This blackened tilapia recipe is ideal for busy weeknights once you want a fast, wholesome meal the entire household will love. It’s filled with taste and prepared in below quarter-hour!
Whereas a lot of the fish recipes on EBF are salmon-based, except for my pan-seared mahi mahi, I believed it was time to shine a highlight on a fish that always will get neglected—tilapia.
This gentle, white fish is ideal for a fast, flavorful meal, particularly when coated with a daring seasoning like on this blackened tilapia recipe. Plus, it’s a beginner-friendly possibility for these new to cooking fish, making it a great alternative when you’re seeking to attempt one thing new with out feeling overwhelmed.
Why You Gotta Attempt This One
I used to assume tilapia was type of boring, however this recipe utterly modified that. The blackened seasoning takes what might be a bland piece of fish and turns it right into a taste explosion in each chunk (and when you love this, you’ve acquired to attempt my blackened salmon recipe as effectively!).
The perfect half? It’s filled with taste with out piling on further fats or energy. A easy mix of spices that elevates the dish by 20+ notches. Plus, it’s low-carb and high-protein, making it the right alternative for these days once you’re specializing in protecting issues mild and fueling your physique with lean protein.
And right here’s the true win: no want for marinating prematurely! Truthfully, extra instances than I’d wish to admit, I’ve discovered myself able to prepare dinner dinner solely to appreciate the recipe requires hours of marinating. As a busy working mother, I don’t all the time have that type of time, so this blackened seasoning is a lifesaver once you need one thing tasty on the desk quick! I normally pair it with air fryer broccoli for a fast and wholesome facet.
Substances You’ll Want
- tilapia – the star of the present! Tilapia is a gentle, white fish that’s fast to prepare dinner and has a impartial taste, making it an important base for daring seasonings like blackened seasoning. You should use both contemporary or frozen tilapia fillets. If utilizing frozen, make sure that to thaw them utterly and pat them dry to make sure the seasoning sticks.
- olive oil – helps the spices keep on with the tilapia and provides the fish a lovely sear. Use no matter oil you could have readily available.
- seasonings – we’re making our personal blackened seasoning combine with smoked paprika, dried thyme, brown sugar (or coconut sugar), onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper.
- lemon or lime wedges – for a contemporary squeeze of citrus proper earlier than serving. It provides a burst of brightness and acidity that helps improve the spices.
The right way to Make Blackened Tilapia in Underneath 15 Minutes
All you want is tilapia, a handful of spices and one pan to whip up this recipe. Right here’s make it:
Step 1: Combine the seasonings in a small bowl.
Step 2: Pat the tilapia fillets dry. Brush each side with olive oil.
Step 3: Coat the tilapia fillets with the seasoning combine, urgent frivolously to stick.
Step 4: Warmth oil in a skillet over medium-high warmth. Prepare dinner the fillets for 3–4 minutes per facet till opaque and flaky, with a pleasant char on the skin. Serve heat garnished with contemporary parsley and with lemon or lime wedges.
Brittany’s Recipe Suggestions for Success
- Don’t overcook: Tilapia cooks rapidly, so you’ll want to take away it from the warmth as soon as it’s opaque and flakes simply with a fork. Overcooking will make it dry.
- Don’t burn spices: Monitor the warmth intently, as blackened seasoning can burn rapidly. Scale back the warmth barely if wanted for a fair sear.
- Pat fish dry: Pat the tilapia fillets dry with paper towels earlier than seasoning to make sure the spices stick and the fish develops a crispy crust.
- Use a forged iron skillet: If in case you have one, a forged iron skillet offers the very best outcomes by making a crispy blackened crust and guaranteeing even cooking.
- Keep away from Overcrowding the Pan: Give every fillet sufficient area to sear correctly. Prepare dinner in batches if wanted to keep away from steaming the fish.
- Be mild when flipping: Tilapia is delicate, so use a skinny spatula and flip solely as soon as to maintain the fillets intact.
- Alter spice ranges for youths: When you’re serving this to little ones, skip or scale back the cayenne pepper to make it gentle and family-friendly.
- Use store-bought seasoning: Save time through the use of a store-bought seasoning combine, however you’ll want to verify for an excessive amount of added salt or sugar.
The right way to Retailer Leftovers
If in case you have any leftover blackened tilapia, retailer it in an hermetic container within the fridge for 1-2 days. Ensure that the fish has cooled to room temperature earlier than sealing it to keep away from condensation, which might make it soggy.
To reheat your leftover tilapia whereas protecting it crispy, place it in a preheated oven at 350°F for 10–12 minutes. You may also reheat it in a skillet over medium warmth for 3–4 minutes per facet. When you’re utilizing a microwave, bear in mind that the fish could lose its crispy exterior.
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Serving Solutions
I really like serving blackened tilapia with one thing cooling or citrusy to steadiness out the warmth like my pineapple salsa. Once I’m not consuming it on low-carb days, I pair it with my cilantro rice. You would additionally flip this into blackened tilapia tacos, topped with pineapple salsa and an avocado crema—use my wholesome fish tacos recipe as a information! Listed below are a number of of my go-to veggie sides which might be all the time a success in my home:
Steadily Requested Questions
Sure, you’ll be able to positively use frozen tilapia. Simply make sure that it’s totally thawed earlier than cooking. After thawing, pat the fillets dry with paper towels to take away any extra moisture—this can assist the seasoning stick and guarantee a crispy blackened crust when cooking.
Sure! Whereas tilapia is a good alternative, you need to use different gentle white fish like cod, mahi mahi, haddock, and even catfish. Every of those fish works effectively with blackened seasoning and can prepare dinner equally to tilapia.
Sure, you’ll be able to freeze leftover blackened tilapia. Permit the fish to chill utterly, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil earlier than putting it in an hermetic container or freezer bag to forestall freezer burn. When saved correctly, blackened tilapia could be frozen for as much as 3 months. Notice: Keep away from re-freezing thawed tilapia, as it might have an effect on the feel and style of the fish. At all times thaw within the fridge and reheat promptly after thawing.