Tilapia with chile-lime butter sauce
Experience a burst of flavor with our Tilapia with Chile-Lime Butter Sauce recipe. Perfectly seared tilapia fillets are drizzled in a zesty, buttery sauce made with fresh lime, spicy red chili peppers, and a hint of onion. Ready in just minutes, this dish offers a delightful balance of heat and citrus, making it an ideal choice for a quick yet gourmet dinner.
Cook time 25 min
Prep time 25 min
Ingredients:
1/2 stick butter1 lime
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp vegetable oil
32 oz tilapia
1/4 red hot chili pepper red hot chili peppers
2 tsp lime juice
1 tbsp onion
Tilapia with chile-lime butter sauce is a delightful and flavorful dish that combines the light and flaky texture of tilapia with the zesty, tangy flavors of a chile-lime butter sauce. This recipe is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or for impressing guests with a restaurant-quality meal. The combination of spicy chili, fresh lime, and rich butter enhances the natural taste of the tilapia, making it a truly delicious and memorable dish.
Instructions:
- Zest the lime to get the lime zest.
- Squeeze the juice from the lime. You’ll need 2 teaspoons of the juice for the sauce.
- Finely chop the red hot chili pepper and onion.
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Add the chopped red hot chili pepper and the finely chopped onion to the butter.
- Sauté for about 2-3 minutes until the onion becomes translucent and the chili pepper is fragrant.
- Add the lime zest and the 2 teaspoons of lime juice. Stir well to combine.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and set aside.
- Pat the tilapia fillets dry with paper towels.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Season the tilapia fillets with salt on both sides.
- When the oil is shimmering, carefully place the tilapia fillets in the skillet.
- Cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Avoid overcrowding the skillet; cook in batches if necessary.
- Arrange the cooked tilapia fillets on a serving platter.
- Drizzle the warm chile-lime butter sauce evenly over the tilapia fillets.
- Serve immediately, garnished with extra lime wedges or a sprinkle of fresh herbs if desired.
Tips:
- Make sure to pat the tilapia fillets dry with paper towels before cooking to achieve a better sear.
- Adjust the amount of red hot chili pepper to suit your preferred spice level.
- For a more intense lime flavor, consider grating some lime zest into the butter sauce.
- Be careful not to overcook the tilapia; it should be just opaque in the center for a tender texture.
- Serve the tilapia immediately after cooking to enjoy the full flavor and freshness of the dish.
Tilapia with chile-lime butter sauce is a simple yet flavorful dish that brings a taste of fine dining to your home kitchen. The juicy tilapia, paired with the spicy and zesty chile-lime butter sauce, creates a harmonious blend of flavors that will surely impress anyone at the dinner table. Enjoy this meal on its own, or consider pairing it with sides like steamed vegetables or a fresh salad for a complete and satisfying dinner experience.
Nutrition per serving
6 ServingsCalories 220kcal
Protein 30g
Carbohydrates 1.63g
Fiber 0.38g
Sugar 0.47g
Fat 16g
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