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This Spanish Tilapia is super easy and budget-friendly. I serve it with Saffron Rice and usually some sort of green veggie.
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The truth is, we don’t eat a lot of fish or seafood at our house. Brian isn’t particularly fond of it … and I didn’t eat much of it growing up – so my knowledge of how to cook or prepare it is severely lacking compared to other things. However, this Spanish Tilapia, is one of the few fish dishes I adapted from a version my mom makes!
The extent of my fish or seafood experience growing up amounted to frozen fish sticks or clams, salmon patties and tuna sandwiches. No joke. I remember us having shark steak once ….. and something with shrimp maybe a handful of times? As a kid, I actually had it in my mind that “I didn’t like that kind of stuff” because, well, I never really had it.
As an adult, I am more adventurous in my eating (have I ever told y’all the story of my friend Ty and I at the Chinese restaurant?! Bahahaha!! If not, I’ll have to enlighten you to my shenanigans! Be forewarned, you may never want to be seen dining with me in public!) – and I have tried several fish and/or seafood dishes that I have enjoyed. Almost all of those experiences have been at restaurants – because I have no clue what I’m doing with those dishes. I’m learning, though! 🙂
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Spanish Tilapia
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Ingredients
- 1 pound tilapia fillets
- salt & pepper, to taste
- a swirl of olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can Italian-style diced tomatoes, 14.5 oz.
- ¼ cup sliced black olives
- ¼ cup sliced green olives
- ½ lemon, sliced
- cooked rice or pasta, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your over to 400°F.
- Season the tilapia with salt and pepper and place it in a lightly sprayed or buttered baking dish or sheet pan.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until the onion softens, about 4-5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, black and green olives, and lemon slices. Bring just to a boil and reduce heat to medium-low to maintain a simmer. Allow the mixture to simmer for 10 minutes.
- Divide the tomato mixture evenly over the tilapia.
- Bake for 10-13 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork.
- Serve the tilapia with some of the tomato-olive mixture over the top with rice or pasta on the side.
Notes
To cook in a skillet on the stovetop:
- Season the tilapia with salt and pepper and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until the onion softens, about 4-5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, black and green olives, and lemon slices. Bring just to a boil and reduce heat to medium-low to maintain a simmer. Allow the mixture to simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add the fish to the skillet and cook for 7-9 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork. Discard the lemon slices.
- Serve the tilapia with some of the tomato-olive mixture over the top with rice or pasta on the side.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Originally published on October 3, 2013. Updated on April 24, 2021.
Your fish dish looks delicious, Jamie. Tilapia is not a fish that we get here in New Zealand, but I often make a similar dish with tomatoes, olives and potatoes using a local fish called tarakihi.
Great dinner idea!
I would love if you would link up with me and share!
http://thediaryofarealhousewife.blogspot.com
Oh Jamie! It looks delicious I love Tilapia! Its funny because growing up I never had frozen fish or seafood. I didn't know what was that at all because obviously I lived in a country as small as an island and surrounded by 2 oceans but when I got to the US, well finding fresh seafood when you don't live anywhere near an ocean is close to impossible. I miss the good old fresh days and would love to go in a tasting adventure with you. I bet we would have a blast! lol…have you ever eaten sea urchin? Ha! hugs girl, Lizy
Hi Jamie,
Hope you are having a great weekend and thank you so much for sharing your awesome recipe with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Goodness gracious that looks wonderful. We enjoy tilapia and I may have to try that !
We eat a ton of tilapia and I love having new ways to cook it.
Happy SITS day!
We love Tilapia! Totally going to try this.
happy SITS day!! your classic waffles look amazing by the way, yum!!
Happy SITS Day! I hope it is a great one for you! We don't eat a lot of fish, either, but I do enjoy a well-prepared fish. I may have to try my hand at some fish/shrimp dishes for my hubby sometimes since he loves them. 🙂
Oh man that looks delicious! I'm going to go drool over the rest of your blog now! And Pin some recipes too!