America's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated LogoAmerica's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated Logo

Seared Tilapia with Olive Vinaigrette and Warm Chickpea Salad

By Jessica Rudolph

Published on October 31, 2023

Time

40 Minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Seared Tilapia with Olive Vinaigrette and Warm Chickpea Salad

Ingredients

4 (5- to 6-ounce) skinless tilapia fillets 3½ teaspoons kosher salt, divided1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped fine1 small red onion, chopped fine2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, divided¾ teaspoon pepper, divided2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, rinsed½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano 1 cup pitted Castelvetrano olives, chopped coarse

Instructions

  1. Sprinkle tilapia all over with 1 teaspoon salt and let sit for 15 minutes. Combine bell pepper, onion, 1 tablespoon vinegar,½ teaspoon pepper, and 2 teaspoons salt in large bowl. Heat chickpeas and ¼ cup oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until warmed through, about 3 minutes, coarsely mashing about one-quarter of them. Stir chickpeas into vegetable mixture.
  2. Pat tilapia dry with paper towels. Cut each fillet along seam running down middle to create 1 thick half and 1 thin half. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in now-empty skillet over high heat until just smoking. Add thick fillets to skillet. Cook until golden brown on both sides and registering 130 to 135 degrees, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to plate. Add thin fillets to skillet and cook until golden brown, about 1 minute per side. Transfer to plate.
  3. Combine oregano and remaining ½ teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon vinegar, and ¼ teaspoon pepper in bowl. Slowly whisk in remaining 2 tablespoons oil until emulsified. Stir in olives. Serve.
Seared Tilapia with Olive Vinaigrette and Warm Chickpea Salad

Seared Tilapia with Olive Vinaigrette and Warm Chickpea Salad

Save

Time

40 Minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

4 (5- to 6-ounce) skinless tilapia fillets
3½ teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped fine
1 small red onion, chopped fine
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, divided
¾ teaspoon pepper, divided
2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, rinsed
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
1 cup pitted Castelvetrano olives, chopped coarse

Ingredients

4 (5- to 6-ounce) skinless tilapia fillets
3½ teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped fine
1 small red onion, chopped fine
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, divided
¾ teaspoon pepper, divided
2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, rinsed
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
1 cup pitted Castelvetrano olives, chopped coarse

Ingredients

4 (5- to 6-ounce) skinless tilapia fillets
3½ teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped fine
1 small red onion, chopped fine
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, divided
¾ teaspoon pepper, divided
2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, rinsed
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
1 cup pitted Castelvetrano olives, chopped coarse

Why This Recipe Works

Tilapia fillets naturally have a thick side and a thin side; separating them allowed us to achieve perfectly cooked portions with a golden-brown crust.

Instructions

  1. Sprinkle tilapia all over with 1 teaspoon salt and let sit for 15 minutes. Combine bell pepper, onion, 1 tablespoon vinegar,½ teaspoon pepper, and 2 teaspoons salt in large bowl. Heat chickpeas and ¼ cup oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until warmed through, about 3 minutes, coarsely mashing about one-quarter of them. Stir chickpeas into vegetable mixture.
  2. Pat tilapia dry with paper towels. Cut each fillet along seam running down middle to create 1 thick half and 1 thin half. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in now-empty skillet over high heat until just smoking. Add thick fillets to skillet. Cook until golden brown on both sides and registering 130 to 135 degrees, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to plate. Add thin fillets to skillet and cook until golden brown, about 1 minute per side. Transfer to plate.
  3. Combine oregano and remaining ½ teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon vinegar, and ¼ teaspoon pepper in bowl. Slowly whisk in remaining 2 tablespoons oil until emulsified. Stir in olives. Serve.

Gift This Recipe

Enjoyed this dish? Let others know by sharing it as a gift recipe.

This is a members' feature.