Pan-Seared Tilapia with Brown Butter and Lemon
Ingredients
- 4 fillets (about 6 ounces each)tilapia fillets
- ½ cupall-purpose flour
- ·salt
- ·black pepper
- 3 tablespoonsbutter
- 1lemon
- ·fresh parsley
Prep
- 01
Chop a small handful of fresh parsley.
- 02
Cut the lemon into halves or wedges for juicing.
Method
- 01
Pat the tilapia fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
- 02
Pour the flour into a shallow dish. Lightly dredge each fillet on both sides, shaking off excess.
- 03
Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it foams.
- 04
Working in two batches to avoid crowding, sear the fillets 3 to 4 minutes per side, until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
- 05
Reduce heat to medium-low. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter to the pan and swirl constantly until it turns a deep golden brown and smells nutty, about 2 minutes.
- 06
Squeeze the juice of the lemon into the brown butter. Pour over the fillets and garnish with chopped parsley.
Spice Tips
For warmth, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the brown butter. A small clove of minced garlic toasted in the butter adds depth. Fresh thyme or dill work beautifully in place of parsley for a different herbaceous note.
Serve with roasted potatoes or rice, or alongside a simple green salad. Brown butter can burn quickly — keep a close eye on it and pull from heat as soon it reaches that nutty, caramel color.