Quick Tilapia with Lemon, Garlic, and Capers
Thin fish fillets like tilapia, trout, or flounder are great for a weeknight meal. They cook quickly, and their mild taste is kid-friendly.
Ingredients
- 1 - 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced, about 1 tsp.
- 1 - 1 1/2 lb. tilapia fillets or other thin white fish fillets such as trout, flounder, or cod
- 1/4 tsp. salt or to taste
- 1/8 tsp. black pepper or to taste
- 3/4 lemon juice only, 2 - 3 Tbsp.
- 1 Tbsp. capers drained, or use 1 Tbsp. chopped green olives
Instructions
- In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook it for 30 seconds until it is fragrant.
- Place the fillets in the pan and press them down with a spatula to ensure each fillet is completely touching the pan. Season them with a little salt and pepper. Cook the fish for 3 - 4 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets, until the bottoms start to brown.
- Flip the fillets, pour the lemon juice over them, and season the second side with salt and pepper. Top the fish with the capers. Cook it for another 3 - 4 minutes. When the tilapia is white throughout and flakes easily, remove it to a plate and serve it.
Slow Cooker Directions
- Place each fillet on its own individual piece of aluminum foil large enough to make a packet. Drizzle each piece of fish with olive oil and lemon juice, season with salt and pepper, and top with garlic and capers. Fold the foil over the fish to make a packet, and arrange the packets in the slow cooker, stacking one on top of the other as necessary. Cook for 6 - 7 hours on low or 3 – 4 hours on high. (Slow cooker cooking times may vary—Get to know your slow cooker and, if necessary, adjust cooking times accordingly.)
Notes
Do Ahead or Delegate: Peel the garlic, juice the lemon.
Scramble Flavor Booster: Top the fish with the zest of half a lemon when you add the lemon juice, and use extra capers and garlic.
Tip: Capers may be small, but they pack a flavorful punch. They've got a sharp, salty taste and add dimension to fish, meats, pastas, and sauces. In addition to having a lot of flavor, capers contain a number of phytonutrients and vitamins like vitamin A and vitamin K.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (% based upon daily values): Calories 200, Total Fat: 8g, 12%; Saturated Fat: 0g, 0%; Cholesterol: 95mg, 32%; Sodium: 150mg, 6%; Total Carbohydrate: 4g, 1%; Dietary Fiber: 0g, 0%; Sugar: 0g; Protein: 28g
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