10-Spice Tilapia

Let me begin by saying that this could be 5-spice tilapia, and it would still be delicious. This recipe hails from long, long ago- back when sugar was considered healthy because it was low-fat, and tilapia was the ideal fish because it was farmed. Dinosaurs no longer roamed the earth, but it was some time between then and now... the nineties. It is quick, delicious, easy to remember, and you can replace the fish with anything similar that you like. 

Ingredients:
1 pound tilapia fillets
1 teaspoon 10-spice powder (or 5-spice powder)
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons brown sugar (at least it's brown! practically good for you!)
1 tablespoon butter or olive oil (more if you aren't using a nonstick pan)
3 scallions, thinly sliced

Method:
Sprinkle the fish fillets with the 10-spice powder. In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce and sugar. Heat a frying pan or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, and add the butter. Fry the tilapia fillets on one side for a few minutes. The edges will start to turn white, but the top will still look raw. Flip them over and pour the soy sauce and brown sugar over it. Fry another minute until it flakes easily with a fork and sprinkle with the scallions. 

So easy! But if you'd like to make it a little more complicated, scroll down.

Here is the recipe for 10-spice powder. You can add it to marinades or mayonnaise and it will add an exotic note. This is from Barbara Tropp's China Moon Cookbook. 

Whole Spices:
2 tablespoons fennel seeds
10 star anise, broken into points
1 tablespoon coriander seeds
3/4 teaspoon whole cloves
3/4 teaspoon cumin seeds
1-1/2 teaspoons black peppercorns

Ground Spices:
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric

Toast the the whole spices in a dry skillet over low heat, stirring constantly to make sure they don't burn. Once the spices become fragrant, pour them into a clean coffee grinder and pulverize them. Stir in the ground spices, and store it in a jar.