Quick Tilapia in Roasted Pepper Sauce
Tilapia in Roasted Pepper Sauce is a quick, elegant, and flavorful seafood dish that combines tender tilapia fillets with a creamy, smoky roasted pepper sauce. Perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions, it’s both versatile and affordable, offering a restaurant-quality meal with minimal effort.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 tilapia fillets
- 2 large roasted red bell peppers (jarred or freshly roasted)
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup light cream or half-and-half
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare roasted peppers: Roast peppers under a broiler or over an open flame until blackened. Steam in a covered bowl for 10 minutes. Peel, remove seeds, and chop.
- Cook onions and garlic: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté chopped onions 3–4 minutes until translucent. Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds.
- Blend sauce: Transfer onions and garlic to a blender with roasted peppers, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Blend until smooth.
- Simmer sauce: Pour sauce back into skillet over low heat. Stir in cream and simmer 5–7 minutes, adjusting thickness with water if needed.
- Prepare tilapia: Pat fillets dry, season with salt and black pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet and cook fillets 3 minutes per side until opaque and flaky.
- Combine: Transfer cooked tilapia to the sauce. Spoon sauce over fillets and simmer 1 minute. Garnish with parsley.
Notes
For a spicier version, add crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne.
The sauce can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Serve with rice, pasta, or vegetables for a complete meal.