Tilapia with Watermelon Avocado Salsa
Tilapia with Watermelon Avocado Salsa brings that bright, crisp taste of summer! Pan seared tilapia topped with sweet watermelon, creamy avocado, and fresh aromatic basil with a drizzle of balsamic glaze. This is so simple and quick, you can use this for a midweek lunch. This is the perfect meal to make for your family and guests this summer!
Taste of Summer . . . Anytime!
Ahhh! Summertime! This meal is so summer. Picture sitting at an outside restaurant near the Mediterranean, the ocean, at some tropical resort, or at a bar and grill near a pool. You’re drinking a chilled glass of white wine or a mixed drink, perhaps a Mojito or a Piña Colada. You just finished your appetizer and the waiter come out with your main dish – Tilapia with Watermelon Avocado Salsa. Yes, this meal just fits that whole scene!
Although this dish screams “SUMMER!”, this can be made anytime. Anytime you can get watermelon that is. This is so bright and crisp, and the freshness is just so refreshing. This is one of those dished that the first bite makes you smile. And you keep smiling for awhile after you finish you last!
Tilapia with Watermelon Avocado Salsa
I came up with this recipe after we had a cook out at my house. I love entertaining. If you’re anything like me, you know there’s always a ton of leftovers. I had this watermelon sitting in my fridge for a few days afterwards. Tilapia was on sale, so I bought some, but I had no real plan of what I wanted to make. I had all the components of this dish, so I thought, “I wonder how watermelon would taste in a salsa?” Since my wife is use to me making things that may seem weird at first, she was like, “ooo-kay. If you say so.”
Wow! What a flavor! My children went in for seconds, then thirds! No matter how much I make of this, there are never any leftovers!
What Ingredients Go in Tilapia with Watermelon Avocado Salsa?
Watermelon Avocado Salsa
- Watermelon
- Tomato
- Avocado
- Sweet Onion
- Garlic
- Jalapeño
- Fresh Basil
- Fresh Lemon Juice
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Tilapia
- Fresh Tilapia
- Olive Oil
- Kosher Salt
- Dried Oregano, Basil, and Thyme
- Garlic Powder
- Black Pepper
- Lemon Zest
- Baby Spinach
- Balsamic Vinegar Glaze
Ingredient Notes
Fresh Lemon Juice – fresh is definitely better, but the bottled lemon juice is good too.
Cooking Instructions
Watermelon Avocado Salsa
Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl – watermelon, tomato, avocado, onion, garlic, jalapeno, basil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper – and mix well. Place in the fridge until ready to serve.
Tilapia
Using a paper towel, pat the fish completely dry and set aside.
In a small bowl, mix the salt, oregano, basil, thyme, garlic powder, pepper, and lemon zest.
Heat the olive oil in a medium pan over medium heat. Just before you add the fish, season only one side of each fillet with some of the seasoning mix.
Place the fillet in the pan, seasoned side down. Allow the fish to cook until the fillets turn white on the sides, about 4-5 minutes. The fish should lift from the pan easily.
Just before turning the fillets over, coat the side facing up with the seasoning mix. Allow the fish to cook for another 3-4 minutes.
When the fish is complete, remove the fillets to. Add some baby spinach and top with the Watermelon Avocado Salsa and drizzle some balsamic glaze over the fish, salsa, and spinach.
Pro Recommendations
I love my Anolon cookware! I am not a paid endorser, but I do highly recommend this line of cookware. Here is one of the pieces that I use all the time. I’m certain you’ll love it too!
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Tilapia with Watermelon Avocado Salsa
Ingredients
Watermelon Avocado Salsa
- 1 cup Watermelon, diced
- 1 cup Tomato, diced
- 1 cup Avocado, diced (1-2 avocados)
- 1 cup Sweet Onion, diced
- 2 cloves Garlic, diced
- 1 small Jalapeno, diced
- 1 Tablespoon Fresh Basil, chopped
- 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice (juice form 1/2 lemon)
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Tilapia
- 1.5 pounds Fresh Tilapia
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 3 teaspoons Kosher Salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Dried Basil
- 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Lemon Zest
- 6 ounce package Baby Spinach
- Balsamic Vinegar Glaze
Instructions
Watermelon Avocado Salsa
-
Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl – watermelon, tomato, avocado, onion, garlic, jalapeno, basil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper – and mix well. Place in the fridge until ready to serve.
Tilapia
-
Using a paper towel, pat the fish completely dry and set aside.
-
In a small bowl, mix the salt, oregano, basil, thyme, garlic powder, pepper, and lemon zest.
-
Heat the olive oil in a medium pan over medium heat. Just before you add the fish, season only one side of each fillet with some of the seasoning mix.
-
Place the fillet in the pan, seasoned side down. Allow the fish to cook until the fillets turn white on the sides, about 4-5 minutes. The fish should lift from the pan easily.
-
Just before turning the fillets over, coat the side facing up with the seasoning mix. Allow the fish to cook for another 3-4 minutes.
-
When the fish is complete, remove the fillets to. Add some baby spinach and top with the Watermelon Avocado Salsa and drizzle some balsamic glaze over the fish, salsa, and spinach.
