Recipe: Ginger and Cilantro Baked Tilapia — Weeknight Dinner Recipes from The Kitchn

I've been getting a lot of requests for fish recipes recently, and so today I thought I would revisit this extra-simple, extra-fast dinner that delivers huge flavor in a foolproof package.

Fish cooks so fast — this dish is so convenient for those last-minute meals. It was one of my first "grown-up" recipes, a quick meal for busy evenings after work. I would turn to this frequently when living alone or with roommates. It never failed to please, with the fresh, aromatic flavors of cilantro, ginger, and sesame.

It's sweet and spicy, salty from the soy sauce, and melting in the middle. It's certainly not the prettiest dish, but it's oh-so-fast, oh-so-easy, and oh-so-good.

On Tilapia and Sustainability

For sustainability, the best tilapia choice is domestically farmed tilapia. Tilapia adapts well to farming, and while domestically farmed tilapia makes up only about 10% of commercially available tilapia, it is the most environmentally friendly choice, according to the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch. A good alternative is farmed tilapia from Central or Southern America. It's best to avoid tilapia from Taiwan and China.

→ Read More: Tilapia at the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch

Any thin fish fillet would also work in this recipe; tilapia isn't your only option here.

Ginger and Cilantro Baked Tilapia

serves 2

1 pound tilapia fillets, or other thin fish fillet
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
3 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
1-inch piece fresh ginger, grated (about 1 tablespoon)
1 jalapeño pepper, roughly chopped (optional)
1/3 cup roughly chopped cilantro leaves
1/4 cup white wine
2 tablespoons soy sauce (or gluten-free tamari)
1 teaspoon sesame oil
Scallions, chopped for garnish
Extra cilantro, to garnish

Heat the oven to 475°F. Pat the fish dry, season lightly with salt and pepper, and lay in a 9x9-inch or 8x8-inch ceramic or glass baking dish.

Combine the garlic, grated ginger, chopped jalapeño, cilantro, white wine, soy sauce, and sesame oil in a small food processor. Process until blended. (Alternately, you can finely chop or mash the garlic, ginger, jalapeño and cilantro in a mortar and pestle, then whisk together with the liquid ingredients.)

Pour the sauce over the fish, rubbing it in a little. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily and is cooked through. It will be very moist and even a little gelatinous, still.

Serve immediately over brown rice or orzo, garnished with the additional scallions and cilantro.

This recipe was originally published June 14, 2007.

(Image credits: Faith Durand)

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