Tempting Tilapia

 

4 fresh tilapia fillets
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup butter, softened. Do NOT use margarine or canola-based spread
3 tbsp mayonnaise or Miracle Whip® salad dressing
5 chopped green onions, white section and tender, light green parts
1/4 tsp. salt
3 dashes Tabasco® or preferred hot sauce 

 

      Heat oven broiler to 500ºF (280ºC).  Put tilapia fillets on a greased cookie sheet.  Drizzle on lemon juice, and let them sit 15 minutes while juice soaks in.  Meanwhile prepare other ingredients.  In a small bowl mix cheese, butter, mayonnaise and green onions.  Stir.  Add salt and hot sauce; stir again.  Broil fillets about 4 minutes under broiling element, 6 - 8 minutes.  Time to cook is dependent on how thick fillets are.  Check them with a knife or fork, until cooked through and flaky.  Just be sure to check thickest part.  When done, take them out og broiler.  Pile each piece of fish with a portion of sauce.  It should be thick and mound on fish, 1/4" thick, maybe a tad more.  Spread it toward edges, but leave a border because as it heats it will spread.  Putfish, with topping, back under broiler, cook 2 - 3 minutes more, until tops are browning; sort of like browning meringue.  Just edges and tips will be browned.  Carefully remove the fish with a large spatula to plates.  If nervous about transferring a piece that large, cut it into sections and transfer each piece individually.  Makes 4 servings.