Pan-Seared Tilapia with Lime and Coconut Rice
Delicate tilapia fillets pan-seared and paired with fragrant coconut rice brightened by fresh lime juice, a fresh Brazilian-inspired seafood dish. This Brazilian-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs tilapia fillets, lime juice, salt for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 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.
Ingredients
- 4 pieces (about 6 oz each) tilapia fillets
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup long grain white rice
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 cup water
- 1 minced garlic clove
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 tsp lime zest
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Rinse 1 cup long grain white rice under cold water until water runs clear. Combine rice with 1 cup coconut milk, 1 cup water, and 1 minced garlic clove in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil.
- Step 2: Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer rice for 18-20 minutes until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender. Remove from heat and let sit covered for 5 minutes.
- Step 3: Meanwhile, season 4 tilapia fillets with 2 tbsp lime juice, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper on both sides.
- Step 4: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add tilapia fillets and cook 3-4 minutes per side until fish is opaque and flakes easily.
- Step 5: Fluff coconut rice with a fork, then stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro and 1 tsp lime zest for brightness.
- Step 6: Plate tilapia fillets over a bed of coconut lime rice and garnish with additional cilantro or lime wedges if desired.









