Spicy Sweet Grilled Nile Tilapia (Nila Bakar Pedas Manis)

Experience the delightful fusion of flavors with this Spicy Sweet Grilled Nile Tilapia recipe. This dish beautifully marries the freshness of tilapia with aromatic spices and a hint of sweetness, creating a truly delectable experience that is sure to impress your family and friends.

Ingredients

• 500 grams fresh Nile tilapia
• 2 pieces palm sugar (gula merah)
• 2 teaspoons coriander seeds (ketumbar)
• 3 pieces candlenuts (kemiri)
• 5 cloves garlic (bawang putih)
• 3 shallots (bawang merah)
• 3 red chilies (cabai merah)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (garam)
• 1 sachet sweet soy sauce (kecap manis)
• 1 tablespoon flavor enhancer (penyedap rasa)
• Juice of 1 lime (perasan air jeruk)
• 100 ml water

Preparation Steps

1. Clean the Fish: Begin by thoroughly cleaning the fresh Nile tilapia under running water. Once clean, rub the fish with lime juice, which helps eliminate any fishy odor, leaving you with a fresher taste.

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2. Prepare the Spice Paste: In a mortar and pestle, combine the garlic, shallots, red chilies, coriander seeds, salt, candlenuts, and flavor enhancer. Grind these ingredients together until you achieve a smooth and fragrant paste, ensuring that the flavors meld beautifully.

3. Cook the Sauce: In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, add the ground spice paste, sweet soy sauce, and palm sugar. Stir the mixture well and let it simmer until the palm sugar has completely dissolved and the sauce is fragrant.

4. Marinate the Fish: Gently place the cleaned tilapia into the sauce, ensuring that each fish is coated with the aromatic mixture. Allow the fish to marinate for at least 30 minutes, giving the spices time to penetrate the flesh.

5. Prepare for Grilling: Set up your grilling equipment. Arrange the marinated tilapia on the grill or in a grilling basket, making sure to space them adequately to allow even cooking.

6. Grill the Fish: Grill the tilapia over medium heat, turning occasionally until they are beautifully charred and cooked through, typically about 15-20 minutes depending on the thickness of the fish. The fish should flake easily when done.

7. Serve: Once grilled to perfection, serve the spicy sweet tilapia hot, accompanied by a fresh vegetable salad and your favorite sambal for an added kick.

Enjoying the Dish

This Spicy Sweet Grilled Nile Tilapia is perfect for family gatherings or casual weeknight dinners. Its rich flavor profile combined with the smoky essence from grilling makes it a dish that everyone will adore. The balance of sweetness from the palm sugar and the spiciness from the chilies creates a harmonious taste that is simply irresistible. Enjoy the delightful flavors of this traditional dish, and share it with your loved ones for a memorable meal!