The tilapia fish seen in the photo is a representative of the Cichlid family and lives in tropical freshwater reservoirs. It is also called chicken of the sea, this name appeared due to the specific appearance of the tilapia fish. This is a low-calorie product that is very healthy. It is used in different cuisines around the world to prepare various dishes. Next, you can find out what it looks like, what are the benefits of tilapia fish, is there any harm to the body and get acquainted with the most popular cooking recipes.
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Characteristic
Tilapia fish is a representative of freshwater bodies of water and belongs to the Cichlid family. It lives in tropical waters and is endemic to Asia Minor. Artificial cultivation of fish occurs in special reservoirs, in which case it is not sea, but river. In such conditions, trash fish live in China, Latin America, Asia and the USA. Tilapia is a fish that eats everything, like perch, which is why it is also called trash or dirty. This is an omnivore and can adapt to any temperature conditions. Tilapia fish also reproduce quickly and survive even in the most difficult conditions, for example, they live in sewage and feed on waste.
This aquatic resident has a slightly unusual appearance, as can be seen in the photo. She has a short, tall body, flattened on both sides, and silvery in color. Sometimes there are red and green spots on the body. The head is massive, with large eyes. On average, the body weight of a sea creature is about 2 kilograms, but cases have been recorded when fishermen’s nets have caught individuals weighing more than five kilograms. They are described as similar to flounder.
Interesting. Tilapia fish are similar in their habits to domestic animals. Therefore, it is often called sea or river chicken.
Description of the fish
The sea chicken is large, it reaches 35-40 cm in length with a weight of up to 1.5 kg and a height of up to 15 cm. The fin on the back is long, starting at the gill slits and reaching the tail. The head is medium in size, occupying approximately 1/8 of the total length. The mouth is large, straight, the eyes are golden amber in color.
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The body of tilapia is covered with large, tightly fitting scales. The color is uniform. The main feature of fish is its adaptability; it is able to survive in any conditions. In fact, it is a river fish, but can survive in salt water. Temperature is not at all the main indicator; tilapia tolerates temperatures dropping to 10 °C and rising to 38-40 °C.
Attention! The cock of the guinea is not related to the hen of the guinea. It belongs to the family of marine ray-finned fish from the order Scorpiformes.
Breeders often pay attention to tilapia. This is due to the fact that she is an omnivore. Given a choice, he will prefer food of animal origin, but in the limited assortment he will also feast on plant foods. The ability to adapt to any living conditions has given the sea chicken its maximum distribution.
Benefits and harms
Telapia is beneficial for the following:
- Since it contains a large amount of easily digestible protein and very little fat, it is recommended to use this product for people who suffer from various diseases of the digestive system. Its benefit is that it is not heavy on the stomach, so it can be safely included in the diet of those who follow the principles of proper nutrition.
- With the help of the meat of this fish, joints and bones are strengthened, and the muscles of the body develop correctly. The benefit of this product is that it is a good prevention of osteoporosis.
- The dishes contain polyunsaturated fatty acids Omega-3 and Omega-6. These substances benefit the body, improve the functions of the nervous system, and protect its cells from the negative effects of stress. Also, these substances improve blood microcirculation in the brain and increase the quality of cognitive processes.
- Thanks to fatty acids, the functioning of the cardiovascular system improves. This is a good prevention of myocardial infarction, stroke, and atherosclerotic disease.
- This product is a good prevention of the development of cancer processes in the body, since it contains selenium, which is a natural antioxidant. Also, with the help of selenium, all oxidative processes in internal organs are restored.
- Retinol and tocopherol have antioxidant properties, so the skin rejuvenates and its condition improves.
- Despite the fact that tilapia does not look very beautiful, this fish is tasty and healthy. It has a positive effect on the thyroid gland because it contains zinc. This mineral restores hormonal levels.
- With regular consumption of marine life, the immune system is strengthened, this is a good prevention of colds.
Despite its benefits, tilapia can be harmful to the body. Harm occurs if there is an individual intolerance to fish products. Since this fish eats everything, various waste, and lives in dirty sewage, it should only be purchased from trusted outlets. You should also not consume such a product every day, since the composition contains a large amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and their excessive dose can also be negative for the body. People with a history of bronchial asthma, diabetes, or arthritis are not allowed to eat fish. It should be consumed in limited quantities by those diagnosed with various heart pathologies.
Interesting. In Ancient Egypt, tilapia was one of the sacred animals, it was even depicted on frescoes!
From consultations with a farmer about the culture of red tilapia
Fish, as a widely traded agricultural commodity, is an important source of nutrition as well as a source of livelihood for many rural people in developing countries (FAO, 2020). In turn, protein-rich fish can be obtained from natural sources through commercial fishing, or grown using existing natural resources in aquaculture. However, overexploitation of natural resources has led to a decline in fishing profits. To compensate for declining profits, the food production sector has shifted to commercial aquaculture globally. Initially, the main limiting factor to the growth of the industry was the difficult availability of larvae. However, the success of induced selection in the 1980s revolutionized aquaculture, opening up access to large quantities of quality larvae. In subsequent years, heavy reliance on hatchery-reared larvae and poor management of broodstock led to deterioration in the quality of the fry. This caused serious disease outbreaks and economic losses. To solve the problem, experts proposed expanding production by introducing new species or breeds of fish into aquaculture.
Production of tilapia, a common cultivated species, has recently reached new heights. Total production in 2020 was approximately 6.8 million tons. It is currently growing at a rate of 4% (Tveteras et al., 2019). However, disease outbreaks, especially streptococcal infections, are significantly threatening the tilapia farming industry. New breeds, genetic improvements, as well as improved management techniques are being introduced to combat these emerging problems. Among the new species, red tilapia is an alternative to Nile tilapia. It has achieved impressive success due to its attractive coloration, high growth rate and market demand.
The supply of quality fingerlings also plays an important role in achieving the expected growth in this industry. Effective breeding stock management and good breeding practices are required to produce quality planting material. To do this, it is necessary to disseminate knowledge among farmers about red tilapia farming and fingerling production.
Content
Status of red tilapia
Tilapia production is projected to overtake carp production by 2025. Red tilapia were first developed in Taiwan in the late 1960s. It was originally a genetic mutant created by crossing a female reddish-orange Mozambique tilapia with a male Nile tilapia. Later, many countries such as the USA and Israel developed their own breeds using different species that changed the genetic makeup of the original red breed. Subsequently, scientists discovered that red tilapia have greater growth potential in salt water and produce offspring with slightly higher levels of EPA and DHA fatty acids.
Since the inclusion of red breeds in agriculture since the 1980s, red tilapia farming has grown significantly. In Malaysia, red tilapia production exceeded Mozambican tilapia production within three decades. In countries such as Colombia and Jamaica, red tilapia has replaced Nile tilapia aquaculture. Indian states including Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Odisha have been farming red tilapia for domestic consumption for the past 30 years. Other countries, Thailand and Bangladesh, have also encouraged the farming of red tilapia. Increasing domestic consumption of red tilapia has convinced Chinese farmers to popularize red tilapia aquaculture. Currently, the red tilapia farming industry is dominated by breeds from Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan Province of China, and the Stirling breed.
Male (top) and female (bottom) Red tilapia from the broodstock
Female (left) and male (right)
Growing red tilapia
Tilapia are prolific and reproduce throughout the year. However, relatively small egg sizes and low fertility are observed in red tilapia in the spring months (April-May). In general, tilapia farming is carried out using three methods:
1. Breeding in a pond. Use earthen or lined ponds. Since the pond ecosystem provides a natural environment in the pond, the frequency of reproduction in them is high. However, catching broodstock for subsequent collection of eggs or larvae becomes more difficult.
2. Breeding in concrete pools. As in a pond, collecting broodstock is complicated. However, swimming pools are suitable for rearing larvae in the initial stages of development.
3. Installation called "hapa". Cages are installed in earthen ponds, where broodstock are kept separately for breeding and producing young fish. The ease of handling broodstock, collecting eggs and larvae makes this method more suitable for tilapia farming (Bhujel, 1999).
Red tilapia farming using hapa system
This is the most common and widely practiced method of tilapia farming. A predetermined number of broodstock are placed in the cages, which spawn and produce eggs. However, technical as well as industry knowledge about the breeding patterns of red tilapia is required for successful breeding.
In any captive breeding operation, the status of the broodstock plays an important role in determining the success and quality of the reared fry. In hatcheries, healthy broodstock are kept separately and fed high-quality feed. Generally, males and females are kept and raised in the same pond and, after reaching maturity, separated for breeding.
| Male | Female |
| The genital papilla has a conical (pointed) shape | The genital papilla has a round (convex) shape |
| The genital papilla has one opening (the urethra) | The genital papilla has two openings (oviduct and urethra) |
| Smaller in size, with a flat belly | Larger in size, with a convex belly |
Breeding red tilapia in hapa cages
Installation hapa
Hapa are rectangular or square mesh cages installed inside a pond to hold broodstock during spawning. Networks of different sizes are available in the market. However, for the convenience of keeping tilapia broodstock, nets made of polyethylene with a total area of 30 m2 (10 m * 3 m * 1 m) are generally preferred. The nets are set and secured using bamboo poles and ropes. To set up one cage, four 3.6 m tall bamboo stalks are required. Each bamboo stalk is cut into two pieces (1.8 m high, making a total of eight poles) and driven to the bottom of the pond approximately 30 cm deep. The first two are located parallel to each other at a distance of 3 m. Then two more poles are placed from them at an angle of 90° at a distance of 10 m from each other, forming a rectangular shape 10 m long and 3 m wide. After installing four poles, the net is tied at 30 cm above the bottom and 30 cm below the top parts of the poles. Then the remaining four poles are installed at intervals of approximately 3 m on both sides. The water level inside the cage is 90 cm.
Breeding
Once the cage is installed, the broodstock are released inside. For breeding purposes, healthy fish >200 g in size should be selected. Young (smaller) tilapia have a higher fertility rate, so fish that are already in the reproductive stage (>500 g) should be avoided. Difficulty in handling during egg collection and lower spawning rates are additional problems associated with the selection of older fish.
The sex ratio maintained for red tilapia broodstock is 2:1 (female : male) and stocking density is 2 fish/m2. Thus, the broodstock contains 20 mature males and 40 females of red tilapia. However, one or two pairs of tilapia may be added to compensate for the loss of individuals due to natural mortality. Red tilapia are prolific, breeding once a month. Removing eggs from the mouth shortens the spawning interval and increases spawning frequency. After the broodstock are released into the cage, they should not be disturbed for 10-15 days and after this period the first eggs can be collected. During breeding, the broodstock are fed twice a day (3% of body weight) with high quality feed. The fertility of red tilapia is about 4500-5500 eggs/kg body weight.
Female red tilapia incubates eggs in her mouth
Collecting caviar
Eggs can be collected from hapa systems once every 7-10 days. Collecting eggs in hapa systems is comparatively easier than in a pond or pool. A 3 meter long bamboo pole is used to collect the broodstock in one corner of the established net. The pole is first placed under the bottom of the net, which is then raised above the water column. In the same position, the pole is dragged from one corner to another, which helps to collect all the broodstock. A pole is then placed over the net to temporarily hold the broodstock in one place.
Female fish incubate the eggs in their mouths. Therefore, when collecting eggs manually, the fish's mouth must be closed, otherwise they may spit the eggs into the water. Females with eggs in their mouths are transferred to an egg collection tray where their mouths and gill covers are opened. After the eggs are collected, the females are released back into the hapa system. The caviar collection trough is maintained with a minimum amount of water (2-3 liters) to keep the collected caviar in good condition. The average female produces about 1,500 eggs per cycle. The collected eggs are placed in a hatchery with vessels. During the collection of eggs, the health of the broodstock is also checked.
Glass incubators
In hatcheries, the collected eggs are first measured (by volume, in ml), then counted and placed in incubators. The incubator is a vertical tank made of glass or transparent fiberglass, or polyethylene. The vessel is made of transparent material to monitor the condition of the caviar. Its volume is 5 liters (diameter 14.5 cm) and holds 250 ml of caviar (approximately 6250 eggs). Using a vertical PVC pipe, water flows through the bottom of the container, which keeps the eggs suspended. The water flow rate is maintained at 3-5 l/min. After hatching, the larvae rise to the surface due to the presence of fat droplets and are collected in the larval tray. The water flowing from the container is passed through a simple biofilter unit, a 200-liter fiberglass tank filled with charcoal and sand, and then collected in a sump. A submersible pump (2 HP) installed in the sump, using a sensor, automatically pumps water to the upper reservoir. The purified water stored in the upper reservoir is again sent to the incubators. In this way, water flow is maintained in the hatchery to minimize the entry of pathogens and other foreign substances.
As a rule, each incubator is in working order for 48-72 hours after the eggs are placed inside. After this period, the unhatched white eggs are thrown away. The larvae are collected and kept in a separate tray for 24-48 hours with a gentle stream of water to allow their yolk sacs to be completely absorbed. Once the yolk sacs are completely absorbed, the larvae are transferred to male-only rearing cages.
Collecting eggs from the cage
| Caviar color | Caviar condition |
| Light brown | Good condition, ready for incubation |
| Yellow | Most eggs are immature and require time before incubation. |
| White | Unfertilized |
Incubators
Breeding exclusively males
In general, only males are reared from larvae to avoid growth retardation due to sexual behavior during reproduction and to obtain better productivity from faster-growing males. The androgenic hormone, 17a-methyltestosterone (17a MT), is usually mixed with food and fed to the larvae. This production using the hormone is the cheapest and simplest method, but it has various environmental consequences as well as potential risks to human health. 1 kg of endocrine feed is obtained by dissolving 70 mg of 17a MT in 125 ml of ethanol. The dissolved contents are sprayed onto fry food containing >34% protein and mixed well. The feed is then dried overnight and stored under proper conditions. Gloves should be worn when preparing feed to avoid direct contact with 17a MT.
Feed treated with hormones is fed to the larvae for 21-28 days. Generally, either indoor or outdoor concrete tanks are used to produce only males rather than a hapa based system. Availability of natural feed in hapa based system results in poor sex transformation. Generally, square tanks (2m*2m*1m; capacity 4000L) or rectangular tanks are preferred for the production of all types of male red tilapia. Planting density is maintained at 2 individuals/l. Larvae are fed four times a day in portions of 10-12% body weight. To improve production, 30% of the water in the pools must be changed once every three days. The development of algae along the walls of the pools should be avoided, since behavioral dominance has been observed among red tilapia larvae. The dominance of more developed fry during feeding leads to the fact that weaker fry remain and feed on the algae along the walls, which also affects the efficiency of sex transformation.
Tray for larvae during the period of resorption of the yolk sac
Raising fry in the hapa system
25-30 day old male fry (about 1.5-2.0 cm long) are kept in hapa systems installed in ponds. As a rule, cages (8 m X 3 m X 1 m) are covered on top to prevent the entry of fish-eating birds. There is a zipper in one corner so that the net can be opened for feeding. Each hapa system can hold about 10,000 fry (400-425 fry/m2), which are fed four times a day. Cultivation continues for 30-45 days, according to size and weight requirements. As soon as the juveniles reach 3-5 g, they are transferred to nursery ponds.
Cultivation
Fingerlings (4-6 cm) are raised directly in a fertilized nursery pond. Generally, rectangular ponds with an area of 1000 m2 are preferred. Fingerlings are kept at a rate of 5 individuals/m2 and fed twice a day. If the water depth is more than 1 m, care should be taken to ensure the availability of natural food in the pond to maintain the required coloration of the fish. Cultivation duration reaches 4-6 months and varies depending on growth rates and market demand. Collection of individuals weighing >300 g provides a good market price ($1.56/kg) in the local market. Fish are mainly supplied to the local market and very few commercial farmers are involved in exports.
Water quality
Water quality is one of the main factors determining successful fish production. Therefore, knowledge about the physical, chemical and biological parameters of water is very important. However, red tilapia, being a hardy fish species, tolerate a wide range of environmental changes. Red tilapia can be kept and raised under the following conditions:
| Water quality parameters | Range |
| Dissolved oxygen (mg/l) | 3-5 |
| Temperature (°C) | 24-32 |
| Salinity (ppm) | 0-35 |
| pH | 6-9 |
| Alkalinity (mg/l) | 20-400 |
| Hardness (mg/l) | 20-500 |
| Ammonia (mg/l) | 0,01-0,1 |
| Nitrites (mg/l) | 0,01-0,1 |
Problems in Red Tilapia Farming 1. Lack of sufficient quality larvae limits the commercial farming of red tilapia in many parts of the world. 2. Improper broodstock management can lead to inbreeding, resulting in the production of low quality larvae. 3. Red tilapia is a hybrid species and strict biosecurity measures must be implemented on farms to prevent cultivated stocks from entering the wild, which could contaminate the gene pool of wild or local stocks. 4. Converting larvae exclusively to males using feeds containing hormones may have impacts on natural ecosystems due to residual effects.
Stern
Feed plays an important role in broodstock development as the quality of larvae produced is directly proportional to the quality of the broodstock. In the case of crop production, most farmers use locally available, inexpensive ingredients such as rice bran, groundnut cake and broken rice to feed fish. Since red tilapia are active and prolific feeders, it is recommended to feed them three to four times a day. On the other hand, all male larvae should be fed pellets with a crude protein content of >32% to avoid morphological deformations in the developing fry. For red tilapia, you can practice the following feeding schedule to get better production:
| Fish stage | Crude protein (%) | Feeding | Diet (% body weight) |
| Reproduction | 28-32 | 2/day | 2-3% |
| Fingerlings | 24-28 | 2/day | 3-5% |
| Fry (grown up) | 28-30 | 4/day | 8-10% |
| Fry (males only) | >32 | 4/day | 10-15% |
—— Somu Sunder Lingam, R., Stephen Sampath Kumar, J., Chidambaram, P., Aanand, S. Velmurugan, P. and Bhosle Rameshwar Venkatrao. An insight to red tilapia breeding and culture: A farmer advisory. Aquaculture Asia. 2021
Bhujel, R.C., 1999. A review of strategies for the management of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) broodfish in seed production systems, especially hapa-based systems. Aquaculture, 181, 37-59. FAO, 2021. The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture: Sustainability in action. Rome. Italy. p. 1-206. Tveteras, R., Nystoyl, R. and Jory, D. E., 2021. GOAL 2021: Global finfish production review and forecast. Global Aquaculture Advocate, p 1-10
Where does it live?
This fish is unpretentious to water temperature and salinity conditions. But she prefers to live in freshwater bodies of water. It is also an omnivore. It can absorb any type of food, like river perch, which is why telapia is considered dirty, it is also called trash.
It can be found in different parts of the world. Most often it is found in the waters of American reservoirs. In rare cases, it is found in Russian water bodies. It was brought to our regions back in the last century by aquarists. Initially, she lived only in the reservoirs of East Africa. Today she lives in Zanzibar, Natela, Israel, Jordan, and Syria.
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Habitat
Tilapia is found in different regions of the planet. Its greatest numbers are observed on the American continent and in European countries. There were cases when she was hooked in Russia. Interestingly, it was brought here by aquarists back in 1918. Previously, it was only in East African waters.
Due to the lack of special requirements for living conditions, the fish began to be bred artificially. Special farms first appeared in China, the USA and Latin America. Since the 60s of the 20th century, sea chicken has been bred in Russia. The main goal of increasing its numbers is the destruction of aquatic vegetation without harm to the ecosystem.
Attention! The survival rate of tilapia fry reaches 90%. If we compare these data with information about crucian carp, the difference is colossal; no more than 10% of its offspring survive.
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What does it eat?
Different types of fish differ in the way they feed. The basis of the diet of some is plankton, others prefer to eat aquatic vegetation, and still others love bottom sediments.
When they absorb soil with decomposing residues, they receive a lot of detrital amino acids. And this improves the function of the reproductive system of adults.
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Connection with China
For many years, the world leader in fish exports has been China. Since the climate in this country is suitable, it actively reproduces in artificial reservoirs and on marine plantations. There she is fed cheap but balanced food. Therefore, its cost is inexpensive.
It is caught in the waters near the Chinese island of Hainan. They are produced by different manufacturers, and are also supplied under different brands.
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Nutritional value
Telapia is a very tasty and nutritious fish, but it is low in calories. It contains 95.8 kcal per 100 g, as well as 19.9 g of proteins, 1.5 g of fats. There are no carbohydrates.
- Fried fish contains 128 kcal, protein - 22 g, fat - 3.8 g.
- Steamed - 91 kcal, protein - 18 g, fat - 1.8 g.
- Oven baked – 90 kcal, protein – 19 g, fat – 1.9 g.
- Boiled - 90 kcal, protein - 19 g, fat - 1.6 g.
The composition contains a lot of balanced protein and saturated fatty acids. There are no carbohydrates in the composition. The positive properties of tilapia fish include a large number of such substances: retinol, B vitamins, tocopherol, vitamin D, vitamin K, nicotinic acid, riboflavin. Fish also contains minerals - calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, manganese, zinc, selenium. You can cook a large number of dishes from it.
Composition, calorie content of fish fillet
Perch is a dietary product . This is healthy food. Meat is low in calories and rich in protein and mineral composition. Calorie content and nutritional value per 100 g of tilapia fish:
- proteins – 17.9 g;
- fats – 4.8 g;
- carbohydrates – 0.0 g (glycemic index – 0 units);
- calorie content – 114 kcal.
Tilapia adds variety to the diet of those who adhere to the principles of a healthy diet and want to lose weight. She is “respected” by muscle building bodybuilders.
Exotic meat is also rich in other healthy elements:
- vitamins (groups B, E, D, K, PP);
- sodium - 50 mg;
- potassium - 450 mg;
- calcium - 120 mg;
- iron - 1.8 mg;
- phosphorus - 340 mg;
- magnesium - 25 mg;
- zinc - 0.6 mg;
- selenium;
- polyunsaturated fatty acids (Omega-3, 6).
The only negative is the high cholesterol content (160 mg/100 g).
Thanks to the “light” protein, tilapia meat is easily digestible. Therefore, it is recommended to include fish in the diet of people suffering from diseases of the pancreas and gastrointestinal tract.
How to mine
This aquatic inhabitant is grown in most cases in artificial reservoirs. Tilapia is grown artificially in specially equipped reservoirs in China, Latin America, and the USA. When growing, they feed it with a balanced special feed to reduce the risk of negative effects on the human body. This fish appeared on supermarket shelves relatively recently, so in our country this product is exotic. Most of the family lives in the tropical zone, but some of them live in colder waters.
She easily adapts to new conditions. Therefore, it can be easily grown under artificial conditions. The main suppliers are countries in Africa, South America, China, and the USA. The description and the way it looks resembles a flounder. She has the same flat body and large head. The meat lacks the characteristic fishy smell and taste, and the fillet has no bones. It is baked, fried, boiled, steamed, stuffed.
Health Benefits
The benefit of a product is determined by its composition. Tilapia is rich in beneficial microelements that have a beneficial effect on the body:
- Strengthening bone tissue and joints. Minerals (for example, phosphorus) help form the bone skeleton and muscle mass at any age. Prevents osteoporosis.
- Supports mental activity . Potassium and omega acids help increase oxygen flow to the brain. This not only increases the “power” of the brain, it also improves the neurological picture.
- Fighting cancer . Fish is rich in selenium. This unique element prevents oxidative processes in the body and prevents the mutation of healthy cells into cancer cells.
- Heart and vascular support . Fish meat is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which our body cannot synthesize on its own. That is why their high content in the daily diet is so important. They support the functioning of the cardiovascular system by reducing the concentration of bad cholesterol. Tilapia is useful for the prevention of thrombosis and atherosclerosis.
- Rejuvenation. Vitamin E is an effective antioxidant responsible for supporting youth and beauty.
- Support hormonal balance. The same selenium improves hormonal levels and normalizes the functioning of the thyroid gland.
- Immune support. The vitamin composition of tilapia will help fight the first signs of colds, depression, and general weakness. It activates the work of red cells, which are responsible for immunity.
- Formation of a healthy body. The product will help strengthen muscles and get rid of fat. Useful nutrients will bring all body systems back to normal.
Baked
You can make a delicious dish by cooking fish in the oven with potatoes, spices and onions.
It requires the following ingredients:
- fillet – 1 kg;
- seven large potatoes;
- three large onions;
- mayonnaise – 3 tbsp;
- hard cheese – 30 g;
- salt, seasonings.
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The cooking algorithm is as follows:
- Wash the fillet, rub with salt and pepper, mix with mayonnaise. Set aside for half an hour and let it steep.
- Peel the potatoes and cut into slices.
- Peel the onion and cut into rings or half rings.
- Grease a saucepan or baking dish with butter, place half of the potatoes. Top with fillet, then onions and potatoes again.
- Pour the remaining sauce on top.
- Sprinkle with grated cheese and place in the oven.
When a golden brown crust appears, the dish can be taken out and served. You can decorate the top with fresh, finely chopped herbs.
With lemon and garlic
By steaming tilapia, you can get the most healthy dish possible.
It requires:
- fillet – 4 pcs;
- one lemon;
- two cloves of garlic;
- salt, spices.
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What to do:
- Thaw and prepare the fish. Rub the fillet with salt and spices.
- Squeeze lemon juice and pour over fillets.
- Pass the garlic through a garlic press. Also rub it on the fish.
- Place the fillet in a steamer and cook for 20 minutes.
Serve hot or cold with side dishes - mashed potatoes, buckwheat porridge, boiled rice. Also goes well with vegetable salads and slices.
Reasons why you should not eat pangasius fish
The fish is grown in the Mekong River, which is located in Vietnam. It is considered one of the dirtiest rivers in the world. The fact is that water is often drained into the Mekong from chemical plants, sewer pipes or fields.
Pangasius is frozen in the same river. In order to speed up the growth process, producers use hormones that are injected into females. In addition, the fish are fed with GMOs and other chemicals harmful to human health.
This species is prohibited for sale in many countries in Europe and America. Experts found that the fish contained a high content of ice glaze, and also identified E. coli and Listeria bacteria.
The food and waste products of fish in such a habitat rot and give the meat a rotten smell. Doctors do not recommend consuming pangasius, because it can lead to liver damage, blood disease and other human organisms. Fish is also very dangerous for small children.
Myths about tilapia
There are several myths about this fish. Expertise debunks them.
Myth 1. All tilapia comes from China.
China is the world's largest supplier of this product. Of the samples that were studied, more than half were from this country. Fish are bred artificially in reservoirs and aquatic plantations not only in China, but also in the USA, Latin America, and Malaysia.
Myth 2. It is of poor quality.
Once the fillet is thawed, it should be a pale pink color. After cooking there should be no specific fishy taste or smell. Poor-quality fillets are yellow in color and have a muddy taste. In most cases, the fish is fresh, it contains an acceptable level of volatile nitrogen, and this confirms the quality.
Myth 3: Buyers buy more water than fish.
An integral part of preparing frozen carcasses for storage is the glazing process. During this process, the carcasses are covered with a thin ice glaze. Thanks to it, moisture loss and oxidation are prevented. This way the carcasses are stored longer.
Myth 4. She eats everything, which means she is dangerous to her health.
According to the examination, the caught tilapia does not contain lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, or radionuclides. Antibiotics and parasites that pose a danger to human health were not found in any of the samples studied.
So where did tilapia come to us, what kind of fish is it and where does it live?
In fact, the name tilapia combines a genus of freshwater fish that includes about 100 different species of members of the cichlid family.
This genus lives mainly in the tropics, preferring shallow streams, lakes, rivers and ponds. It is generally accepted that the main species of this variety spread throughout the world from Asia Minor. However, some tilapia species originated in East Africa and from there spread across two continents.
Tilapia is known by many names, in different countries it is called “chicken of the river”, “chicken of the sea” and even “St. Peter’s fish”. You may ask, what could an ordinary fish do to deserve such a name? In the Gospel of Matthew there is a legend about how the Apostle Peter caught a fish from the Sea of Galilee with a coin in its teeth. Historians believe it was tilapia.
In terms of external characteristics, representatives of the cichlid family do not differ much from each other. They have a short body, slightly compressed laterally, and a large head with large eyes.
This is interesting! Depending on the situation, tilapia can change sex; most often, females prefer to become males.
