GRILLED WHOLE FISH

Try this unique recipe on tilapia, catfish or trout.

Catching your own fish and bringing it home to serve is a delectable treat. Most fish are destined to being breaded and deep fried, or pan fried with some garlic and butter. Why not add something a little different to your menu: Grilled Whole Fish

Grilled Whole Tilapia (Source: Webshots.com)

Catfish is a good example of a fish that is well suited for grilling whole. It is plentiful in the US and has a mild flavor that is sure to please everyone.

Another very good fish to grill whole (and also very affordable) is the freshwater white fish tilapia. A native to rivers of Africa, the only place you are likely to catch tilapia in the states is at your local market. Tilapia are farm-raised with great success here, often in the same tanks as catfish. They both have a very light flavor that is perfect for cooking whole on a hot grill. Tilapia provides a high quality protein since its low in calories, total fat, saturated fat and carbohydrates.

This easy to follow recipe is a delicious way to enjoy whole tilapia or catfish using an asian inspired rub coupled with miracle whip as a tangy alternative to oil and cooked over a charcoal or gas grill. Read on for a grilled whole fish recipe that is sure to have your friends smacking their lips for more.

What To Grill

1 whole fish per person
2 cloves, garlic crushed
1 small red onion
1/2 bell pepper (any color)
1 bunch each: green onions sweet basil
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
6 tbsp miracle whip (or mayonnaise)
2 tbsp Rub With Love Seafood Rub

How To Grill It

1. Clean and scale the fish, cover until ready to prepare.
2. Chop the onion, bell pepper, sweet basil and green onion into small pieces and place in a mixing bowl along with the crushed garlic. Add the lime juice, and three tablespoons miracle whip, one tablespoon Seafood Rub. Stir until the ingredients are well mixed, cover and set aside.
3. Mix the remaining miracle whip with Seafood Rub.
4. Preheat barbecue grill.

When you grill whole fish it’s very important that you don’t have your grill too hot. Your grill should be pre-heated to medium high heat and you will want to cook your fish slow and easy over the charcoal coals or on a gas grill.

5. Fill the inside cavity of the fish with the onion and bell pepper mixture, making sure to completely fill the cavity.
6. Using a rubber spatula, spread both sides of the entire fish with the miracle whip and rub mixture. The miracle whip is the whole trick to keeping the fish moist and not having it stick to the grill.
7. Follow these steps for each fish. Cook for 7 to 10 minutes per side, depending on how thick the fish is. The fish is done when it is brown and crunchy on the outside and moist and flaky on the inside.

Food Tips:

If you do not have a gas or charcoal grill you can use a stove top grill heated to high. You could also broil the whole tilapia in the oven. This recipe makes 1 whole tilapia fish for each person.