Do you guys ever get stuck in dinner ruts? You know that dinner routine you’ve been doing for months but can’t help but just keep doing because it’s all you know and you just don’t have energy to find try something else?
I feel you. I swear, if I didn’t have a food blog to keep me creating new recipes, I’d probably be in the same boat. So, I started to think about an easy 20 minute dinner that requires MINIMAL effort.
Here’s the great thing about tilapia. It takes on whatever flavor you want it to. It’s super flakey and buttery and kinda like a blank canvas. You can infuse it with whatever flavors you want! Here I’m rubbing it down with blackened seasoning, and pan frying it to perfection. I’m bumping up the veggies by serving it on top of some low carb cilantro lime cauliflower rice and topping the whole thing with my favorite salsa and chopped cilantro.
Don’t be intimidated! It’s so easy to make!! If you’re feeling like you need a little more mental space to attempt something new, maybe make this for an easy date night dinner or weekend meal. You’ll be surprised at how easy it was and how impressive it all seems!!
Ingredients for blackened tilapia
- tilapia fillets
- paprika
- Old Bay Seasoning
- chili powder
- oregano
- salt
- olive oil
Ingredients for cilantro lime cauliflower rice
- olive oil
- riced cauliflower, fresh or frozen\
- coconut aminos or soy sauce
- lime juice
- garlic powder
- salt
- cilantro
How to make this Blackened Tilapia + Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
Start by making the cauliflower rice. You can buy pre-riced cauli rice in the frozen food section or by the salads in your grocery store. But, if you’re not using pre-riced cauliflower, go ahead and rice it with a box grater or the shredding attachment of your food processor.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the cauliflower and cook for 5-8 minutes until it starts to turn slightly golden brown.
Add the tamari or soy sauce, lime juice, garlic powder, and salt. Mix well and cook for 2 additional minutes. Stir in the cilantro, cook for another minute and then remove from the heat and set aside.
Mix together the paprika, Old Bay Seasoning, chili powder, oregano and salt.
Pat the tilapia fillets with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Rub the spice mixture all over the tilapia fillets.
In another large skillet, heat the remaining oil for the fish over medium high heat.
Cook the tilapia in the skillet for about 3-4 minutes per side. The fish should be a rich, golden brown on each side.
Recipe
Blackened Tilapia + Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
Switch up your weeknight dinner with this easy, low carb, and gluten free Blackened Tilapia + Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice! It’s packed with flavor!
Ingredients
For the blackened tilapia:
- 1 tsp. paprika
- 1/2 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning
- 1/4 tsp. chili powder
- 1/4 tsp. oregano
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 1 lb. tilapia fillets
- 1 tsp. olive oil
For the cauliflower rice:
- 1 tsp. olive oil
- 12 oz. riced cauliflower, fresh or frozen (about 2 cups or one head)
- 1 Tbsp. coconut aminos or soy sauce
- 1 tsp. lime juice
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Your favorite salsa, for serving
Instructions
- Start by making the cauliflower rice. If you’re not using pre-riced cauliflower, go ahead and rice it with a box grater or food processor.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the cauliflower and cook for 5-8 minutes until it starts to turn slightly golden brown.
- Add the coconut aminos or soy sauce, lime juice, garlic powder, and salt. Mix well and cook for 2 additional minutes.
- Stir in the cilantro and cook one more minute. Remove the cauli rice from the heat and set aside.
- Mix together the paprika, Old Bay Seasoning, chili powder, oregano and salt.
- Pat the tilapia fillets with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Rub the spice mixture all over the tilapia fillets.
- In another large skillet, heat the remaining oil for the fish over medium high heat.
- Cook the tilapia in the skillet for about 3-4 minutes per side. The fish should be a rich, golden brown on each side.
Enjoy!! xo
BIG thank you to my friend Allie from Miss Allie’s Kitchen for creating this delicious recipe and taking these gorgeous images for us!! I love her work and couldn’t be more excited she’s creating some tasty dishes to share here too!
Delicious, I make this recipe on a regular basis!
Awesome! I’m so glad you love it!! xo
Very good flavors! I did not have any lime juice for the rice and it still tasted good.
The recipe says “cilantro lime cauliflower rice, but there’s no cilantro in the recipe???
Ah I meant to update the cilantro in the recipe! Sorry about that 🙂 I’m glad it was tasty!!