talapia either and I love fish! 

Capers, olives and sun dried tomatoes also might work to mask it.  The problem with marinades is that the acidic base tends to cook the fish.  You might also try a dry rub like a Cajun one and just let it sit overnight before cooking.   

Oh and there is always the shred it and throw it into fish cakes idea too.   

I hate Tilapia too.  I have never had it anywhere where I thought it was any good.

I've had tilapia in Africa where they coat it in a very spicy seasoning (pili pili) and bake it, delicious! One of those nandos marinades you can get in the supermarket would probably do the job.

Thanks, some good ideas here! 

I started to wonder this

(If you're wondering why I keep buying it.. well, it comes in the big boxes of mixed frozen fish, and them's a bargain!)

at this point

Tilapia is my problem.  I really don't like this fish.  I've grilled it, fried it, baked it.. and I can't stand the taste. 

I haven't had this fish before, but the casserole idea sounds good, those can cover a lot of tastes.

I'd also say curry it!

A tilapia vindaloo might be on the cards tonight!

Belita, try it, and you'll know what I'm on about.  I don't know of a stronger-flavoured fish.  Catfish is mild, in comparison.  The taste is hard to describe.. kind of salty, kind of dirty water.  The fish truck has gigantic boxes of mixed fish.. tuna, cod, mackerel, salmon, smoked fish.. and the inevitable tilapia.  All for about 30 pounds!  I don't want to throw anything away, so just looking for some way to make this fish edible.

Do you know where the tilapia is from? The tilapia in Africa is quite mild but I've heard the Carribean variety is more pungent.

Do you know where the tilapia is from? The tilapia in Africa is quite mild but I've heard the Carribean variety is more pungent.

It's probably farmed tilapia from Asia, and should be very mild. I've never cooked it myself, but have had it in restaurants and it's been lovely!

Belita, try it, and you'll know what I'm on about.  I don't know of a stronger-flavoured fish.  Catfish is mild, in comparison.  The taste is hard to describe.. kind of salty, kind of dirty water.  The fish truck has gigantic boxes of mixed fish.. tuna, cod, mackerel, salmon, smoked fish.. and the inevitable tilapia.  All for about 30 pounds!  I don't want to throw anything away, so just looking for some way to make this fish edible.

Wow! That description makes me want to just run out and buy loads! 

Seriously though, I may have to try it some time just out of curiosity. I haven't heard of that type of fish before.

On the plus side, it's not 'fishy' at all!

To me it tastes "muddy"   I have had the same flavor in bad catfish too though.  I tend to favor other fish as a result. 

When catfish is good it's good but when it's bad.... it's like grab the floss and pick out the sediment out of your teeth!

Huh...I like tilapia and find it to be a very mild fish. I've even had it grilled at Red Lobster and never got that muddy flavor. I had cat fish in New Orleans once and it tasted like it was just pulled out of the muddy Mississippi. That was the first and last time I tried it.