The first time I made baked tilapia with Alfredo was back in the dorms last year. My best friend and I decided we wanted to have a really nice dinner without breaking the bank. Now, I know the idea of fish is sort of daunting for most college students. It’s pretty easy to screw up and it just sounds expensive. But when done right, it’s quick, easy and cheap.

Ingredients:

2 pieces of tilapia

            $4.99/lb

1 pack of pasta

            $1 (10 for $10 deal)

3 cups milk

            $1.99

2 tbsp butter

            $2.88/8oz

2 tbsp flour

            $12.24/5 lb bag

3 mushrooms

            $3.99/8oz

½ white onion

            $0.99/lb

1 cup spinach

            $2.99/10oz

1 tbsp smoked paprika

            $2.79/8oz

Parmesan to taste

Salt, pepper, oil as needed

Total:   $33.86

1. Bring four quarts of water to a boil. Add salt and oil then pasta.
2. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
3. While the pasta is cooking, melt butter over medium heat and add salt and pepper. Add diced onions and sliced mushrooms. Cook until onions are translucent.
4. Rub your fish with paprika, salt and pepper. Put on a greased sheet pan and place in the oven. Cook for 10 minutes and remove from the oven.
5. Add flour to the saucepan mixture and stir until a paste forms. Add milk one cup at a time and stir. Lower heat and add Parmesan and spinach. If the sauce is too thick, add more milk until it reaches the desired consistency.
6. When pasta is tender to the touch, strain, place back in the pan, and remove from the heat. Add your sauce, and serve with the fish. Add Parmesan as desired.

Enjoy. 

Audrey Weiss can be reached at entertainment@collegian.com or on Twitter @Audkward.