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Brown Butter Tilapia with Toasted Basil Butter Breadcrumbs

Brown Butter Tilapia with Toasted Basil Butter Breadcrumbs

Nutty, brown-butter–rich tilapia fillets get a crunchy, garlicky panko topping scented with dried basil. Ready in about 30 minutes, this quick stovetop main is ideal for a weeknight dinner.
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Total Time:30 minutes
Course: Dinner
Keyword: basil, brown butter, panko, tilapia

Ingredients

  • 4 filets tilapia
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 3 tablespoons brown butter
  • 1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 1 clove garlic minced or pressed
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried basil

Instructions

  1. Add panko bread crumbs to a small saucepan over medium heat and toast, stirring frequently, until golden, about 3-4 minutes. Turn off the heat and immediately stir in the minced garlic, dried basil, and 1 tablespoon brown butter, then set the breadcrumb mixture aside.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Pat the tilapia fillets dry and season both sides with salt and pepper.
  3. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil to the skillet and once melted add the tilapia. Cook 2-3 minutes per side, or until the fish is slightly golden and opaque through the center. Remove from the heat and just before serving drizzle with the remaining brown butter and spoon the toasted breadcrumb mixture over the fillets.

Notes

Toast the panko until clearly golden for the best crunch and stir in the brown butter right away so the crumbs absorb the flavor without steaming. Cook tilapia 2-3 minutes per side depending on thickness; fish is done when opaque and flakes easily.