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Tilapia Pasta Recipe

Tilapia Pasta Recipe

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 480
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz linguine or spaghetti
  • 4 tilapia fillets (about 1 lb total)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 lemon (zest and juice)
  • 3 cups fresh spinach leaves
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Small handful fresh basil leaves

Method
 

  1. Cook the linguine in salted boiling water until al dente, reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
  2. Pat tilapia dry, season with salt and pepper, and sear in melted butter and olive oil over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes per side until golden and flaky. Transfer to a plate.
  3. Lower heat to medium, add remaining butter, garlic, and red pepper flakes; cook 30 seconds. Add tomatoes and cook 2 minutes, then stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, and spinach until wilted.
  4. Toss the drained pasta and 1/4 cup pasta water with the sauce, adding more water if needed. Gently fold in the broken tilapia pieces and warm through for 1 minute.
  5. Divide among bowls, top with Parmesan and torn basil, and serve hot.

Notes

If your tilapia fillets are on the thinner side, start checking them at the 2-minute mark to avoid overcooking. The sauce thickens best when you add the pasta water while the skillet is still warm, so don’t let it sit off the heat for long.