Description
A quick and easy weeknight dinner featuring flaky tilapia fillets simmered in a rich, savory sauce made from roasted red peppers, heavy cream, and garlic. This one-pan meal is ready in under 30 minutes and offers restaurant-quality flavor with minimal effort.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs Tilapia Fillets (fresh or frozen, thawed)
- 1 jar (14-16 oz) Roasted Red Peppers, drained
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
- 3 cloves Garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp Unsalted Butter
- 1 small Yellow Onion, finely diced
- 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
- Salt and Black Pepper to taste
- 1 pinch Cayenne Pepper (optional)
- 2 tbsp Fresh Parsley, chopped
- 1 Lemon, juiced
Instructions
- Pat the tilapia fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt and black pepper.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a large 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Once foaming, add the fillets and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown and flaky. Remove fish to a clean plate.
- In the same skillet, add remaining butter if needed. Add diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until soft. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the drained roasted red peppers to the skillet and cook for 1-2 minutes to warm through.
- Transfer the pepper mixture to a blender. Add heavy cream, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Blend on high until smooth (30-60 seconds).
- Pour the sauce back into the skillet. Return the tilapia fillets to the pan, nesting them into the sauce.
- Reduce heat to medium-low, cover with a lid, and simmer for 5-7 minutes until fish is cooked through.
- Remove lid, spoon sauce over fish, sprinkle with fresh parsley, and squeeze lemon juice over the top. Serve immediately.
Notes
Ensure tilapia is patted completely dry before searing to prevent steaming. Do not overcrowd the pan; cook in batches if necessary. When blending hot sauce, remove the center cap of the blender lid and cover with a towel to allow steam to escape safely. For a dairy-free version, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream and butter with olive oil. The sauce should be simmered gently to prevent breaking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fillet with sauce
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 13
- Carbohydrates: 6
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: tilapia, roasted red peppers, creamy fish, quick dinner, weeknight meal, healthy seafood, one pan dinner, gluten-free