Description
Succulent garlic butter oven baked tilapia delivers Mediterranean coastal flavors with minimal kitchen effort. Home cooks discover an elegant seafood dish that simplifies weeknight dinner preparation while delighting palates.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 tilapia fillets
- 4 tablespoons (60 ml) butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) lemon juice
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 salt, to taste
- 1 freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 0.5 tsp (2.5 ml) paprika
- 0.5 tsp (2.5 ml) dried thyme
- 0.5 tsp (2.5 ml) dried oregano
- 0.25 tsp (1.25 ml) lemon zest
- 1 lemon, sliced into rounds, for garnish
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
- Red pepper flakes, for garnish
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C), establishing an optimal cooking environment for the tilapia fillets.
- Seasoning Technique: Blend salt, cracked black pepper, paprika, thyme, and oregano to create a robust spice mixture. Thoroughly coat the tilapia fillets, ensuring complete coverage of the delicate fish.
- Flavor Infusion: Whisk together melted butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, and lemon zest to craft a vibrant, aromatic sauce that will enhance the fish’s natural flavors.
- Baking Process: Transfer the seasoned fillets to a baking dish and generously drizzle the garlic-butter sauce over the fish, ensuring complete and even coverage. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until the tilapia becomes perfectly flaky and opaque.
- Finishing Touches: Carefully remove the baked fish from the oven. Garnish with red pepper flakes, freshly chopped parsley, and lemon medallions to add visual appeal and a burst of complementary flavors. Serve immediately while the tilapia remains warm and succulent.
Notes
- Preheat Precisely: Set oven exactly at 400°F to ensure even, consistent cooking and prevent moisture loss in delicate tilapia fillets.
- Season Strategically: Create flavor depth by generously coating fish with herb-spice blend, pressing seasonings gently to help them adhere and penetrate the meat.
- Sauce with Finesse: Whisk butter mixture thoroughly to emulsify ingredients, guaranteeing smooth distribution of garlic and citrus notes across fish surface.
- Watch Cooking Time: Monitor tilapia closely during 10-12 minute baking window; fish is perfectly done when it flakes easily with fork and turns opaque white throughout.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 to 12 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 70mg