Pan-Fried Tilapia with Tamarind Soy Glaze and Scallions

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-11 · Updated 2026-06-11

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Crispy pan-fried tilapia fillets glazed with a tangy tamarind and soy sauce reduction, topped with fresh scallions for brightness. This Filipino-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs tilapia fillets, salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 15 min Serves 4 Filipino cuisine 220 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 fillets, about 6 oz each tilapia fillets
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
3 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp tamarind paste
3 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp brown sugar
1/4 cup water
3 stalks, thinly sliced scallions

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat dry 4 tilapia fillets and season evenly with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper on both sides.
Step 2: Heat 3 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the fillets and fry for 4 minutes on each side until the skin is golden and crisp. Remove and keep warm.
Step 3: In the same skillet, combine 2 tablespoons tamarind paste, 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, and 1/4 cup water. Bring to a gentle boil and simmer for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
Step 4: Return the tilapia fillets to the skillet and spoon the glaze over them for 1 minute to coat.
Step 5: Transfer to a serving plate and sprinkle with 3 thinly sliced scallion stalks before serving.