Lemon Herb Tilapia Dinner (Printable Version)

Flaky lemon-herb tilapia served with tender steamed asparagus for a light, flavorful dinner.

# The Ingredients You'll Need:

→ Fish & Marinade

01 - 2 tilapia fillets, about 5.3 ounces each
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
04 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
05 - 1 garlic clove, minced
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
07 - 1 teaspoon fresh dill, chopped or 0.5 teaspoon dried dill
08 - 0.25 teaspoon salt
09 - 0.125 teaspoon black pepper

→ Vegetables

10 - 8.8 ounces asparagus, trimmed
11 - 1 teaspoon olive oil
12 - Pinch of salt
13 - Pinch of black pepper

→ Garnish

14 - Lemon wedges
15 - Extra chopped parsley

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, parsley, dill, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
03 - Pat tilapia fillets dry with paper towels and arrange on the prepared baking sheet. Generously brush both sides of each fillet with the lemon-herb mixture.
04 - Bake tilapia for 12 to 15 minutes until the flesh becomes opaque and flakes easily when tested with a fork.
05 - While fish bakes, bring water to a boil in a pot with a steamer basket insert. Add trimmed asparagus, cover, and steam for 4 to 5 minutes until tender with a vibrant green color.
06 - Transfer steamed asparagus to a serving bowl and toss with olive oil, salt, and black pepper to coat evenly.
07 - Arrange baked tilapia fillets on individual plates alongside the seasoned asparagus. Top with lemon wedges and additional fresh parsley if desired.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It comes together faster than you can set the table, which means weeknight dinner stress becomes dinner night victory.
  • The fish stays impossibly tender and flaky because you're letting the oven do the gentlest work possible.
  • You'll feel genuinely good about eating it, not in a restrictive way, but because it's actual nourishing food that tastes indulgent.
02 -
  • Over-cooking tilapia by even a few minutes transforms it from tender to dry and disappointing, so set a timer and trust it—this fish is delicate and fast.
  • Don't skip drying the fish fillets because moisture is the enemy of browning and proper seasoning absorption, and that small step makes all the difference in texture.
03 -
  • If you don't have fresh dill, skip it entirely rather than substituting with something else—tilapia with lemon and parsley is still beautiful, but wrong herbs feel like a compromise.
  • A squeeze of fresh lemon juice right before eating brightens everything and reminds your palate why this meal tastes so clean and alive.
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