Tilapia filets topped with crushed pumpkin seeds, panko and seasonings, then baked until golden. This is super easy to make and is ready in less than 30 minutes.
Pumpkin Seed Encrusted Baked Tilapia
This is a great recipe when you don’t know what to do with pumpkin seeds. I served this with roasted broccoli rabe but this would also be great with rice with spinach, or roasted broccoli with smashed garlic.
Raw pumpkin seeds are everywhere this time of year. My toddler loves to snack on them and I feel good knowing she is having a healthy snack packed with vitamins, iron and minerals. They also add a wonderful nutty texture and flavor to the fish. I simply grind them and toss them with panko and seasoning, then top my fish, drizzle a little oil and bake. You can use this for almost any light, white fish.
I had some pumpkin seeds left over from my pumpkin bread but you could swap the pumpkin seeds with any nut you have on hand, I think pistachios would also be great.
More Baked Fish Recipes you might enjoy:
- Baked Fish Sticks with Lemon Caper Sauce
- Baked Scallops
- Baked Salmon with Fresh Herbs
- Fish Florentine
- Flounder Milanese
Pumpkin Seed Encrusted Baked Tilapia
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp raw, unsalted pumpkin seeds
- 2 tbsp panko crumbs
- 1 tsp dry parsley
- course salt such as kosher
- fresh cracked pepper
- 4 pieces 5.5 oz each tilapia filets
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- olive oil spray, I used my Misto
Instructions
- Grind the pumpkin seeds in a food processor or coffee grinder.
- Combine crushed pumpkin seeds, panko, parsley, pinch of salt and fresh pepper and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 400°.
- Line a baking sheet with foil for easy clean up.
- Drizzle 1/4 tsp oil on each tilapia filet.
- Rub over fish to coat, season with salt and pepper and top with crushed garlic.
- Add crumbs to the top, mist with a little oil and place in the center of the oven.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until fish is cooked through, then broil for 1 - 2 minutes, or until crumbs are golden (be careful not to burn).