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Pan Fried Tilapia with Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce

A quick, flavorful dish featuring crispy tilapia fillets enveloped in a rich garlic lemon butter sauce, perfect for busy weeknights.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Seafood
Calories: 320
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the fillets
  • 4 fillets tilapia fillets Fresh or frozen, thawed if frozen
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil For frying
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced Adds flavor to the sauce
  • 2 tablespoons butter For richness in the sauce
  • 1 lemon lemon, juiced Freshly squeezed for best flavor
  • to taste Salt and pepper For seasoning
  • for garnish (optional) Fresh parsley Chopped, for garnish

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Pat the tilapia fillets dry with a paper towel for better crispiness when frying. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
Cooking
  1. In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until it shimmers.
  2. Carefully add the tilapia fillets to the hot pan. Cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until the fish is golden brown and flakes easily with a fork. Avoid overcrowding the pan; cook in batches if needed.
  3. Once cooked, transfer the tilapia to a plate and cover to keep warm.
  4. In the same pan, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds, until fragrant. Then, add the butter and lemon juice, stirring until combined.
  5. Return the tilapia to the pan and drizzle the garlic lemon butter sauce over the top, ensuring each piece is well-coated.
Serving
  1. Plate the tilapia and, if desired, garnish with fresh parsley for color and added flavor.

Notes

For substitutions, use other white fish like sole or cod if tilapia isn’t available. Ensure oil is hot before frying to maintain crispiness, do not flip the fish too soon to achieve a good crust.