Spicy Roasted Pepper Tilapia Skillet (Printable)

Vibrant tilapia with spicy roasted peppers in a zesty tomato sauce, ready in 35 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fish

01 - 4 tilapia fillets (approximately 6 ounces each)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Roasted Peppers

05 - 2 large red bell peppers, roasted, peeled, and sliced
06 - 1 large yellow bell pepper, roasted, peeled, and sliced
07 - 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced (seeds removed for less heat, if preferred)

→ Aromatics & Sauce

08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
10 - 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained
11 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
13 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes (adjust to taste)
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
15 - Juice of 1 lime

# How-To Steps:

01 - Pat tilapia fillets completely dry using paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper, pressing gently to help the seasoning adhere.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Place seasoned tilapia fillets in the pan and sear for 2 to 3 minutes per side until just opaque throughout and lightly golden brown. Transfer fillets to a plate and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add a small amount of additional olive oil if the pan appears dry. Add sliced onion and minced garlic, sautéing for approximately 3 minutes until softened and fragrant, being careful not to brown the garlic.
04 - Add roasted red and yellow peppers along with sliced jalapeño to the skillet. Sprinkle in smoked paprika, ground cumin, and chili flakes. Stir continuously to combine spices evenly with the vegetables and cook for 2 minutes to bloom the spices.
05 - Pour in drained diced tomatoes and stir well. Continue cooking for 4 to 5 minutes, allowing excess liquid to evaporate and the flavors to meld together into a cohesive sauce base.
06 - Return seared tilapia fillets to the skillet, nestling them gently into the pepper mixture. Spoon the sauce generously over each fillet. Cover the skillet tightly and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 5 minutes until fish is heated through and flavors have infused.
07 - Remove skillet from heat immediately. Drizzle fresh lime juice evenly over the dish and sprinkle chopped cilantro across the top as a finishing garnish. Serve hot while the fish remains tender and the sauce is at its peak flavor.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of sweet roasted peppers and spicy notes creates layers of flavor that make ordinary fish feel extraordinary
  • Everything cooks in one pan, which means less cleanup and more time enjoying dinner
02 -
  • Make sure to pat the fish extremely dry before searing, otherwise it will steam instead of getting that beautiful golden crust
  • Let the pepper mixture cook down enough so the sauce is rich and concentrated, not watery
03 -
  • Roast your own peppers by placing them under the broiler until blackened, then steaming in a paper bag to loosen the skins
  • Let the fish rest for a minute before serving so it stays tender and moist

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