Oven Roasted Tilapia with Shrimp and Spinach Stuffing

 serves 4 people

4 Tilapia fillets, rinsed, then dried with paper towel
2 Tbsp. Olive oil
1 tsp. Onion powder
1 tsp. Garlic powder
½ tsp. Paprika
Salt and white pepper, to taste (black pepper works fine also)
Squeeze Fresh lemon juice
 
Stuffing:
8 oz. Shrimp, peeled and deveined, minced (shells reserved for sauce)
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 Tbsp. Onion, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Tbsp Celery, small diced
2 Tbsp Green Bell pepper, small dice
2 C. firmly packed fresh cleaned spinach
¼ C. white wine
½ C. Fresh breadcrumbs + extra for topping
1 Tsp. Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp. Mayonnaise
1 Tsp. Old Bay seasoning
¼ C. Parmesan
¼ C. Colby Jack cheese
 
Sauce:
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Shallot, sliced thin
¼ C. white wine
Shrimp shells from shrimp for stuffing
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1 C. clam juice
½ C. butter
Salt and pepper (white pepper if you have), to taste
 
Preheat oven to 400° F.
 
In a sauté pan, heat olive oil over medium high heat.  Add onions, celery, and green pepper.  Sweat until soft, 4-5 minutes.  Add garlic and cook another minute. Increase heat to high and add spinach and wine.  Cook until spinach has wilted and released its liquor.  Continue to cook until most of the liquid has cooked off but spinach is still moist.  Remove from heat and transfer to large mixing bowl.  Stir and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes.  Add shrimp and rest of ingredients.  Mix well, reserve on the side.
 
Prepare a large sheet tray with parchment paper on the bottom.  Drizzle some of the olive oil on the paper and lay the fish (dark line of the filet side down) on oiled paper. Season top of the filets with salt and pepper, onion, garlic powder, and the paprika.  Squeeze lemon juice over fish.  Take the stuffing and top each filet with an equal amount.  Gently press stuffing down onto top of fish.  Sprinkle a little extra breadcrumb on each filet and drizzle with olive oil.  Place in hot oven for 20 minutes. Once done and golden brown, remove and let rest for 5-10 minutes, then serve with sauce.
 
 
While fish is cooking make your sauce.  In a small saucepan heat oil over medium heat.  Add shallots and shrimp shells, cook until shallots have softened, and shells have turned a ruby pink.  Increase heat to high, add wine and clam juice, reduce by half.  Lower heat to medium and add thyme sprigs and continue to cook for 8-10 minutes. Strain sauce base into new pan, discard solids and over very low heat whisk butter into strained reduction a little at a time making an emulsified sauce.  Correct seasoning with salt and pepper.  Reserve sauce on the side warm, do not boil or it will separate. Serve with fish, enjoy!