Description
This Pan Fry Tilapia with Pesto Cream Sauce recipe features tender roasted garlic and herb tilapia fillets cooked to golden perfection and topped with a rich, creamy pesto sauce. It’s a quick and flavorful dish perfect for a weeknight dinner, served best over pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Tilapia
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 package Sea Cuisine Smart Indulgence Roasted Garlic and Herb Tilapia (frozen)
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 of 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 the internal temperature reaches a minimum of 145°F. Transfer cooked fillets 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 separate bowl, whisk together chicken broth and cornstarch, then pour this mixture into the skillet.
- Simmer and Thicken Sauce: Bring the sauce to a simmer, stirring frequently, until it thickens to your desired consistency. Stir in the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper, approximately 1/8 teaspoon each, adjusting to taste.
- Combine and Serve: Return the tilapia fillets to the skillet and spoon the creamy pesto sauce over them. Serve immediately over pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice.
Notes
- You can find Sea Cuisine Smart Indulgence Roasted Garlic and Herb Tilapia in the frozen seafood section at Target, Kroger, Albertson’s (Vos/Shaws/Acme/Jewel), and Food Lion. Visit the retailer’s website to find a store near you using your zip code.
- This recipe yields 2 servings.
- Total time to prepare and cook is approximately 25 minutes.
- To lighten the sauce, you can substitute heavy cream with evaporated milk plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch for a similar thickening effect.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fillet with sauce (about 1/2 recipe)
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
