This baked tilapia recipe went from plain to fantastic with an easy arugula walnut pesto topping. Healthy and packed with flavor!
Okay, this story doesn't actually have anything to do with baked tilapia or arugula walnut pesto, but it was a story that needed to be told.
"Aaahh-ooooo, aaahh-ooooo..." This sound drifted from our backyard nearly every day last week. On the first day, I cautiously peeked out the back door, prepared to see a coyote sitting on the corner garden bed mound. To my surprise (though, really, I shouldn't be surprised anymore), all I saw was my 7-year old (T) standing in the middle of the yard, head thrown back, howling with abandon.
"What are you up to, T?"
"Oh. Hi, Mum. I'm just trying to attract a bigfoot."
Super.
"Okaaay. What are you going to do if one actually shows up?"
"Well, don't worry. I won't let him inside or anything. Maybe we could lock him in the garage until the people from Finding Bigfoot get here. You know, that show on Animal Planet."
Silence. I really need to monitor those Animal Planet shows more closely.
"Umm, okay. Well, have fun. And make sure you plan an escape route."
I hopped on Twitter to report T's latest escapades and received responses, such as "Cool! I live in Bigfoot country in Canada" and "Give that boy a camera!" Apparently T isn't the only Bigfoot fan out there.
Ten minutes of concerted howling later.
"Mum, Mum! I just saw something big and hairy walking through the trees in the back field."
"Are you sure that wasn't our odd neighbor from down the street?"
"No, Mum. It really was a bigfoot. I just know it!"
Life is rarely dull around here.
From leprechaun traps to Bigfoot, our days are heavily steeped in mythical creatures. I only hope the Easter Bunny doesn't have something up his furry sleeve.
The recipe:
It takes no more than five minutes to whip up this pesto. However, if you are really pressed for time, feel free to substitute this arugula pesto with your favorite store-bought variety.
The pesto:
In the bowl of a food processor or a blender, briefly pulse arugula leaves. Add chopped, toasted walnuts and minced garlic.
Pulse several time until mixture is finely chopped, but still with some texture. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
Add finely grated Parmesan cheese, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
With the motor running, slowly pour in extra-virgin olive oil and run until combined.
The tilapia:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a baking dish with cooking spray.
Lay the tilapia fillets in the baking dish and spread 1 ½ tablespoons pesto on top of each fillet. Season the breadcrumbs with salt and pepper and divide the breadcrumbs evenly between the fillets.
Bake until the tilapia is just cooked through, about 10 minutes. Serve.
Other tilapia recipes:
Cookin' Canuck's Fish Tacos with Creamy Green Chile & Cilantro Sauce
Pham Fatale's Breaded Tilapia (Nori Crusted Fish)
Greedy Gourmet's Tilapia with a Peanut Crust & Chinese Dressing
Chase Blackwell's Grilled Tilapia with Charred Sweet Corn Relish
Printable Recipe
Baked Tilapia Recipe with Arugula Walnut Pesto & Breadcrumb Crust
Ingredients
The Pesto:
- 2 cups arugula leaves
- ¼ cup raw walnuts lightly toasted
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ¼ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
The Tilapia:
- 4 6 ounce each fillets tilapia
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- â…“ cup panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
The Pesto:
- In the bowl of a food processor or a blender, briefly pulse arugula leaves. Add chopped, toasted walnuts and minced garlic.
- Pulse several time until mixture is finely chopped, but still with some texture. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
- Add finely grated Parmesan cheese, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- With the motor running, slowly pour in extra-virgin olive oil and run until combined.
The Tilapia:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a baking dish with cooking spray.
- Lay the tilapia fillets in the baking dish and spread 1½ tablespoons pesto on top of each fillet.
- Season breadcrumbs with salt and pepper. Top the tilapia with the breadcrumbs.
- Bake until the tilapia is just cooked through, about 10 minutes. Serve.
Nutrition
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
kita
Maybe it's because I work in comics, but I am lucky to see the imagination of kids running wild every day and I think its absolutely magic. I love that he saw a bigfoot after all his efforts - that totally makes it worthwhile. I'm not the biggest kid person, but that story made me smile. 🙂
This tilapia sound refreshing with the pesto on top. I am additional to pesto after discovering last spring.
Lara
I made this for me and my boyfriend last night and it was amazing!!! Well, I couldn't find tilapia in the store so used sole instead and it was scrumptious!!!!
RavieNomNoms
This is SO delightful!! I am obsessed with pesto...and yours is very creative. I always love taking different spins on pesto. Lovely!
Katie {Epicurean Mom Blog}
Healthy and Delicious, couldn't get better! Walnut pesto is my fave! So refreshing for the start of spring!
Carolyn
Sounds like your little man has a wonderful imagination! Love this fresh dinner idea too. Yummy walnut pesto!
Thyme (Sarah)
I saw this on FG and it looks so delicious! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Suzanne
I love pesto on fish and with arugula it sounds great.
JulieD
Love it! My husband is a bigfoot fan! 🙂 This fish recipe looks so yummy! I love that you made an arugula pesto! I will definitely have to try this!
Lydia
It's only recently that I've been making pesto with something other than the traditional basil and pine nuts. Arugula makes a perfect partner to walnuts, and I love the walnut pestos with grilled chicken and pasta hot or cold dishes. It freezes well and is great to have on hand in the pantry.
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen
I haven't had arugula pesto in ages, this looks so fresh and perfect for spring.
Mirtha
for a split second there I thought you were talking about my son. he's 7. he watched the same show on animal planet.
Cindy @ Once Upon a Loaf
That was me. *I* am the Bigfoot! 😉 Great recipe. It's time for us to get back to fish, so I'm making this. Thanks!
Sara{OneTribeGourmet}
Dara, love the idea of arugala & walnut pesto with Tilapia, I need to try this recipe ASAP! Delicious!
Susan
Wondeful pesto ... so easy, but it sure dresses up a dish! I have some hake that I think I will use instead of the tilapia ... looks like a light and delish dinner this evening! Thanks, Dara!
Lauren
That is so hilarious!!! PS-I'm in love with those adorable little white bowls!
Megan {Country Cleaver}
Oh bless T's heart!! I was always terrified at my Dad's Bigfoot stories as a kid (to this day, he's still a believer). I hope he surprises BigFoot one day, he'll have a story for the rest of his life 😉
(This is when my favorite quote from Under the Tuscan Sun comes into play - "Never lose your childish enthusiasm, it's the most important thing.")