Baked fish was never on my kitchen menu until I prepared this delicious flavor-packed oven baked green pesto tilapia. I am a fan of Kerala style fish fry and always will be. For me, fish fry always meant to be the fish deep fried in sizzling oil.
When I came across the recipe of Garlic lime oven baked salmon on Sommer’s A Spicy Perspective, I decided to give it a shot. I first tried with salmon and I made my own pesto to marinate . I don’t know why but I am not that much into salmon. So I tried it again with tilapia fillets. The dish was really delicious with a mild flavour and the juicy green pesto. My 2-year-old boy had been roaming around in the kitchen asking for more fish, fish…….This became our family’s favourite fish recipe suddenly.
I used the frozen fillets, thawed to make it. Also, the green pesto was made with green onion, green chilli, garlic, olive oil and that green colour of the pesto itself is so tempting………
So to the recipe of oven baked green pesto tilapia,
Oven Baked Green Pesto Tilapia
Oven Baked Green Pesto Tilapia
Ingredients
- 1 lb frozen tilapia fillets thawed
For green pesto
- 2 green onion spring onion
- 2 green chilli
- 1 sprig of curry leaves
- 1/2 inch piece ginger
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- a pinch of red chilli powder optional
- Salt to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Drain the fillets of any excess water or dry it with a tissue
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the tilapia fillets.
- Preheat the oven to 400 F (200 C).
- Now prepare the green pesto. In a small grinder, grind together green onion, green chilli, curry leaves, ginger, garlic cloves, lemon zest, lemon juice, chilli powder and salt to make a smooth paste.
- Now spread the pesto on both sides of each fillet using a silicon basting brush.
- Now brush the fillets liberally with olive oil.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes or until just cooked.
- Remove from oven.
- Serve hot.
Notes
Also red chilli powder is just optional. You can avoid it if it feels too spicy.
If you wish, sprinkle some fresh herbs on top to make it more flavorful. Make your own pesto to marinate. Create a unique flavour.
Thank you, Sommer for introducing my family to the idea of oven baked fish.
Happy cooking
