Lemon Herb Tilapia Dinner (Printable)

Flaky tilapia with fresh lemon-herb flavor paired with tender steamed asparagus for a light, nutritious dinner.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Fish & Marinade

01 - 2 tilapia fillets, approximately 5.3 ounces each
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
04 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
05 - 1 garlic clove, minced
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
07 - 1 teaspoon fresh dill, chopped
08 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

→ Vegetables

10 - 8.8 ounces asparagus, trimmed
11 - 1 teaspoon olive oil
12 - Pinch of salt
13 - Pinch of black pepper

→ Garnish

14 - Lemon wedges
15 - Extra chopped parsley

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a small bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, parsley, dill, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly until well combined.
03 - Pat tilapia fillets dry with paper towels and place on prepared baking sheet. Brush both sides generously with lemon-herb mixture.
04 - Bake tilapia for 12 to 15 minutes, or until flesh flakes easily when tested with a fork.
05 - While fish bakes, bring water to a boil in a pot and position steamer basket on top. Add trimmed asparagus, cover, and steam for 4 to 5 minutes until tender and bright green.
06 - Transfer steamed asparagus to a bowl and toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
07 - Arrange tilapia fillets on serving plates alongside seasoned asparagus. Garnish with lemon wedges and additional fresh parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under thirty minutes, which means weeknight dinner doesn't have to be a scramble.
  • The fish stays impossibly tender while the herbs and lemon keep everything bright, not heavy.
  • You'll feel genuinely nourished afterward, not bloated or like you're eating something boring for the sake of being healthy.
02 -
  • Dry your fish before cooking—I learned this the hard way when my first attempt came out steamed instead of beautifully cooked, and that one step changed everything about how this dish turned out.
  • Don't walk away from the kitchen during cooking; fish waits for no one, and the difference between perfect and overdone is literally two minutes.
03 -
  • Ask your fishmonger about the best tilapia they have that day—a two-minute conversation can change how your dinner turns out.
  • Taste your lemon-herb mixture before putting it on the fish; if it needs more salt or more lemon, fix it now instead of after cooking.
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