Pesto Tilapia Recipes

BROILED TILAPIA AND EGGPLANT WITH MOROCCAN PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Bring 3/4 cup water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil in a small saucepan. Put the couscous in a medium heatproof bowl and stir in the boiling water. Cover the bowl and set aside until the couscous is tender, about 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
• Meanwhile, puree the garlic, cilantro, 3 tablespoons olive oil and 1/4 cup water in a blender. Pulse in the lemon zest, cumin, coriander, paprika and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Score the eggplant flesh in a 1/2-inch crosshatch pattern and place cut-side up on a foil-lined baking sheet. Brush with 2 tablespoons of the cilantro pesto and season with salt and pepper. Broil the eggplant, without turning, until browned and softened, 10 to 14 minutes.
• Lay the tilapia on another foil-lined baking sheet. Brush with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Broil until the fish is cooked through, 5 to 8 minutes. Brush each fillet with about 1 teaspoon pesto.
• Divide the fish, couscous and eggplant among plates. Mix the yogurt with 1 tablespoon water and drizzle on the eggplant. Top the fish with the remaining pesto and more cilantro. Serve with lemon wedges.

PESTO CRUSTED TILAPIA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Cover a baking sheet with foil and coat with non-stick cooking spray.
• Place fish fillets on baking sheet and sprinkle with black pepper. No salt is needed as pesto and parmesan cheese are both pretty salty.
• In a small bowl, combine pesto, breadcrumbs, and parmesan cheese (hands or a fork will do).
• Divide the topping evenly over the fish fillets, spreading with your fingers and pressing into the fish.
• Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees, then switch to broil to crisp up the crust for the last 2-5 minutes.
• If the middle of the fillet flakes with a fork and is completely opaque, it's time to dig in!
• Serve with steamed broccoli and brown rice pilaf for a healthy dinner.

PESTO TILAPIA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Place foil on a cookie sheet. Place fish on the foil and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Top with pesto, tomatoes and then cheese (in order).
• Bake for 12-15 minutes or until fish flakes with fork.
• *Note: I don't care for pesto except in this recipe. To prevent wasting the rest of the pesto in the jar, I make one recipe for dinner and freeze the ingredients to have another day. Just place each of the ingredients (except salt & pepper) in its own quart-size freezer bag, then place all in a gallon-size freezer bag along with directions and freeze. When ready to make, just thaw completely and follow the above directions to prepare.

OVEN ROASTED TILAPIA WITH TOMATOES, PESTO AND LEMON

Steps:

• Gently combine the tomatoes, garlic and olive oil with a little salt and pepper if desired and roast in a preheated 425 degree oven for about 10 minutes.
• Juice the lemon and mix SOME of the juice with the pesto, adding more if desired or needed keeping the pesto a nice spreadable consistency and not runny. (Thanks breezer mom!) Spread mixture on top of the fish which has been seasoned with a little more salt and pepper if desired.
• Cut the juiced lemon halves in half again so that you have two pieces of lemon to support each filet. Place a filet on top of two pieces of juiced lemon so that the fish is somewhat out of any liquid that accumulates, allowing it to roast rather than boil.
• Return to oven for about 10 minutes or until the fish is flaky and no longer opaque.
• Plate the fish along with the tomatoes and garlic and serve with more lemon wedges if desired.