Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you really need to impress someone with your culinary skills? Maybe you are attending a potluck dinner party, having over your new fling for a date night in, or your parents are in town and you want to at least pretend that you have your life together.

We’ve all been there. Frantically looking around your kitchen for inspiration. Jetting off to the grocery store with no ideas in mind and wandering aimlessly through the produce section with no direction.

People, here is your out. I give you cajun tilapia with mango-avocado salsa: quite possibly the simplest, “fake it til you make it” recipe known to man. Make this your new go-to dish to fool people into thinking you know your way around the kitchen.

Tilapia and other white fish are often blamed for lack of flavor, but this dish turns that claim on its head with its mix of a cajun, sweet and zesty bite. With a simple seasoning coating and a few simple steps, this dish is ready to roll and on the table in 20 minutes or less.

So go ahead – act as if you slaved all day over it. I won’t tell anyone – it will be our little secret.

Blackened Tilapia with Mango-Avocado Salsa

Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients: 

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 pinch pepper
• 1 pinch cumin
• 2 filets tilapia
• 1 mango, cubed
• 1 avocado, cubed
• 1/4 cup red onion, diced
• 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
• 1 tablespoon lime juice

Instructions: 

1. In a medium pan over medium heat, heat olive oil.
2. While the pan is heating up, mix together paprika, salt, pepper, and cumin in a small mixing bowl. Coat the fish evenly with the spice mixture.
3. In a separate medium mixing bowl, combine mango, avocado, red onion, cilantro, and lime juice.
4. Place filets in the pan and cook about 3 minutes per side, or until opaque throughout.
5. Remove pan from heat. Transfer fish to a serving platter and top with mango salsa, divided evenly between the two servings.
6. Enjoy!