Blackened Tilapia

Blackened Tilapia is coated in an easy homemade Cajun style spice rub for a flavorful tilapia recipe you’ll love!

Did you used to think like I did that if the recipe had the name “blackened” it meant burnt?  It really just means the fish or chicken is given a dark crust from the spices – often Cajun – and then cooked in a cast iron skillet over high heat to create that delicious crust.  This blackened tilapia  fits the definition of blackened fish – cooked on high heat with a spicy Cajun rub.

Since Aimee started this blog several years ago, I have learned numerous cooking techniques; such as blackened plus I now know what a spice rub is instead of marinating only..  Neither Aimee or I claim to be expert chefs, we are just like most of you, everyday folks, who love to eat and try new and old recipes.  Some of the other things I have gained (not weight – ha ha) is how to bake a pretty good pizza, love of vegetables, repertory of bread recipes,  and healthy eating.  I have figured out how to add different grains to recipes, substituting yogurt or applesauce for oils and butter, additional curiosity to cooking methods and types of food, AND I have had plenty of flops, like exploding gravy.  But mostly I have made new friends with you.

My newest acquisition is how to blackened fish.  I saw this blackened tilapia recipe on the back of my tilapia packaging and went for it.  I actually had all the spices in my cupboard, that is another thing I have gained a wide variety of spices to my cupboard.  Blackened fish is quite easy but do plan some time to let the spice rub adhere and flavor the fish.  Otherwise, it is  just a little simple mixing of spices, rubbing on the fish, and waiting in the fridge before the cooking on the stove.  It is pretty zippy, but easy and good.

Blackened Tilapia

Blackened Tilapia is coated in an easy homemade Cajun style spice rub for a flavorful tilapia recipe you'll love!

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Ingredients

• 3 fillets tilapia (thawed)
• 1 1/2 TBSP chili powder
• 1/2 tsp cayenne
• 1 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 TBSP smoked paprika
• 1/2 TBSP onion powder
• 1/2 TBSP garlic salt
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp ground thyme
• 2 tsp brown sugar
• 1 to 2 TBSP olive oil (or butter)

Instructions

• Put all the spices and herbs together in 1 small bowl and mix to combine
• Place your thawed tilapia on a plate
• Take 1/2 your spice mix and rub into each piece of tilapia all over
• Turn your tilapia over and rub the other half of the spices into the tilapia
• Cover with plastic wrap and put into your fridge 1 hour or longer
• Remove tilapia from fridge while heating 1 to 2 TBSP olive oil or butter in a large frying pan on medium high
• Place your tilapia in pan and fry 4 minutes on 1 side
• Turn over and fry 2 to 4 more minutes until fish is cooked throughout, it should flake apart easily

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You might like these other tilapia recipes too:

Tilapia with Citrus Butter

  Macadamia Nut Crusted Tilapia