Description
This Pan Fry Tilapia with Pesto Cream Sauce is a delicious and quick seafood recipe featuring tender roasted garlic and herb tilapia fillets pan-fried to perfection and served with a rich, creamy pesto sauce. Ideal for a weeknight dinner, this dish combines the savory flavors of pesto and cream with the lightness of tilapia, and pairs well with pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Tilapia
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 package Sea Cuisine Smart Indulgence Roasted Garlic and Herb Tilapia (frozen)
For the Pesto Cream Sauce
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (or evaporated milk + 1 teaspoon cornstarch)
- 1/3 cup pesto
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the Oil and Pan Fry Tilapia: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat (or medium if your stove runs hot) in a nonstick skillet. Add the frozen tilapia fillets in a single layer and cook for 10-11 minutes, turning halfway through, until they are golden on the outside and reach a minimum internal temperature of 145°F. Transfer the cooked fillets to a plate.
- Prepare the Pesto Cream Sauce: Reduce the skillet heat to low. Add the heavy cream and pesto to the now empty skillet and start whisking. In a separate bowl, whisk the chicken broth with 2 teaspoons cornstarch until smooth, then add this mixture to the skillet.
- Simmer and Thicken the Sauce: Bring the sauce to a simmer while stirring frequently until it thickens to your desired consistency. Stir in 1 tablespoon lemon juice and season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste (about ⅛ teaspoon each).
- Combine Tilapia with Sauce and Serve: Return the cooked tilapia fillets to the skillet, spooning the pesto cream sauce over them. Serve immediately over your choice of pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice.
Notes
- Tilapia: Sea Cuisine Smart Indulgence Roasted Garlic and Herb Tilapia is available in the frozen seafood section at major retailers such as Target, Kroger, Albertson’s (including Vos, Shaws, Acme, Jewel), and Food Lion.
- To find a store near you that carries this product, visit the Sea Cuisine website and enter your zip code.
- Servings: This recipe yields 2 servings.
- For a lighter sauce, substitute heavy cream with evaporated milk plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch.
- Ensure tilapia reaches an internal temperature of 145°F for safe consumption.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fillet with sauce (approx. 1/2 recipe)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
