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Tilapia with Pesto and Roasted Tomatoes

Tilapia with Pesto and Roasted Tomatoes

I came across this recipe for tilapia with pesto and oven roasted tomatoes a while ago and I thought that it sounded nice and fresh and summery. I have made basil pesto many times but I have pretty much only used it with pasta. I really liked the idea of using it in a new way. Adding the lemon to the pesto sounded like a good way to brighten it up. To top it all off, some roasted tomatoes which are one of my favorites! I really liked Elly's choice to serve the tilapia with quinoa and asparagus and I went the same way. I cooked the quinoa in chicken stock and lemon juice to add a bit of flavour to it. The meal came together easily and it was really good! The fish was super moist and along with the lemon, pesto and roasted tomatoes it was really tasty. The quinoa helped soak up the extra juices from the fish and roasted tomatoes infusing it with flavour. I enjoyed using the pesto in this dish and I can't wait to try using pesto in other new ways.

Ingredients:
2 handfuls grape tomatoes
4 cloves garlic (peeled and smashed)
2 teaspoons olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 lemon (juice and zest)
2 tablespoons pesto
2 tilapia fillets (or any white fish)
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Toss the tomatoes and garlic in the olive oil, salt and pepper.
2. Roast in a preheated 425F oven for 10 minutes.
3. Mix the lemon juice into the pesto.
4. Season the fish with salt and pepper.
5. Spread the pesto onto the fish.
6. Chop the lemon rind into slices.
7. Add the lemon slices to the tomatoes in the pan and set the fish on top.
8. Bake until the fish is white and flaky, about 10 minutes.

Similar Recipes:
Tilapia alla Puttanesca
Tilapia Baked in Salsa Verde

46 comments:

Laura @ Hungry and Frozen said...

That looks fantastic, the tomatoes look gorgeous. Pesto is so versatile... :)

Bridgett said...

I have never tried Tilapia. It is a mild fish? Your tomatoes look mouth-watering!

Kevin said...

Bridgett: Tilapia is a pretty mild fish.

cookinpanda said...

This is super simple. And a nicely incorporate tomatoes. I really like this. Tilapia is quite mild and generally flavorless, so the idea of pesto also really helps out with that.

VeggieGirl said...

pesto! tomatoes! asparagus! **swoons**

magpie said...

This looks so fresh! What a great dish for summer. Tilapia is one of my favorite fish.

maybelles parents said...

sounds very healthy.

The Urban Eater said...

Pesto + Anything = YUMMY!and roasted tomatoes with all of that concentrated bite! Ya know how it gets you right on the jaw line. So very good.
I do love Tilapia. It's a such a versatile fish that takes on the flavors of whatever you pair it with. I'm lucky. The tilapia I get was swimming about 24 hours prior. Gotta love the Gulf of Mexico.
But, geesh. I need to go to Canada for asparagus ASAP! There beautiful!
OOOOOO! Try this recipe out.
Yellow Tail Snapper: Old School (you can sub with tilapia)
http://www.culinarysherpas.com/?p=265

LyB said...

That is a beautiful dish Kevin, so colorful and fresh, it looks delicious!

Vicarious Foodie said...

The tomatoes and asparagus are so bright and colorful . . . great-looking dish.

Steph said...

Your dish looks amazing. I wish I could cook as well as you instead of flavouring everything with korean bbq sauce or soy sauce.

Helene said...

What a nice meal tonight. I love the color combination.

Pam said...

Kevin you make the tastiest dinners. Great picture!

Mrs Ergül said...

What a yummy meal! I love fish! And I haven't tried fish with pesto sauce too. This is a good recipe!

Elly said...

Looks delicious, Kevin, and I am so glad you liked the dish! I agree about the quinoa soaking up all those lovely tomato & fish juices.

bobby said...

Excellent Kevin, I really like the idea of pesto and tomatoes with fish and it looks like it came great. I'm always on the look out for new ways to cook fish.

Peter M said...

Yay for trying out one of Elly's dish and yes, the dish sounds great, with sweet roasted tomato juice dripping on the meal.

Manggy said...

That looks great, Kevin-- Tilapia is my #1 favorite fish, no joke. I factor in the fact that it is really cheap here. If you can get the fillets with skin on, I promise you won't regret it :)

Proud Italian Cook said...

LOVE IT!!!

cindy* said...

tilapia is delightful and so versatile, this recipe looks great. i made asparagus tonight as well but, since i grilled it, it was not nearly as vibrantly green as yours.

Kalyn said...

Sounds great to me. I'm a big fan of tilapia.

cakebrain said...

Wonderful combination of flavours for your tilapia! yum!

noble pig said...

This looks awesome Kevin, just love it.

Dee said...

In this time of hastily grabbed meals, I love the care and thought behind each of yours :)

Katie said...

Those tomatoes look absolutely beautiful. I am going through a tomato phase, and when they're roasted in the oven like that, yum!

Happy cook said...

Indeed it looks summery and delicious

EAT! said...

I love all the ways to prepare tilapia. With roasted tomatoes sounds tasty.

Katie said...

this looks amazing - i love pesto and have also never thought of using it for anything other than pasta. i will definitely be trying this!

Grace said...

beautiful! roasted tomatoes are fabulous, as is quinoa. awesome meal!

Dhanggit said...

this sounds fantastic!!! thanks for making me imagine how good it would taste together..its been long time i havent had tilapia :-( snif snif

Fearless Kitchen said...

This looks great. I'm a big fan of tilapia - it's so versatile!

Parker said...

This looks incredible - so many flavors.

Meeta said...

Simply delicious. I really like tilapia. I have often cooked slamon with a pesto but never pesto - but the entire dish with asparagus and quinoa is simply fab!

Pam said...

What a great combination!

Jeena said...

This looks brilliant. I love the fact that you used pesto with fish! Nice recipe. :-)

Elizabeth said...

I love cooking with tilapia.It is mild enough that my children and husband don't complain.Great recipe.I have bookmarked it for a weeknight meal.

RecipeGirl said...

This looks fresh and flavorful. I love roasted tomatoes... and the added pesto puts it over the top!

Deborah said...

This sounds like such a great way to use pesto!

Elle said...

Pesto isn't something I think of putting with fish, but it looks amazing!

Gloria said...

This really look so nice Kevin, how ever, xGloria
Love the picture!!

Jaime said...

yum! i know what i'm doing w/pesto the next time i have some fish! :)

Megan said...

I've been looking back through your recipes and this sounds absolutely delicious-and the presentation is beautiful! I'll be making this for dinner tonight, thanks for sharing the recipe!

katie b. said...

Just made this for dinner tonight and it was incredible! Thank you so much for the amazing recipe!

Hotonis said...

This recipe has easily become one of my favorite way to cook tilapia now. It is freakin awesome!

Anonymous said...

Fantastic! I love the roasted garlic and tomatoes.

Anonymous said...

Kevin, you might want to check number 8 on the instructions since it states to bake the "chicken" lol, I doubt anyone would get confused, but you never know! Great recipe!

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