Citrus Crusted Tilapia with Blood Orange Salsa.
But not really.
It hurts, I know.
Citrus is just so so so good.
I find oranges, lemons, limes and the like to be one of the most powerful game changers: they flavor dishes so deeply and so differently that it knocks your socks off. Sort of like caramelized onions. Or smoked sea salt. Or… brown butter? Without all the calories. Wait. What are calories?
Oooooh and they also are a main ingredient in margaritas. Citrus, not calories. Silly. I can ride that gravy train.
It’s my opinion that so many people fail at eating healthy meals because they don’t know any better and eat them PLAIN. Ugh. Just that word makes me cringe and shrivel into a miserable little ball. Like nails on a chalkboard.
Take my husband for example. When I first met him, he ate plain ground turkey. Plain egg whites. Plain chicken. Plain everything. The man didn’t live, I tell you.
Granted once we started dating he had a constant supply of cheese in his fridge and gained like 20 pounds, but whatever. He needed it.
Seriously, now stop whatever it is that you’re doing. I mean, I’m sure it’s not important, like going to work or exercising or whatever. Psssh. You don’t need that. But you DO need to go buy some tilapia and make this for lunch. Okay, okay… dinner works too. If you are out of breadcrumbs, you can keep it crumbless a la honey lime tilapia and add the salsa on top. But whatever you do… promise me you are making the salsa. Today, today I say!
Citrus Crusted Tilapia
serves 2-4
4 fresh (or thawed) tilapia filets
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3/4 cup panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs
the zest of 2 blood oranges, 1 lime and 1 lemon
pinch of salt
2 egg whites, lightly beaten
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, place a wire rack on top, and spray the wire rack with nonstick spray. In a large bowl, add bread crumbs, flour, citrus zest and pinch of salt. In another bowl, lightly beat egg whites.
Season each piece of tilapia with salt and pepper. Dip each piece of tilapia in beaten egg whites, then coat with citrus breadcrumbs, pressing to adhere. Place on the wire rack and spray lightly with nonstick spray.
Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until breadcrumbs are golden.
Blood Orange Salsa
[adapted from perry’s plate!]
2 blood oranges, segmented and chopped
1 clementine, segmented and chopped
2 tablespoons chopped red onion
1/2 jalapeno, chopped
2 tablespoons freshly chopped cilantro
pinch of salt
Combine all ingredients together and mix. Let sit for 30 minutes so the flavors marry. Yum!
Oh and make a margarita too.
118 Comments on “Citrus Crusted Tilapia with Blood Orange Salsa.”
You’re really on a blood orange kick…and I love it! The salsa is gorgeous and I bet the tilapia is fabulous. I love that the salsa has no garlic in it and limited added sodium…thank you!
I love the colors! The salsa adds such a “wow” factor to the dish! Beautiful.
Don’t apologize for the citrus either – heck that’s what’s in season right now! Gotta embrace that :-)
I am loving your citrus kick! This looks really good!
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Gosh I really do need to buy these oranges huh?!
I just happen to have some tilapia in the fridge that I bought yesterday. Coincidence? I think not!
Keep that citrus coming – it’s so good right now!
Ooh I love blood oranges. Delicious!
This is so visually appealling! I love the vividness the blood orange salsa adds to the dish! Yum! :-D
Oh yum! Your on a jalapeno kick this week! I love it! I need to pick up some Tilapia and give this recipe a try! I love how quick it looks to make and it’s baked!
Oh yeah! I just found the first use for my new zester! *happy dance*
I’m going to name my firstborn BLOOD ORANGE SALSA.
She’ll be so popular.
That is a work of art! The colors and flavors WOW! Absolutely beautiful Jessica!
Yum!!!! So pretty too! What do blood oranges taste like? We don’t get them here….:(
This looks great! I LOVE unconventional salsas :)
That salsa looks so fresh and juicy that I’d take a whole plate of that alone!
i’m so glad you’re loving the citrus lately…i’ve been a little more than obsessed and need an outlet for the citrus stuff :)
LOL it looks like you and I are on the same brainwave with the whole crusting fish thing today! As for citrus, keep it coming. I’ve got my fridge loaded with it because I’m desperately trying to get rid of a sinus cold that I seem to have picked up on my way back from Milan this Christmas. I might need to make a massive bowl of this salsa!
Hey, you see that bowl, the one in the picture fourth from the top? Yeah, I’d like to live in it.
I love this! No apology necessary! I love citrus. This fish looks amazing…!!
I’ve been craving some fish lately (really weird for someone who doesn’t like it, I know) and never made it to the store yesterday to pick up that blood orange to try.
I’ll be showering today (haha) and venturing out. Wish me luck. ;-)
This is going to be on the menu for tonight!
That looks great! I’m not a huge fish eater (and by that I mean I don’t eat any at all…) but I’m determined to try it. Is tilapia a good place to start?
I think so! It’s pretty mild.
Yum! That salsa looks beautiful and super tasty! I will have to try this recipe!!
I also loved you comment “It’s my opinion that so many people fail at eating healthy meals because they don’t know any better and eat them PLAIN. Ugh” <—- my biggest peeve ever too!
ok ok I guess I need to go buy some blood oranges!
‘Tis the season for citrus! I love, love, love tilapia, and the citris salsa looks to die for!
I can’t get over their gorgeous color! Love it!
That looks absolutely gorgeous! I love blood oranges, so I’m a fan of your citrus theme happening!
mmm i like this margarita idea – blood orange margarita perhaps?!
It’s coming later this week! ;)
No apologies necessary-I LOVE citrus :) Keep on hittin’ me, baby!
these look beautiful, as always!
I have blood orange olive oil. Where can I add this in the recipe????
I love that salsa! Love it!
Whooooooa. This is a beautiful thing.
Loving how colorful and fresh that salsa looks!
This looks amazing and absolutely gorgeous! You are SO right about how people don’t know how to eat healthy, they just assume everything had to be bland and taste like cardboard haha (ie. my boyfriend)…I’ll definitely be making this in my immediate future!
That shot of the cut up blood oranges really does look like a scene from Dexter…
Jess! Citrus is my new bff, I use it in all my marinades and that salsa looks absolutely fabulous! Calories are non-existent in my world and this looks like a winner, winner, tilapia dinner!
Yum!
Mangia!!!
Your husbands “plain” diet makes me shiver!! And gag. :) This salsa however, does the complete opposite.
I completely despise fish. And I*m such a baby about it! Blech! But I*m thinking this sounds fabuloussss if made with Chicken! Must try!!
Blood orange is everywhere today, I love it!
NO apologies needed. That salsa is soooo gorgeous. This sounds amazing!
This looks so fresh and yummy! I have to make this.
This is such a pretty dish! And i’m sure citrus crusted tilapia is awesome. Thanks for sharing! :)
“It’s my opinion that so many people fail at eating healthy meals because they don’t know any better and eat them PLAIN. Ugh. Just that word makes me cringe and shrivel into a miserable little ball. Like nails on a chalkboard.”
Couldn’t have said it better myself!
I love all of the blood orange recipes that are popping up! Such a beautiful, color fruit to consume during the drab winter months!
Ohhhh no you didn’t!? This looks amazing!!
I love where you went with this! Those blood oranges are absolutely gorgeous. And thanks for the link :) I can’t wait to try that salsa on some fish!
This looks amazing! But I am not a huge fish eater…I’m thinking about chicken???
OMG we LOVE tilapia here and the blood orange salsa sounds incredible!!!
What a beautiful combination of flavors and colors. Love this idea to jazz up the tilipia. Sounds delicious.