Description
This Pan Fry Tilapia with Pesto Cream Sauce is a quick and flavorful seafood dish featuring tender tilapia fillets pan-fried to a golden crisp and served with a rich, creamy pesto sauce. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, it pairs beautifully with pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice for a satisfying meal.
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 Cook 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, flipping halfway through until golden on the outside and reaching an internal temperature of 145°F. Transfer cooked fish to a plate.
- Prepare the Sauce: Reduce the heat to low and add the heavy cream and pesto to the now empty skillet. In a small bowl, whisk together chicken broth and cornstarch until smooth, then add this mixture to the skillet.
- Simmer and Thicken Sauce: Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, stirring frequently until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency. Stir in lemon juice.
- Season the Sauce: Taste and season the sauce with salt and pepper, adding about ⅛ teaspoon of each or to your preference.
- Combine and Serve: Return the cooked tilapia fillets to the skillet and spoon the pesto cream sauce over the top. Serve hot over pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice.
Notes
- Tilapia: Sea Cuisine Smart Indulgence Roasted Garlic and Herb Tilapia can be found in the frozen seafood sections of many major grocery stores including Target, Kroger, Albertsons (Vos, Shaws, Acme, Jewel), and Food Lion. Use the store locator on their website to find a location near you.
- Servings: This recipe yields 2 servings.
- Total Time: Approximately 25 minutes, including 5 minutes prep and 20 minutes cook time.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/2 recipe)
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
