I love food way too much to be chomping on lettuce and carrot sticks and calling it a day!!  I am a “flavor gal”-  and of course, it has to be full of flavor without the junk that weighs us down. Remember, eat real food, feel real good. When real food that makes you feel real good tastes real good, it’s a “must eat” for me!

One of my absolute favorite flavors is coconut. And, after a trip to Turks and Caicos a few years back, I had to figure out a way to make coconut crusted food a staple, but in a healthier way!   So, after a little trial and much error, I came up with this Caribbean-inspired delicious, healthy, and super-simple meal…

Coconut Crusted Tilapia with Jasmine-Infused Brown Rice, Citrus Salsa, and a “Mama-tini”

Brown rice takes the longest, so let’s get that going first!

Supplies for Brown Rice

Covered Pot

Bowl for finished rice

Brown Rice Ingredients

1 Cup Whole Grain Brown Rice

2 ½ Cups Water

1 Teaspoon Butter

2 Jasmine Green Tea Bags

Let’s Do This!!

In pot, pour 2 ½ cups of water. Mix in the jasmine tea bags and a little salt, and bring water to boil. Remove the tea bag with metal tongs, and then add brown rice and butter, and give it a stir. Cover the pot and let it cook, checking periodically and stirring to reduce water. And, depending on the type it may take 50 minutes or so for the rice to cook!! 

Supplies for Tilapia

Plastic baggie

Bowl (for egg bath)

Bowl (for breadcrumbs*)

Plate (for breading)

Baking pan

Tilapia Ingredients

4 Small Pieces of Tilapia

2 Egg Whites

1 Full Egg

15 Whole Grain or Other Healthy Crackers

1/4 Cup Finely Shredded Coconut

1 Teaspoon Pure Coconut Extract

1/8 Cup Panko breadcrumbs

1 Tablespoon Ground Flaxseed

Let’s Do This!!

Preheat oven to 375.

I prefer to prep all my bowls first, and then do the ‘dipping’. So, in your bowl for the egg bath, mix the whites and the egg with the pure coconut extract. You’ll get all the flavor of the coconut with ZERO calories and ZERO fat! In bowl #2, mix the Panko breadcrumbs, finely shredded coconut, and ground flax seed. Next, put your healthy crackers in a plastic baggy (with a zip lock) and zip the bag shut. Hold the bag in the air with your hand and start crunching with your fingers so all the crackers crumble quickly (I like to shimmy while I do this, but you definitely don’t have to!).  Now, mix your crumbled crackers with the ground flaxseed and finely shredded coconut.

All you do, is the dip the tilapia in the egg bath, and then roll it around in the breadcrumb/coconut mixture, making sure you spread lots of coconut on the topside!

You might want to give your baking pan a quick spray with whatever you fancy (as far as cooking sprays are concerned), and even if it’s non-stick, a light spray won’t hurt! Place the tilapia pieces a few inches apart on the pan, and put it in the oven for 10-12 minutes.

Supplies for Citrus Salsa

Big bowl for mixing

Small bowl for extra fruits

Small bowl for lime juice

Spoon

Chopping block

Knife

Cup for pomegranate and extra fruit

Strainer and Straining bowl for juice.

Citrus Salsa Ingredients

White Grapefruit

Ruby Red Grapefruit

Orange

Any Type of Citrus Fruits You LOVE!!

Lime (to make juice)

Salt and Cayenne Pepper (to taste)

Red Onion

Cilantro

Pomegranate

Let’s Do This!!

Slice pomegranate and pull out the seeds. Set aside a teaspoon in a cup for later. Pour the rest in the mixing bowl. Peel all of your citrus fruits (except the lime), and start chopping. Don’t worry about being ‘perfect’, just cut them in tiny bits for a “salsa” like effect. Pour them in the mixing bowl, but set aside a little of each fruit in the cup with the pomegranate for later. Squeeze the juice of the lime in a small bowl, make sure there aren’t any pits, and then mix the juice in the large mixing bowl.

Pour the big mixing bowl through a strainer, straining the juice into another bowl. Set the juice bowl aside for later, with the cup of fruit.

Mix the fruit in the large mixing bowl. Chop the onion and cilantro. Add chopped onion, cilantro, salt and pepper (to taste). Take your spoon, mix it altogether!

Supplies for Mamatini

Juice bowl from Citrus Salsa

Cup of Fruits from Citrus Salsa

Martini Shaker

Martini Glass

Mamatini Ingredients

White Grapefruit

Ruby Red Grapefruit

Orange

Any Type of Citrus Fruits You LOVE!!

Lime (to make juice)

Pomegranate

Water (sparkling or still)

Splash of Pomegranate Juice

Ice

Let’s Do This!!

Ok, take the juice you set aside earlier and pour it in a martini shaker with ice. Add ½ cup of water, a splash of pomegranate juice, and start shaking! Pour the Mamatini in your martini glass, and garnish with fruit. Top with pomegranate seeds, and you have all the flavor and antioxidants you need to keep your energy up and your spirits high!!