Happia Tilapia

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup apricot flavored wine
• 1/2 cup dried apricot, pressed down, divided
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon peanut oil or 1 tablespoon olive oil or 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup chopped carrot
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1/2 cup scallion, sliced thin (or onions chopped)
• 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons wine, from the raisins
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons plum sauce (or other sweet asian sauce)
• 1 teaspoon oyster sauce
• 1 lb tilapia fillet, cut into chunks
• 1/2 lb shrimp, cooked shell and tail removed, rough chop
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach (thaw and drain)
• 1 teaspoon lemon pepper (or 1 tsp pepper and 1 tsp lemon)
• 1/2 cup plain fine breadcrumbs
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• 1/2 of the chopped boiled apricot
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons wine, from raisins
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 tablespoons water, from apricots soak (or use apricot nectar)
• 4 tablespoons catsup
• 2 tablespoons plum sauce (or other sweet asian sauce)
• 1 teaspoon oyster sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon chili paste (or other spicey product, more can be added if you like it spicier)

Recipe

• 1 pour wine over raisins, cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
• 2 put apricots in a small sauce pan and cover with water.
• 3 bring to boil and simmer until tender (30 - 35 minutes).
• 4 drain and reserve liquid if any.
• 5 chop apricots and put 1/2 in bowl (reserve other half for sauce).
• 6 stir in brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and raisins.
• 7 set aside.
• 8 preheat oven to 325.
• 9 heat a skillet, and add oil and butter.
• 10 saute carrot, celery and scallions for 3 minutes.
• 11 add garlic and stir in for 1 minute.
• 12 stir in wine, soy sauce, plum sauce, oyster sauce.
• 13 stir in tilapia and saute until cooked (about 3-5 minutes).
• 14 tilapia should flake apart.
• 15 stir in spinach until well blended.
• 16 add lemon pepper and stir in shrimp until heated.
• 17 put into bowl and allow to cool to room temperature.
• 18 mix in breadcrumbs, egg, and the raisin apricot mixture.
• 19 make balls about 1-1 1/2 inch in diameter.
• 20 about 20 balls.
• 21 place on well oiled baking sheet.
• 22 bake for 20-25 minutes until slightly browned.
• 23 make sauce while these are baking.
• 24 sauce.
• 25 put all ingredients in a sauce pan and bring to boil.
• 26 turn down heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
• 27 be sure to test with the hot sauce so it is to your liking.
• 28 serve tilapia balls with sauce over rice.