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The Best Tilapia in Pepper Sauce

This delightful dish features tender tilapia fillets enveloped in a robust pepper sauce, making it a delicious and easy seafood option for any meal.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Seafood
Calories: 300

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 4 fillets tilapia fillets (fresh or thawed)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium onion (finely chopped)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 each bell pepper (red or green, sliced)
  • 1-2 each jalapeño peppers (sliced, adjust for spice preference)
  • 1 cup chopped tomatoes (fresh or canned)
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • to taste Salt and pepper
  • for garnish Fresh parsley or cilantro (optional)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Make sure all your ingredients are prepped before you begin. Chop the onion, mince the garlic, slice the bell and jalapeño peppers, and if using fresh tomatoes, chop them up.
Cooking
  1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the chopped onion and sauté for about 2-3 minutes or until translucent.
  2. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
  3. Toss in the bell peppers and jalapeños, cooking for approximately 5 minutes until they soften.
  4. Sprinkle in the paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper, mixing well. Then add the chopped tomatoes, stirring everything together.
  5. Gently nestle the tilapia fillets into the skillet. Cover and let them cook for about 6-7 minutes on each side or until the fish flakes easily with a fork.
Serving
  1. Once cooked, remove from heat and garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro. Serve hot alongside rice or your favorite side dish.

Notes

If tilapia isn’t available, you can swap it for another mild fish like cod or haddock. Make sure your fish is at room temperature before cooking to achieve perfect flakiness. Adjust the number of jalapeños based on your spice tolerance.