Muy Bueno: Fiestas 
Baked Tilapia Veracruz
Take your taste buds on a Mexican vacation with this Baked Tilapia “a la Veracruzana”. This simple meal is delicious, easy, and healthy. Veracruz style means it is prepared with tomatoes, tangy olives, and capers. These world flavors will make you feel like you’re dining beachside in Mexico!
Dinner can be ready in less than 30 minutes with this ideal weeknight dish. This easy and healthy recipe makes a great family meal with minimal clean up. All you have to do is quickly sauté ingredients, top them with fish fillets and bake. Easy peasy!
Veracruz Style Cuisine
After a year of being mostly homebound, I imagine we are all itching to do some world travel. Since it might be a few months before we can hop on a plane, I’ve been leaning hard into globally inspired cuisine. This tasty baked tilapia recipe was inspired by a place I’m yearning to visit, Veracruz, Mexico.
Speaking of globalization, Heroica Veracruz is a perfect example of the melting pot our world has become. First colonized by Spain in 1519, Veracruz draws much of its culinary inspiration from three major sources: the indigenous peoples, the Mediterranean influence of the Spanish colonizers, and Afro-Cuban influence from the slaves who were brought there from Africa and the Caribbean.
If you can just begin to imagine the delicious food that has come about from that particular mixture of cultures, you’ve just barely begun to touch the tip of the iceberg! Veracruz food has some of the most vibrant flavors.
As someone who loves seafood, the coastal city dives deep into this foodie’s heart. With a coastline that stretches 56 miles along the Atlantic, seafood is a huge part of the local cuisine. (Remember this Veracruz Style Fish Stew?)
I can’t wait to travel again and visit Veracruz. Maybe I’ll see you there!
Why I Love This Recipe
While I’m all for exciting, global flavors lately, I’m also a busy working mom who needs lots of simple, fast, tasty, and healthy weeknight meals. This Baked Tilapia Veracuz hits all the marks.
This tasty fish recipe can be made in one skillet if made in an oven-safe skillet, meaning clean-up is almost nonexistent.
I also love how few ingredients you need to make a dinner that tastes so bold! Requiring fewer than 10 easy to find ingredients, this baked tilapia is a weeknight dream.
My friends over at Tastefully Simple are helping make my world cuisine dinners perfectly accessible. In this recipe, I used their zesty Cha Cha! Chile Lime Seasoning which combines the brightness of citrus with the heat of chiles all in one super convenient package.
I also use Tastefully Simple’s avocado oil, which is perfect for many applications. Perfectly neutral in taste and with a high smoke point, avocado oil is one you should definitely have in your kitchen arsenal.
If you’re looking for a yummy, fresh, and bright fish recipe to introduce into your rotation, go grab what you need to make my Baked Tilapia Veracruz – you won’t regret it!
How to make Baked Veracruz-Style Fish (Pescado a la Veracruzana)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large skillet, preheat 2 tablespoons avocado oil over medium heat. Cook tomatoes for about 5 to 6 minutes or until softened and skins begin to split. Add garlic; cook and stir about 1 minute or until fragrant. Remove from heat and stir in olives and capers.
Transfer to a shallow baking dish, if not using an oven-safe skillet.
Drizzle 1 tablespoon avocado oil over fish and season tilapia with salt, pepper, chile lime seasoning and place on top of vegetables.
Place slices of lemons on top, if using.
Bake, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes or until the fish begins to flake when tested with a fork.
Sprinkle with additional chile lime seasoning and fresh cilantro, if desired. Serve with lemon wedges and rice or pasta.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Veracruz style mean?
In this instance, making something in the tradition of Veracruz, Mexico refers to using Mediterranean flavors like briny capers and olives alongside traditional Mexican ingredients like tomatoes and garlic.
Which fish can be used for Baked Veracruz-Style Fish?
Almost any delicate, mild white fish can be used in this baked fish dish. I used tilapia but you can also use halibut, cod, catfish, or flounder.
What temp should tilapia be cooked to?
For food safety, tilapia should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.
Should I bake fish covered or uncovered?
Uncovered, please! This will help to prevent the fish from steaming and from overcooking. The exception to the rule would be fish in parchment.
Is baked tilapia healthy?
Yes! Tilapia is an excellent source of protein and nutrients, with only 3 grams of fat per serving. This recipe is also packed with the nutritional benefits of tomatoes and garlic, and is baked, meaning it requires far less added fat.
How do you know when tilapia is done?
As with most fish, tilapia should hit an internal temp of 145 degrees F. Perhaps more easily seen is how well the fish flakes. If you can insert a fork into the flesh and the layers “flake” easily when you twist, the fish is done. If you’re more of a visual learner, check out this helpful video.
Need more healthy seafood dinner ideas?
Check out these recipes:
- Canned Salmon Salad, Ceviche-Style
- Tuna Patties
- Lemon Butter Fish
- Mexican-Style Shrimp Scampi
- Pan-Fried Tilapia with Citrus, Mango, and Avocado Salsa
- Caldo de Pescado y Camaron (Fish and Shrimp Soup)
If you made this recipe for Baked Tilapia Veracruz, please let me know how it turned out! Comment below or tag me @muybuenocookbook on the gram!
Baked Tilapia Veracruz
Ingredients
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Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large skillet cook tomatoes in 2 tablespoons Tastefully SimpleÒ Avocado Oil over medium heat about 5 to 6 minutes or until softened and skins begin to split. Add garlic; cook and stir about 1 minute or until fragrant. Remove from heat and stir in olives and capers. Transfer to a shallow baking dish.
- Drizzle 1 tablespoon of avocado oil over fish and season with salt, pepper, chile lime seasoning and place on top of vegetables.
- Place slices of lemons, if using.
- Bake, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes or until the fish begins to flake when tested with a fork.
- Sprinkle with additional chile lime seasoning and fresh cilantro, if desired. Serve with lemon wedges.
- Serve over pasta or alongside white rice.
Notes
- Use code MUYBUENO10 to receive 10% off your online Tastefully Simple purchases between now and April 1, 2021.
- If you do not have Tastefully Simple Cha Cha! Chile Lime Seasoning, replace with your favorite chile lime seasoning blend.
- If you do not have Tastefully Simple Avocado Oil, feel free to substitute with olive oil.
- For a low-carb version, serve over zoodles or cauliflower rice.
Photography by Raemi Vermiglio
This post is sponsored by Tastefully Simple. Personal opinions and thoughts are my own.
One Comment on “Baked Tilapia Veracruz”
I had to try this recipe but I didn’t have Tilapia on hand so I substituted thin chicken cutlets instead. It was the first time I had tried a Veracruzana style recipe. Wow were both my hubs and I impressed. The blending of the flavors that the Capers and Green Olives gave it was AMAZING. I cooked it all on my stove top, because I was afraid that the chicken would dry out. Just salted and peppered the cutlets and then I made the sauce with the tomatoes etc.
It is a really tasty and quick meal. Thanks Yvette for the inspiration!