Ingredients:

  • 4 (6 oz / 170g) Tilapia fillets
  • ½ tsp (3g) sea salt
  • ¼ tsp (1g) cracked black pepper
  • 1 tbsp (15ml) olive oil
  • 3 tbsp (42g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 tbsp (15ml) fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp (2g) lemon zest
  • 3 cloves (9g) garlic, minced
  • ½ tsp (1g) dried thyme
  • ¼ tsp (1g) smoked paprika

Instructions:

  1. Pat the tilapia fillets completely dry with paper towels to ensure a proper sear. Season both sides evenly with salt and black pepper.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, thyme, and paprika until uniform. Let the mixture sit for 2-3 minutes.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Place fillets in the pan and sear for 3-4 minutes without moving them until a golden crust forms.
  4. Flip the fillets carefully. Immediately pour the lemon garlic butter mixture over the fish and baste the fillets with a spoon for another 2-3 minutes until the fish is opaque and flakes easily.