Description
This Pan Fry Tilapia with Pesto Cream Sauce is a quick and flavorful seafood dish perfect for weeknight dinners. The tender roasted garlic and herb tilapia fillets are pan-fried to a golden crisp and then bathed in a luscious pesto cream sauce with a hint of lemon. Served over pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice, this recipe combines savory, creamy, and vibrant flavors with minimal prep and cook time, making it an approachable yet impressive meal.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Tilapia
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 package Sea Cuisine Smart Indulgence Roasted Garlic and Herb Tilapia (frozen)
Pesto Cream Sauce
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (or evaporated milk + 1 teaspoon cornstarch as a substitute)
- 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 Pan: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium high heat in a nonstick skillet. If your stove runs hot, reduce heat to medium to avoid burning.
- Cook Tilapia: Place the frozen fillets in the skillet in a single layer. Cook for 10 to 11 minutes, flipping halfway through. Cook until the fillets develop a golden color and reach an internal temperature of 145°F. Transfer cooked tilapia to a plate.
- Prepare Sauce Base: Reduce heat to low and add heavy cream and pesto to the now empty skillet. Stir to combine and warm gently.
- Thicken Sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk chicken broth with cornstarch until smooth. Add this mixture to the skillet and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, stirring often to prevent lumps. Cook until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency.
- Finish Sauce: Stir in 1 tablespoon lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste (about ⅛ teaspoon each). This balances the richness with bright acidity.
- Combine and Serve: Return the tilapia fillets to the skillet, spoon the pesto cream sauce over them, and heat briefly to meld flavors. Serve hot over your choice of pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice.
Notes
- Tilapia can be found under the Sea Cuisine brand in the frozen seafood aisle at Target, Kroger, Albertson’s (Vos, Shaws, Acme, Jewel), and Food Lion stores. Use the brand’s store locator online to find the nearest location.
- Serving size is ideal for 2 people.
- For a lighter sauce option, substitute heavy cream with evaporated milk plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch as a thickening agent.
- Ensure tilapia reaches an internal temperature of 145°F for safe consumption.
- Use low sodium chicken broth to better control salt levels in the dish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1 fillet with sauce)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
