Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Description
The Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, is a tropical freshwater fish that has been farmed for centuries. Today, it is the third most common farmed fish globally with production exceeding 4,4 million tonnes per year. Nile tilapia have oval-shaped bodies, with a maximum reported length of 60 cm and a maximum recorded weight of 9 kg.

Origin
Woolworths sources Nile tilapia farmed in cages in freshwater lakes in Indonesia from one of the world's leading tilapia producers. The tilapia is fed a vegetable-rich diet.

Attributes
Tilapia has a sweet, mild taste with lean flesh and a medium-firm, faky texture. Tilapia is a great source of protein that's low in saturated fat and offers a range of trace minerals, including calcium, phosphorous, potassium and selenium.

Cooking
Tilapia can be grilled, baked, broiled, sautéed, pan-fried or steamed. Tilapia fillets are very quick to cook, making it easy to get dinner on the table in a flash. Tilapia flesh cooks up to a white colour. Marinating tilapia for at least 30 minutes can infuse it with added flavour and character.

Sustainability

Our Nile tilapia producer subscribes to the world's leading standards for sustainable fish farming, food safety, and social responsibility. The farms from which we procure Nile tilapia conform to the Aquaculture Stewardship Council's (ASC) aquaculture standard, which has more than 150 indicators and 500 criteria covering the environmental, economic and social impacts of fish farming.