Two things: First, let me apologize for the short rushed post {likely full of typos and errors}, but I have about 4.5 minutes to write this! Second, these BBQ Tilapia and Sweet Potato Tacos are seriously so amazing, I think you’ll happily forgive my typos and poor grammar!
The truth is, I could easily have about 19.5 minutes to write this post, but ever since we’ve been living in Franklin, camping out in our incredibly generous friends’ guest bedroom, I’ve been taking Tucker on a 15 minute walk before work and I’ve come to depend on it! The neighborhood is lovely, the mornings have been absolutely gorgeous, and as I mentioned here, there is something so energizing about being outside, especially before the heat sets in.
I also have a new client meeting today with a lady who recently moved to Nashville from Florida, but previously living in Vermont. Josh and I visited Vermont last Fall with his parents and truly fell in love. I think it’s quite possible that I was born to live in Vermont. Anyway, my new client is wanting some help with paint colors, furniture layout, merging of furniture from two different homes {Florida and Vermont}, among a few other things. So A.} I can’t be late, B.} I’m really excited to get to know her and hear more about Vermont, and C.}I have a million things to do at work, but MUST leave early as tonight is the wonderful benefit that my parents church has put on for my mom and dad.
They are hoping to raise some funds to help cover the ever mounting medical expenses as we continue the search to find out what is causing Mom’s extremely rapid decline, and desperately seek a solution to help her.
The evening will be full of music, worship, and prayer! Not to mention, my dear friend is donating her gourmet cupcakes to sell at the benefit, and some extremely kind ladies from their church have volunteered to bring baked goods to sell, with all proceeds going towards medical expenses.
This past year has been so difficult with my mom’s rapid decline in health, but our family has experienced more love and kindness from the people around us than ever before. The Lord continues to overwhelm us as he works through His people and we are eternally grateful!
Okay, I’ve already used up my five minutes and am seriously cutting into my walking time, but I can’t leave without saying a few words on these BBQ Tilapia and Sweet Potato Tacos. These came as a result of trying to use up some sweet potatoes I had in the pantry before we moved and realizing that I hadn’t used any of the tilapia fillets my friend from work sent home with me.
As I began setting things out to start the process, I realized I had packed up all of my seasoning and herbs with the exception of this incredible Trader Joe’s BBQ Rub with Coffee. Which I had left out to potentially use with our friends, should we decide to grill one night.
Let’s just say, thank goodness for limited options, because for once I didn’t try to over complicate things with a million ingredients, toppings, etc and oh my…these were DELISH! If you’re not tilapia fan, I think they would be just as good with chicken, shrimp, or tofu for vegetarians/vegans. Just be sure to press the tofu first, which you can do using weights and paper towels or by using a tofu press. So yummy!
I think my “walking” time has expired, but it was worth it! Happy Friday and if any of you are in the area and would like to be at the benefit tonight, the info is posted on my Facebook page!
BBQ Tilapia and Sweet Potato Tacos
Ingredients
- 4 small taco size tortillas
- 2 tilapia fillets
- 2 small sweet potatoes cubed
- 1 avocado cubed
- Trader Joe's BBQ Rub with Coffee
- 1 tbsp Trader Joe's All Natural BBQ sauce
- Trader Joe's BBQ rub with coffee
- Salt & Pepper as desired
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- Meanwhile, cut sweet potatoes into small cubes and spread into single layer on greased pan.
- Add tilapia fillets to greased pan as well and sprint sweet potatoes and fillets with Trader Joe's BBQ rub with coffee. I was able to use one large baking sheet and put the tilapia fillets at one end, and the sweet potatoes at the other. You could also use two small baking sheets and keep them separate.
- Once you've added BBQ rub with coffee, flip fillets and add to other side, toss sweet potatoes to evenly coat.
- Bake for 9 minutes, remove pan and flip both tilapia fillets as well as sweet potato cubes.
- Return to the oven and bake additional 2-4 minutes or until sweet potatoes are tender and fillets are cooked through. For mine, they were ready at the same time.
- Allow fish and sweet potatoes to cool a few minutes, then add Trader Joe's All Natural BBQ sauce (or BBQ sauce of choice) to tilapia and break apart into small pieces, tossing to coat evenly in BBQ sauce.
- Then assemble your tacos with baked tilapia, sweet potatoes and avocado or other toppings if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Heather says
I’m inviting ourselves over so that you can fix these for me!!!! Fish, sweet potatoes, avocado, and that coffee seasoning…how can it get any better?? (Thank you for mentioning my site ;). See you tonight!)
Kaylee Pauley says
Well there is a rumor that our husbands are watching the World Cup together on Sunday, so perhaps we can arrange this! :)
Thank you again for donating your FABULOUS cupcakes – see you tonight!
Abbie @ Needs Salt says
Oh my goodness. These tacos. Is it okay to scream here? I think I might have to. These look amazing! I love all the combinations of flavors going on here. And that Trader Joe’s rub… coffee? whaaat? That looks amazing. (why can’t I live near a Trader Joe’s?)
Vermont is a lovely place, (I’ve lived here all my life) but there’s a lot of farmland with a lot of nothing. haha. Some of my favorite towns are Burlington (because it’s gorgeous and there’s tons to do) and Middlebury (beautiful campus town with a really sweet co-op). The only real downfall to living in Vermont is that there has been a recent invasion of deer ticks carrying Lyme disease. I would say probably half the people I know in my small town have had Lyme disease (some of them more than once) and both my parents have had it, too. It’s really terrible, because Vermont is such a beautiful place.
I’ll be praying for your mom! I hope you have a lovely weekend, Kaylee!
(oh and I’m totally pinning these amazing tacos; gorgeous photos!)
Kaylee Pauley says
Thank you Abbie! Perfectly okay to scream here, they are quite tasty! :) I’m sorry there are no Trader Joe’s near you, I’d be more than happy to ship you a can of this BBQ Rub with Coffee if if you’d like!
We were in Vermont during the Fall, I guess they call us the “Leaf Peepers”, is was SO beautiful! We actually visited Middlebury and LOVED it, and my husband read about the co-op before we went, so we made sure to stop in there! I picked up some Hemp seeds among a few other little goodies, such a neat place!
I had no idea Vermont was one of the areas with Lymes so present, I am so sorry to hear about that! I hope your parents and loved ones are all healthy again and not suffering from the awful disease!
Thank you so much for your prayers for my Mama…means so much! You can send me your mailing address through the contact form if you want to take me up on my offer to send you some of the BBQ Rub with Coffee! :)
Anna says
These look delicious! I’m going to have to try them with tofu soon! After 13 years of being a vegetarian, fish is the only meat (not meat, but you know what I mean) that looks appetizing to me! Unfortunately there is only one trader joes in Miami and it is quite inconvenient for me to get to so I’ll have to find some other rub to use.
I hope the benefit went well! I imagine that the finances compound the stress and pain of the illness itself. Is there any way for us to donate online? I’m wishing you all the best with your mother’s health struggles.
Kaylee Pauley says
Oh thank you Anna! :) We actually liked these so much that we made them again last night with some friends! I’d be happy to make you the same offer I made Abbie, if you’d like to send me your mailing address via the contact form, I’d be happy to mail you a can of the Trader Joe’s BBQ Rub with Coffee!
The benefit was beautiful and an overwhelming blessing! The finances can definitely be an added burden to an already tremendously difficult situation, but people were and are so very generous and the Lord truly blessed us! There is not a way to donate online, but thank you so very much for offering – incredibly kind of you! :)
susan Oven says
I have been wanting to make these since you posted them and just now getting around to it. I am trying these tonight finally! Is there a way to donate for your mom?
Kaylee Pauley says
Ahh, sorry to just be responding, we closed on our house yesterday! :) I’m so excited you made these, what did you think?!?!
You could send a check to their church, but you don’t need to do that Susan!! Just keep praying! :)
madison89 says
Looks awesome, but you say your cooking Organic and healthy!!!
That said, there is over 700 ml of Sodium in this recipe, and it is Toooo much for any recipe, and not healthy..
Sorry I have to pass on this….
Kaylee Pauley says
Hi Madison, thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. The sodium is mostly from the tilapia, I’m afraid it is naturally fairly high in sodium, but of course it is also high in protein and low in fat/calories. Also, the tortillas I used from Trader Joe, reduced carb tortillas, are fairly high in sodium. You can of course use different tortillas that have less sodium as well as opt for a different source of protein that has less sodium :) I included a link below that shares the nutritional value tilapia has to offer, but of course it does list the sodium as a drawback. I hope you’ll give this recipe a try and modify it in a way that better suits you! Thanks again :)
http://www.mademan.com/mm/tilapia-nutrition.html