Creamy Lemon Garlic Herb Tilapia Recipe
This Creamy Lemon Garlic Herb Tilapia is a deliciously flavorful seafood dish featuring tender tilapia fillets seared to golden perfection and simmered in a rich, creamy sauce made with coconut cream, fresh lemon juice, garlic, and a medley of herbs. Served over fragrant basmati rice and enhanced with kale and dairy-free parmesan, this recipe offers a delightful balance of creamy, tangy, and herbal notes perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood
- 1 (9 oz.) package Sea Cuisine Garlic & Herb Tilapia
Rice
- 2 cups cooked Basmati rice
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons Extra virgin olive oil
- 4–6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (14 oz.) can full-fat coconut cream/milk
- 1/2 cup vegetable or seafood stock, organic
- 2 tablespoons white cooking wine, optional (can substitute with additional stock)
- 1 lemon, freshly squeezed
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water
- 1 cup freshly-grated dairy-free parmesan cheese
- 1 cup organic kale, chopped
- 1/2 lemon, thinly sliced (seeds removed)
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dill
Instructions
- Sear and Defrost the Tilapia: In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, place the frozen tilapia fillets. Sear each side for about 5 minutes until golden brown and the fish is defrosted. Remove and set aside on a plate.
- Prepare the Aromatics: Using the same skillet, add extra virgin olive oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, add minced garlic cloves and sauté for around 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Add Herbs and Seasonings: Stir in sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, dried parsley, oregano, basil, thyme, and dill to the garlic, mixing well to combine all the flavors.
- Create the Creamy Sauce: Reduce heat to medium-low. Slowly pour in the coconut cream/milk, vegetable or seafood stock, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and white cooking wine (or substitute stock). Stir and allow the mixture to bubble gently for 1-2 minutes.
- Incorporate Dairy-Free Parmesan and Thicken: Add freshly grated dairy-free parmesan cheese to the skillet and whisk until melted and smoothly blended into the sauce. Next, mix cornstarch with water to create a slurry and gradually whisk it into the sauce to thicken. Continue whisking for 1-2 minutes until the sauce reaches a creamy consistency.
- Add Kale and Lemon Slices: Stir in chopped kale and thin lemon slices, letting the mixture simmer for 2-3 minutes while stirring frequently to evenly distribute ingredients and soften the kale slightly.
- Simmer Tilapia in Sauce: Lower the heat to low, return the seared tilapia fillets to the skillet, nestling them into the sauce to coat thoroughly. Allow everything to gently simmer together for 5-10 minutes so the flavors meld and the fish is fully cooked through.
- Serve and Enjoy: Remove the skillet from heat. Serve the creamy lemon garlic herb tilapia immediately alongside the cooked basmati rice for a complete and flavorful meal.
Notes
- You can substitute white cooking wine with extra vegetable or seafood stock if preferred or to keep the recipe alcohol-free.
- Make sure to remove lemon seeds from slices to avoid bitterness in the sauce.
- For a gluten-free option, confirm that your stock and dairy-free parmesan cheese are certified gluten-free.
- Adjust garlic amount according to your taste preference; 4 cloves for a mild garlic flavor, 6 for more pronounced.
- If fresh herbs are available, use 1 tablespoon each instead of dried to enhance freshness.
- Ensure tilapia is cooked thoroughly to an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C) for food safety.
Keywords: Tilapia recipe, creamy tilapia, lemon garlic fish, herb tilapia, dairy-free parmesan, coconut cream seafood, healthy fish dinner, easy stovetop fish recipe
