Golden Tilapia

Number of Servings: 2

Ingredients:
1/3 teaspoon peppercorns
1 clove
2 teaspoons sugar, or less
3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons white rum
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 pound whole tilapia, filleted
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups julienned mixed vegetables, such as carrots, zucchini, yellow squash, bell peppers

Instructions:
In a dry skillet, toast the peppercorns and clove over medium heat until puffs of smoke begin to appear, about 1 minute. Transfer to a mortar and crush roughly.

In a small saucepan, simmer sugar, soy sauce, rum, lemon zest, and lemon juice over medium heat. Add the peppercorn/clove mixture, ginger, and garlic powder, and reduce by half.

Remove from heat, strain and let cool.

Place the fish fillets in the cooled marinade and let sit for 20 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Heat a skillet on medium high heat. Remove the fish fillet from the marinade. Season the fillet with salt and pepper. Place the marinade in a small saucepan, bring to a boil, and remove from the heat. Add the oil to the skillet, and sauté the fillets for 2 minutes on each side. Divide the julienned vegetables into two piles on a baking pan. Place fillets on the vegetable beds and finish in the oven for 5 to 7 minutes or until done.

Brush marinade on finished fish. Serve vegetables as soon as possible.