Pan-Seared Tilapia with Lime and Palm Heart Salsa

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-07 · Updated 2026-06-07

Light pan-seared tilapia fillets served with a zesty lime-infused salsa featuring tender Brazilian palm hearts. This Brazilian-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs tilapia fillets, olive oil, salt for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 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 (5 oz each) tilapia fillets
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 cup palm hearts, chopped
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tsp lime zest
• 1 small (optional) red chili, minced

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat dry 4 tilapia fillets and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the tilapia fillets and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden and just cooked through. Remove and keep warm.
3. Step 3: In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup chopped palm hearts, 1 cup quartered cherry tomatoes, 1/4 cup finely diced red onion, 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro, 2 tbsp lime juice, 1 tsp lime zest, and 1 small minced red chili if using. Stir gently.
4. Step 4: Drizzle remaining 1 tbsp olive oil into the salsa and toss to combine.
5. Step 5: Spoon the palm heart salsa generously over the warm tilapia fillets and serve immediately with steamed rice or salad.