Lime and Basil Tilapia

Tilapia is a mild white fish that happily takes on any flavors you add to it. The combination of lime and basil in this recipe makes for a fresh-tasting, flavorful main dish with minimal ingredients. The grill adds a delicious smoky flavor, but if it's not grilling season you can pan fry it in a cast-iron skillet or regular pan for an equally delicious meal. An herby marinade that doubles as a sauce gives a bright note to these tasty fish fillets. Serve alongside roasted potatoes and a salad for a complete and wholesome meal, or use the fillets as taco fillings, adding other fixings on the side like fresh avocado slices, pico de gallo, and cream. This recipe requires a 30-minute marinade, which coincidentally is also the right amount of time to allow the grill to come to the ideal temperature, plus 25 minutes of preparation and cooking, so plan ahead as the marinade is key to the overall flavor of the fish.

Tilapia is a protein-rich fish that is usually farmed. There's is a lot of misinformation about it not being a healthy seafood, but as long as you choose your fish from a responsible source there is no danger in eating it. However, because irresponsible farming practices crowd too many fish in smaller spaces and feed them an inadequate diet—not to mention antibiotics to prevent the spread of bacterial infections due to the very same overcrowding—tilapia has gained an infamous status, with consumers not differentiating one farming source from the other. As a general rule, safe farms in Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras, and the United States produce high-quality fish that are great sources of nutrition. Because tilapia is also low in mercury, it's a recommended source of nutrition for kids and pregnant women.

Fresh or frozen tilapia fillets will work well for this recipe. If frozen, make sure to thaw completely in the fridge overnight before preparing. Each fillet of tilapia is a powerhouse of nutrition. At just 110 calories per 116-gram fillet (4 ounces), each tilapia fillet of this size has 23.3 grams of protein, 0 grams of net carbohydrates, and almost 50 milligrams of choline, essential nutrition that helps your nervous system control its brain, muscle, and memory functions. That's almost ten percent of the recommended daily intake. Don't miss out on this spectacular and budget-friendly fish with our easy and flavorful preparation.