Pinaputok na Tilapia is the last word seafood dish! Full of tomatoes and onions and baked to perfection, this Filipino-style fish is straightforward to make, tasty, and budget-friendly. Scrumptious with steamed rice!

I am at all times looking out for fast, foolproof methods to cook dinner fish like this straightforward baked salmon with tamarind mayo topping, which makes use of a particular trick that makes it tremendous moist and flavorful. Who needs to be within the kitchen getting ready dinner for hours on finish, proper?
This stuffed tilapia is a kind of recipes that is straightforward on prep but delivers tons of taste. You will be pleasantly stunned that it requires minimal effort, and it may be so satisfying and scrumptious. The fish is plump and engaging, with juicy roasted tomatoes and onions for an additional layer of yum.
It is a meal you will really feel good serving the entire household! Not solely is it scrumptious, nevertheless it’s additionally wholesome and nutritious.
What’s Pinaputok na Tilapia
Pinaputok, which implies “to blow up”, is a Filipino-style dish whereby an entire tilapia is stuffed generously with a mix of tomatoes, onions, garlic, and ginger till virtually “bursting.” The fish is brushed with melted butter, wrapped in foil to safe adequately, after which oven-baked till moist and flavorful.
Ingredient notes
- Not a fan of tilapia? Milkfish (bangus) or golden pompano may also work properly on this recipe!
- I season the fish with tamarind powder (sinigang combine), however you possibly can substitute calamansi, lemon, or lime.
- I exploit tomatoes, onions, garlic, and ginger, flavored with tamarind powder, because the stuffing, however be at liberty so as to add different herbs and spices, reminiscent of cilantro, inexperienced onions, and chili peppers, for a bit of warmth.
- Brushing the surface with butter provides richness and depth of taste. You can even use avocado or olive oil.
Cooking directions

Clear the fish totally, eradicating gills and innards. Make slits within the physique to permit seasonings to penetrate. Rub generously in and out with the tamarind sinigang base and stuff with the tomato-onion combination.
Double wrap the fish in foil to forestall juices from leaking out. For added aroma, you possibly can wrap the tilapia in banana leaves as a substitute of aluminum foil. Bake till the flesh is opaque and simply flakes with a fork.
Useful tip
I just like the comfort of baking this within the oven however you may also pan-fry, steam, or grill over scorching coals.
How you can serve

Whether or not you are cooking for a easy household dinner or an elaborate feast for a gathering, this Filipino-style stuffed fish is bound to be a success. Serve it with steamed rice and a selection of sawsawan reminiscent of calamansi and soy sauce, spicy vinegar, or tomato and grilled eggplant ensalada.

Filipino-style baked fish is straightforward to make and so tasty! Generously filled with tomatoes and onions, this pinaputok na tilapia is moist, flavorful, and scrumptious with steamed rice.
Course: Major Entree
Servings
Substances
- 2 complete tilapia scaled and gutted
- 3 tablespoons tamarind base powder
- 2 massive Roma tomatoes diced
- 1 medium onion peeled and chopped
- 1 thumb-size ginger, peeled and minced
- 2 cloves garlic peeled and minced
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- salt and pepper to style
For the Dipping Sauce
- Calamansi juice to style
- soy sauce to style
Directions
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Preheat oven to 375 F.
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Rinse tilapia properly, rinsing cavity properly. Pat dry. Make two or three slits throughout the physique of the fish on each side.
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Rub each fish throughout, together with the cavity, with 2 tablespoons of the tamarind base powder. Let stand for about 10 minutes.
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In a bowl, mix tomatoes, onions, ginger, garlic, the remaining 1 tablespoon of tamarind powder, and salt and pepper to style. Stir to distribute.
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Stuff every fish’s cavity with tomato-onion combination.
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Liberally brush the surface of each fish with butter and Individually wrap in aluminum foil, Double wrap to forestall juices from leaking.
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Place fish packets on a baking sheet. Bake within the oven for about 20 to 25 minutes or till fish is cooked by.
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Serve scorching with dipping sauce.
Notes
For added aroma, wrap the tilapia in banana leaves as a substitute of aluminum foil.
Video
Vitamin Info
Energy: 316kcal, Carbohydrates: 12g, Protein: 47g, Fats: 10g, Saturated Fats: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g, Monounsaturated Fats: 3g, Trans Fats: 0.2g, Ldl cholesterol: 128mg, Sodium: 169mg, Potassium: 889mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 437IU, Vitamin C: 7mg, Calcium: 43mg, Iron: 2mg
“This web site supplies approximate vitamin info for comfort and as a courtesy solely. Vitamin knowledge is gathered primarily from the USDA Meals Composition Database, at any time when accessible, or in any other case different on-line calculators.”

