Crispy Honey Lime Tilapia.

August 4, 2011 · 97 comments

Hickory dickory dock

this blog post is such a crock

I stayed up too late

but the recipe’s great,

Crispy Honey Lime Tilapia

makes 4 filets

4 fresh (or thawed) tilapia filets

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 teaspoon lime zest

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/3 cup flour [I used whole wheat pastry]

2 tablespoons olive oil for frying

additional honey + lime zest mixed for drizzling

60 minutes before cooking,season tilapia filets with salt and pepper then lay in a baking dish or into a large ziplock bag. In a bowl, combine olive oil, honey, lime juice and zest, and crushed garlic and whisk until combined. Pour over tilapia and let marinate for an hour. Add flour [+ a bit more salt, pepper, and lime zest] to a bowl and set aside.

Heat a cast iron skillet (or a non-stick skillet) over medium-high heat and add olive oil. Dredge each piece of tilapia through the flour until you have a very light coating. Making sure the pan is hot, add tilapia to the oil and cook until flaky and crispy on each side – about 3-4 minutes per side. Remove tilapia from pan and let drain on a paper towel for a few minutes. Serve with an additional drizzle of lime + honey, then cover in blueberry lime salsa.

so make it and then we will talk. K? #yum

{ 90 comments… read them below or add one }

Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance August 4, 2011 at 7:00 am

Where’s the end of the hickory dickory dock!? Not that this tilapia recipe isn’t a sufficient ending, I was just expecting a rhyme ;)

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Jessica August 4, 2011 at 7:05 am

The last line of the post – I didn’t want to repeat!

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Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance August 4, 2011 at 7:13 am

Oh okay I see it now– Obviously I’m no poet ;)

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Nourhan @ Miss Anthropist's Kitchen August 4, 2011 at 7:02 am

This sounds delicious…I want to give this recipe a try! :)

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Jen @ keepitsimplefoods August 4, 2011 at 7:05 am

Love tilapia- honey lime sounds grand! This would go perfectly with my blueberry infused vodka lemonades! ;)

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bakingblonde August 4, 2011 at 7:14 am

I have been looking for another fish recipe to try this summer, sounds great!

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Jessica L. August 4, 2011 at 7:15 am

If I come to your house will you make this for me? It looks so delish.

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Jessica August 4, 2011 at 7:20 am

Why yes… yes I will.

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Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga August 4, 2011 at 7:27 am

that looks so perfect! I love fish that’s lightly crisped AND the honey making is lightly sweetened, perfect!

and tilapia is 1. low in mercury and 2. affordable making it even more of a great recipe!

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Caroline @ chocolate & carrots August 4, 2011 at 7:29 am

I like your song. :-)

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Blond Duck August 4, 2011 at 7:30 am

Delish!

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Hilliary @ Happily Ever Healthy August 4, 2011 at 7:33 am

Yum I love tilapia! Great way to introduce the recipe with the song!

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Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg August 4, 2011 at 7:36 am

Mmmmm…looks like the fancy fish version of chicken fingers :-)

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Holly @ The Runny Egg August 4, 2011 at 7:39 am

Looks delicious as always — I’ve tried your honey chicken and honey tilapia sounds so good!

The rhyme was nice too!

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Hayley @ Hayley Daily August 4, 2011 at 7:39 am

I’m still working on trying to learn to like fish. I’ve heard tilapia is a good place to start, and this sounds good so definitely bookmarking for later. :)

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Barefoot Pregnant and In The Kitchen August 4, 2011 at 7:53 am

I’m the same way!! Tilapia, haddock, and halibut I’ve found I can handle without the ‘fishy’ taste. Tilapia is by far my favorite.

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Laura August 4, 2011 at 7:45 am

I am trying to cook more fish at home. I think we will have to try this next week! Looks fabulous!

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Barefoot Pregnant and In The Kitchen August 4, 2011 at 7:50 am

Tilapia is one of the few fish I will eat. I don’t make it all that often either. This looks amazing! And with the blueberry salsa on top YUUUUMMMM.

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Blog is the New Black August 4, 2011 at 7:50 am

A fish recipe even I may like!

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Heather (Heather's Dish) August 4, 2011 at 7:51 am

hahahaha – girl, i feel ya! i’m scrambling for words this morning too :)

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Anitra August 4, 2011 at 7:56 am

and i just said yesterday i wanted fried fish, this it is then, thanks!! :)

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Jessica @ idkmybffjes August 4, 2011 at 8:08 am

That looks delish…but I’m not a fish person.

How do you think it would taste on chicken?

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Miranda August 4, 2011 at 8:10 am

This looks fabulous!

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Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat August 4, 2011 at 8:10 am

Oh yummy!! I think you should set up a little fish and chips shop in some cute little coastal town on a beach… you’d surely sell out of this dish every day and be set for life!!! (Perhaps you could even serve bacon for breakfast!?)

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Christine August 4, 2011 at 8:17 am

honey lime sounds like a delicious combo….i’m curious if u think pastry flour adds anything special to the dish…I wouldn’t have thought to use it as a breading ingredient. Thanks!

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Jessica August 4, 2011 at 9:52 am

Nope, I just use it as a sub for all-purpose flour sometimes!

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Shereen August 4, 2011 at 8:27 am

I have tilapia in my freezer right now, and I was just trying to figure out what to do with it! Although, do you think it would still taste good without dredging it in the flour mixture?

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Jessica August 4, 2011 at 9:51 am

Oh yes, it just probably won’t be crispy.

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Kim in MD August 4, 2011 at 8:28 am

I knew I spied tilapia yesterday! This looks so amazing!

For those of you afraid to try fish, tilapia is really (in my opinion) the mildest, non-fishy tasting fish out there. My children love it, and it really is a blank canvas for what ever flavors you like- sort of like white meat chicken! It also cooks in a flash!

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Gina @ Running to the Kitchen August 4, 2011 at 8:32 am

I love fried white fish, reminds me of living in Spain. My host family would make it once a week. We never had blueberry salsa though to go on top!

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kaceyt @ om&nom August 4, 2011 at 8:33 am

looks fabulous! i’m hosting a dinner party on sunday evening and this very well may have to be on the menu!

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VeggieGirl August 4, 2011 at 8:37 am

You’re a poet and you didn’t know it :D

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Sues August 4, 2011 at 8:37 am

Yumm! I’m not a big tilapia person, but THIS look awesome. I kind of need it right now…

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Jihane @Sinful Sundays August 4, 2011 at 8:42 am

bravo! for the poem and the fish! :)

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Laura August 4, 2011 at 8:48 am

Haha! You hashtagged your blog! That’s #awesome!

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Brooke @ BittersweetBrooke August 4, 2011 at 9:24 am

I was wondering what they salsa was going to be served with! I’m pretty sure you can’t go wrong with fruit salsa and flaky fish. Plus since it looks so healthy it means I could totally eat more cookies afterward. Win!

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Kelly August 4, 2011 at 9:32 am

Wow! This looks amazing. I love tilapia but honestly get sick of eating it the same way over and over again. I am bookmarking this. Thanks Jess and happy Thursday!

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Jessica August 4, 2011 at 9:50 am

Same to you. :)

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Cait's Plate August 4, 2011 at 9:43 am

I think any mouse running up a clock with that at the end is one lucky mouse :)

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Jessica August 4, 2011 at 9:50 am

Hahah!

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Lisa | Life in Green August 4, 2011 at 9:43 am

Mmmm. Love me some tilapia. So pretty though might be a crime to eat.

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Katie August 4, 2011 at 9:45 am

I just bought tilapia from TJ’s! I’m totally making this this weekend, it looks awesome!

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nancy k August 4, 2011 at 9:51 am

I love tilapia and I’m always looking for new ways to prepare it. I really like the frozen tilapia loins sold at Costco. The package contains about 8 loins which are are individually wrapped, thaw in a flash when soaked in cool water and are thick and substantial. After reading this recipe, I knowwhat I will be having for dinner tonight. Thanks for sharing!

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Jenna August 4, 2011 at 10:00 am

what a lovely fast dinner idea! i love the idea of using your blueberry salsa as a topping.

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Kelly August 4, 2011 at 10:06 am

That looks seriously delicious. Perhaps I’ll add it to my menu for next week.

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Amanda- The Nutritionist Reviews August 4, 2011 at 10:12 am

What a great use for the blueberry lime salsa!

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Bev Weidner August 4, 2011 at 10:23 am

HA!

Holy moms of all babies, this is my favorite. Tilapia, will you marry me?

l.o.v.e.

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Devon {Confections of a Food Bitch} August 4, 2011 at 10:24 am

Tilapia is one of the few fish that I’ll actually eat… So I may have to make this.

Or adapt it to chicken ;)

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Jessica August 4, 2011 at 11:08 am

I think it would be good on chicken too!

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Ashley August 4, 2011 at 10:29 am

Wow!! That’s is perfectly battered + golden. Impressive! I would like a spoonful or 5 of that salsa on my oats!

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Jenny T. August 4, 2011 at 11:11 am

Fish is my ultimate favorite meal. Thank YOUUU! It is 9am here and I feel like I could still eat that right UP!

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Stacy @ Say It With Sprinkles August 4, 2011 at 11:30 am

You’re totally entitled to a crock post. I can relate. And I love fish!

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Mary (What's Cookin with Mary) August 4, 2011 at 11:31 am

I looove crispy fish. …and topping it with that sinful salsa… oh yeah! Question: when you reheat the fish (I assume you do bc you probably made this long before dinner time?) do you micro it or put it back in the oven? I hate when the crispy coating gets mushy …

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Jessica August 4, 2011 at 11:36 am

Nope we actually ate it right after I made it! I wouldn’t suggest making it to reheat because it won’t stay crispy – if you have leftovers they will still taste good just not be as crispy. I would probably heat them in the oven for a few minutes.

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CouponClippingCook August 4, 2011 at 12:28 pm

What a nice combination…to top the fish with that delicious salsa. Sounds like a great match.

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Tina @ My Life as a Mrs August 4, 2011 at 12:51 pm

uhh YUM. I’d like to come over to your house for dinner… mmmk? :)

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Jessica August 4, 2011 at 3:27 pm

Anytime. :)

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Paige @ Running Around Normal August 4, 2011 at 12:57 pm

Annnd starring this recipe. Think lemons would have the same effect or taste OK too? I have a bag of lemons, but not a lime in sight. It’s a shame, considering I do have tequila ;)

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Jessica August 4, 2011 at 3:27 pm

I think so! Add a little first then taste. :)

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Shannon August 4, 2011 at 1:44 pm

Oh Wow. That looks really awesome. I bet it would work for chicken nuggets too, however, I do need more ways to prepare fish. This one is going on my “must have” list!

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Brigitt August 4, 2011 at 1:50 pm

Hi! I just wanted to say that I’m pretty new to your blog, but I love it and it’s now on the short list of websites I open every morning while enjoying my coffee. It totally inspired me to start my own food blog (no where near as good as yours, but mayyybe one day?!). Thanks!!

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Jessica August 4, 2011 at 3:26 pm

Thanks a bunch! And I just checked out your blog – it’s gonna be great! Love the idea.

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Diana @ frontyardfoodie August 4, 2011 at 2:03 pm

Wow that is GORGEOUS. I love looking at a food and just knowing exactly how amazing it tastes.

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Jessica August 4, 2011 at 3:23 pm

Thanks!

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