Wednesday marked the beginning of the Christian season of Lent. For many households, Lent means a change of diet, as many people choose to give up red meat and poultry. The result? A change of pace in the kitchen too, as folks switch out one set of main-dish recipes for another.

And even though at this time of year we love a good church-sponsored fish fry or Mickey-D’s Filet-o-Fish sandwich, there are so many more delicious ways to enjoy fish - whether or not you're observing Lent.

This week, we're talkin' tilapia. With its mild, slightly sweet taste, tilapia is a lean, high protein option for making fish at home. It cooks easily and absorbs flavors well, making it the perfect canvas for herbs and spices.

We asked AllSpicer Rory to select a few olive oil and spice blend pairings for easy pan-fried tilapia at home. Read on for his suggestions — each with a pleasant bit of heat.

Garlic Infused Olive Oil & Harissa Blend: Warm and pleasant, this combination has a subtle earthiness from chiles and paprika with a bit of tang from citric acid and vinegar powder. The garlicky addition of the infused olive oil compliments the flavors well. This combination is a medium-hot spice level.

Blood Orange Fused Olive Oil & Island Jerk Blend: This combination is citrusy and bright with its warmth coming from jalapeño, allspice, and paprika. The onion and garlic in the blend provide depth in flavor. This combination is a medium-hot spice level.

Chipotle Infused Olive Oil & Basque Seasoning: Smoky and delicious, this northern-Spanish inspired combination is rich in tomato and savory garlic and onion with a subtle smokiness from the infused olive oil and paprika. This combination is a mild-medium spice level.

Rosemary Infused Olive Oil & Blackened Seasoning: Rosemary from the olive oil pairs nicely with the thyme from our Blackened Seasoning in this combination. Plenty of heat is added via cayenne chile powder which is balanced with just the right amount of salt. This combination is a medium-hot spice level.

Preparing your tilapia:

1. Brush both sides of each tilapia filet with the olive oil and coat with the spice blend (we use approximately 1 ½ tsp. of the blend per filet.
2. Heat 2 Tbsp. of the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is good and hot, add the filets and cook for about 3 minutes per side, or until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.

Rory likes to serve his freshly cooked fish immediately alongside sides of rice, couscous, or roasted vegetables. You can also flake the fish to use for easy fish tacos.

Stop in to either AllSpice location to give Rory's recommended olive oils and spice blends a try, or find them online at allspiceonline.com.