It Started With Blackened Tilapia
My husband and I have an ongoing joke about fish (go figure). When we were first dating and doing the whole “get to know your likes and dislikes” thing, he commented he wasn’t a fan of fish. Now, I eat fish and other seafood regularly, so that concerned me a bit!
I’m happy to say he has eaten (and enjoyed) every fish dish I’ve cooked over the years, but never without a fish joke or a comment about allergic reactions or some other random quip. I guess that’s the price you pay when you marry a funny guy (or fungi as he likes to say)!
“The only kind of seafood I trust is the fish stick, a totally featureless fish that doesn’t have eyeballs or fins.” – Dave Barry
The fish I started out with for my skeptical hubs was Tilapia, because it is so mild and delicate, and it takes on the flavor of whatever you cook it with. It is a great starter for fish novices!
Give It Some Spicy Love
One of our favorite ways to eat Tilapia is in tacos or lettuce cups, but it has to be well seasoned to stand up to the toppings. Enter blackening spices!
Blackened Tilapia fills your kitchen with an amazing fragrance, ignites an explosion of flavor in your mouth, and only takes a few minutes to cook! How’s that for a win-win-win?
I made a Mango Salad for these Blackened Tilapia Lettuce Cups, but you can use traditional taco toppings (lettuce, tomato, cheese, salsa) or a fresh, crunchy slaw as well.
Mix your blackening spices together, rub on both sides of the tilapia and place the fillets into a hot pan with some olive oil. 2-3 minutes on each side is all it takes and these beauties are ready. Let them cool a few minutes, then break into pieces and fill your lettuce cups (or tortillas) with fish and your toppings.
A filling, healthy, delicious dinner in less than 30 minutes…bam!
Give these a try and let me know how you like them…and how you top yours…in the comments below! And while you’re here be sure you subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss any of the goodness!
Keep it spicy!
Michele
Blackened Tilapia Lettuce Cups
Blackened Tilapia with Mango Salad wrapped in delicate lettuce cups.
Ingredients
Tilapia
- 4 6 oz Tilapia Fillets
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Brown Sugar
- 1 tsp Dried Oregano
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/4 tsp Cayenne Powder more if desired
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Cumin
- 1/2 tsp Black pepper
- 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
Mango Salad
- 1 Ripe Mango – Cubed
- 10 oz Cherry Tomatoes – halved
- 1 English Cucumber – halved and sliced
- 3 Green Onions – Sliced
- 1 Jalapeno – seeded, deveined and diced
- 1 tsp Cumin
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 Lime – juiced
- 2 Tbsp Chopped Cilantro
- 1 Avocado – Chopped optional
- 8 Lettuce Leaves Better with a tender leaf like Butter or Boston
Instructions
Mango Salad
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In a medium bowl gently toss mango, tomato, cucumber, green onions, jalapeno, and avocado (if using) with cumin, salt, cilantro, and lime juice. Taste and add salt if desired. Place in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Blackened Tilapia
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In small bowl, mix together paprika, brown sugar, oregano, garlic, cayenne, salt, cumin, and pepper (you can also use two heaping tablespoons of store bought blackened seasoning…there are some great ones on the market).
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Rub both sides of each tilapia fillet with blackening seasoning (a slightly heaping 1 1/2 tsp per fillet). Heat olive oil to medium high in a skillet, then add tilapia. Cook fillets for 2-3 minutes per side, until the outside is a dark golden color and the inside is flaky.
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Remove fish to a paper-towel lined plate to cool slightly. Break into bite size pieces.
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Placed washed lettuce leaves on a plate or serving tray. Divide fish pieces between the eight lettuce leaves. Top with salad mixture.
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Garnish with cheese, salsa, or sliced jalapenos if desired.
I LOVE eating fish but I haven’t been too adventurous about cooking fish. You said easy, so maybe I’ll have to give your recipe a try. 🙂 I love easy fast cooking. 🙂
It is simple! I hope you enjoy!
This looks like an amazingly delicious dish!!! I will add this to my try list.
Thanks Annette!
Looks good! I’m plant based so no fish but I’d sure enjoy the mango salad!
This recipe actually works well with Tofu also, if you can eat that.
Looks good!
Thank you Wendy.
That sounds really good! I’ll have to try this recipe this summer!
Thanks Junell!
Always looking for new fish recipes. This looks great! Thanks!
Thanks Christina!
Wow, this looks so amazing!
Thanks Nicole!
These look so good! Anything with mango in it has to be good!
I know, right?
I don’t think I have ever eaten Talapia, but this sounds like a great recipe!!! I love that it seems so light and fresh.
It it! Tilapia kind of takes on the flavor of the other ingredients because of its mildness.
I learned something! I did not know that tilapia was such a mild fish. I haven’t served fish in ages because my newest kids say they HATE fish. None of them can tell me when or how they started to dislilke fish. I’m going to give it a try!!!!
Absolutely! Let them try it with a great salad or relish on top wrapped in lettuce or tortillas…I bet they will love it!
Please come cook for my house!
LOL! Thanks Jen!
Sounds delicious! Love seafood so thank you!
beautiful photos and I might actually believe my culinary challenged self could do this
OMG this looks amazing!! I love fish and my father and husband love to go fishing and I’m sure it will work with other kinds of fish!
All of this looks wonderful. I forgot about mango salads. It was my favorite thing ever, and I forgot about it until now. I’m so making this when I get home! Thank you!
This looks fabulous, yum!!
This would be great with any fish! Thank you for sharing!
I love the combination of blackened spices & mango! Delicious!
That looks amazing!!
This looks amazing. I love all the colors and different ingredients. Now to have someone make it for me. LOL!
This looks so good! It’s the perfect meal for summer. I’ll have to try this!
Thanks Satcey! Let me know if you do!
So many great ingredients, colors, and flavors right here. The love of lettuce wraps never ends especially with a mango salsa – love it!
Thank you Angela!
These look delicious! I’m going to try them later this week!
Thanks Kate! Let me know what you think!
That salad looks amazing! Thanks for sharing it!
Thanks Katie.
My husband’s favourite! Not only that it’s delicious, it’s good for you as well. The mango salad is adding a kick to the recipe.
Looks so good! I can’t wait to give it a try.
Thank you Magan.
Thanks Jane! It is a hit in our house also!
Blackened fish is one of my favs. This look like a simple recipe that could easily be adjusted to what you have on hand at the moment.
It absolutely can! Thanks Suzan.
This mango salad looks delicious and so versatile! I bet it could be used on any number of dishes. My kids would probably eat it on its own!
I must confess I have eaten it by itself as well!
Looks delicious! My hubby will love trying this out on his grill 🙂
It is equally delicious on the grill!
Love the mango with the blackened seasoning would be delish with tuna and salmon too!! 😍
Yes! It is scrumptious with both!
This looks so simple to prepare yet has just about every herb or spice I love. Can’t eat the mango here … will have to find a sub.
Beth, pineapple works well too if you can eat that one!
First of all, this looks amazing. But I also have a fish “joke” with my husband. In college I tried to make blackened tilapia. I put a nonstick pan over high heat and slapped the fish in there. Pretty sure I melted the coating off the pan and the spices on the fish smoked us out and burned our eyes. My husband cringes when I say I’m making blackened fish, but I’ve learned a thing or two since then!
LOL! I love this story! Making memories is the best part of cooking I think!
I love tilapia so much and I love how easy and quick it is to cook as well. The mango salad looks like it adds that perfect touch of sweetness to the lettuce cups.
Thanks Erika! The mango does add just a touch of sweetness and cools the blackened seasonings.