Happia Tilapia

I played around with this one for a long time. Tried different ethnicity and different methods of cooking. I am very happy with the recipe I finally perfected. It is mostly Asian in flavor with a little bit of Thai thrown in. The white wine I used is Fetzer's Gewurztraminer.

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup raisins
• 1⁄4 cup  apricot flavored white wine
• 1⁄2 cup  dried apricot, pressed down, divided
• 2  tablespoons brown sugar, packed
• 1⁄4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1⁄4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1  tablespoon  peanut oil or 1  tablespoon olive oil or 1  tablespoon  vegetable oil
• 1  tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1⁄4 cup  chopped carrot
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped celery
• 1⁄2 cup scallion, sliced thin (or onions chopped)
• 1  teaspoon garlic, minced
• 2  tablespoons wine, from the raisins
• 2  tablespoons soy sauce
• 2  tablespoons plum sauce (or other sweet Asian sauce)
• 1  teaspoon oyster sauce
• 1  lb  tilapia fillet, cut into chunks
• 1⁄2 lb shrimp, cooked shell and tail removed, rough chop
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach (thaw and drain)
• 1  teaspoon lemon pepper (or 1 tsp pepper and 1 tsp lemon)
• 1⁄2 cup  plain  fine breadcrumbs
• 1  egg, slightly beaten

• SAUCE SWEET AND SOUR SPICY

• 1⁄2  of the chopped boiled apricot
• 1⁄2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1⁄4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2  tablespoons wine, from raisins
• 2  garlic cloves, minced
• 4  tablespoons water, from apricots soak (or use apricot nectar)
• 4  tablespoons catsup
• 2  tablespoons plum sauce (or other sweet Asian sauce)
• 1  teaspoon oyster sauce
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  chili paste (or other spicey product, more can be added if you like it spicier)

Directions

1. Pour wine over raisins, cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight.
2. Put apricots in a small sauce pan and cover with water.
3. Bring to boil and simmer until tender (30 - 35 minutes).
4. Drain and reserve liquid if any.
5. Chop apricots and put 1/2 in bowl (reserve other half for sauce).
6. Stir in brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and raisins.
7. Set aside.
8. Preheat oven to 325.
9. Heat a skillet, and add oil and butter.
10. Saute carrot, celery and scallions for 3 minutes.
11. Add garlic and stir in for 1 minute.
12. Stir in wine, soy sauce, plum sauce, oyster sauce.
13. Stir in tilapia and saute until cooked (about 3-5 minutes).
14. Tilapia should flake apart.
15. Stir in spinach until well blended.
16. Add lemon pepper and stir in shrimp until heated.
17. Put into bowl and allow to cool to room temperature.
18. Mix in breadcrumbs, egg, and the raisin apricot mixture.
19. Make balls about 1-1 1/2 inch in diameter.
20. About 20 balls.
21. Place on well oiled baking sheet.
22. Bake for 20-25 minutes until slightly browned.
23. Make sauce while these are baking.
24. SAUCE.
25. Put all ingredients in a sauce pan and bring to boil.
26. Turn down heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
27. Be sure to test with the hot sauce so it is to your liking.
28. Serve tilapia balls with sauce over rice.