I recently brought home a whole tilapia from our local Asian fish market and made quite a mess of trying to fillet it myself. Dad pitched in, with no more luck than I, and we ended up throwing the pieces (you couldn’t quite call them fillets anymore) into a fish stew. Now we know better. Just buy the straight fillets.

Fresh Tilapia Recipe

Tilapia are mild tasting, and fresh vegetables can really shine and highlight this relatively inexpensive fish. Here is a quick and easy way of cooking tilapia, a one-pan way of preparing this versatile fish that we found years ago from Better Homes and Gardens. The preparation is similar to Veracruz-style in this tilapia recipe, shallow poached on top of a bed of sliced onions, tomatoes, green olives, and mushrooms. It’s fresh, easy, and delicious.

What to Serve With Tilapia

This tilapia is practically a meal unto itself! This said, a piece of crusty bread or a scoop of rice would go quite well alongside.

Want More Easy Fish Recipes?

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Return to a simmer (it’s just the juices from the tomatoes that are simmering). Lower the heat to low and cover the pan. Cook or 8 to 10 minutes or until the fish easily flakes when tested with a fork. Serve with rice, and/or crusty bread.