Tilapia and Mashed Yams with Pancetta-Sage Breadcrumbs

After the craziness of a 42-steps French recipe, it’s time to do something simple and fast.  I picked out a few recipes from the epicurious iPhone app and ordered groceries for them online.  First is this awesomely easy tilapia dish.  The yams are cooked in the microwave, fish takes about 5 minutes to cook, it can’t get any easier than this!  When you make this, make sure to fry up some extra pancetta because you will want to snack on it while cooking.  I really do like this recipe because it’s almost like a deconstructed fried fish, you get the crunchy, but not the heavy batter, this can be even healthier if the fish was baked or steamed.  A++ would make again.

Ingredients:
Recipe from epicurious.com

• 2 ounces thinly sliced pancetta (Italian bacon), chopped
• 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs (from French or sourdough bread with crust, ground in processor)
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage
• 2 pounds medium yams (red-skinned sweet potatoes), pierced all over with fork
• 3 tablespoons butter, divided
• 4 5-to 6-ounce tilapia fillets or eight 2-to 3-ounce fillets

Directions:

1. Sauté pancetta in large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp. Transfer to small bowl. Add breadcrumbs and 1 tablespoon chopped sage to drippings in skillet; stir over medium-high heat until breadcrumbs are almost crisp, 5 minutes. Transfer to bowl with pancetta. Cool (reserve skillet).
2. Place yams on plate and microwave on high until very soft, 5 to 8 minutes per side, depending on size of yam. Transfer yams to work surface. Cut yams in half lengthwise; scoop out pulp and place in medium glass bowl. Discard skin. Add remaining 11/2 teaspoons chopped sage and 1 tablespoon butter to yams; mash until almost smooth. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
3. Sprinkle fish fillets with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in same nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add fish fillets and cook until golden brown on outside and just opaque in center, 3 to 4 minutes per side. If necessary, rewarm yams in microwave. Divide mashed yams among 4 plates. Top each serving with 1 fish fillet, sprinkle generously with pancetta-sage breadcrumbs, and serve.

The only thing I did slightly differently is garnish with chives so the picture is prettier!  Did I mention how cool the epicurious iPhone app is?  It is, trust me.