Baked Saffron Tilapia with Pistachio Cream Sauce (Gluten-free, Grain-free)

This post is sponsored by The Healthy Fish. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.

Can you believe Christmas is right around the corner? Holidays can be a time for overindulging, but you can still stay on track as long as you make smarter choices with your recipes. Who said you have to sacrifice the taste to prepare a nourishing meal? Today I’m about to prove once again that you can enjoy a scrumptious meal that’s healthy and wholesome at the same time. So I present to you this baked saffron tilapia with a pistachio cream sauce that will make your taste buds sing!

The Fish

I love using Regal Springs tilapia fillets for this recipe since they provide ethical, sustainable, and responsibly-sourced seafood options. Their premium tilapia is raised in large floating nets in deep-water lakes, free from antibiotics, additives, and chemicals. In fact, they’ve earned ASC, BAP, and BRP certifications for their responsible aquaculture practices.

Tilapia is a wonderful source of protein, B vitamins, and antioxidants, and is very low in calories. It has a rather mild, slightly sweet taste, which is perfect for those who don’t really enjoy the “fishy” taste of certain types of seafood.

Preparation

I love baking it in a buttery saffron lemon sauce with thyme (fresh or dried). Since tilapia fillets are rather thin, you don’t need to leave them in the marinade as you would for thicker cuts of fish or meat. Simply dip them in or brush them with the saffron lemon sauce and bake in the oven until they get golden and crispy on top.

This delectable baked saffron tilapia makes the most elegant meal for entertaining during the holidays. It sounds fancy, but takes such little time and effort to prepare and is a total crowd pleaser. If you’re really looking to wow your guests, top the fillets with this creamy and zesty pistachio sauce that mainly consists of plain organic (or non-dairy) yogurt, pistachios, garlic, lemon juice, and lemon zest.

Serving

You can serve it on a bed of saffron rice (if not grain-free) or with fresh or roasted vegetables. I love adding it to my Buddha bowls to bump up the protein. In this bowl, you’ll find avocado, carrot ribbons, shredded red cabbage, and zucchini noodles doused in the pistachio cream sauce, all topped with a pistachio hemp dukkah. Just thinking of it makes my mouth water!

Can’t wait for you to try this delicious recipe as well. Leave me a comment below or tag me on your recreations on Instagram or Facebook @nutriholist #nutriholist. Enjoy!

Baked Saffron Tilapia with Pistachio Cream Sauce

Serves 4

Ingredients

Saffron Tilapia

• 4 Regal Springs tilapia fillets {See Notes}
• 1/8 teaspoon saffron, crushed + 3 tablespoons hot water
• 2 tablespoons grass-fed ghee {See Notes}
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 4 sprigs of thyme

Pistachio Cream Sauce

• 1/4 cup shelled pistachios
• 1/2 cup plain organic (or non-dairy) yogurt
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 clove garlic
• Sea salt and black pepper, to taste

Directions

1. For the Saffron Tilapia: Take the tilapia out of the fridge to take the chill off as you start preparing the marinade. Preheat the oven to 400F
2. Add saffron to a wide shallow bowl, cover with hot water and whisk to dissolve. Let it steep for 5 minutes. Add ghee to the hot water/saffron mix and stir to melt. Add the rest of ingredients and whisk to combine
3. Dip the tilapia fillets into the marinade or use a brush to evenly coat both sides (See Notes). Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in the oven at 400F for around 10 minutes until fish is fork-tender. If you like it crispy on top, set the oven to broil and leave it in for another 3-4 minutes (keeping an eye on it to make sure it doesn’t burn)
4. For the Pistachio Cream Sauce: Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Taste test and adjust seasoning. Pour on top of the baked saffron tilapia and enjoy!

NOTES:

• Frozen tilapia works in this recipe as well. It might just take longer for it to cook. If using frozen, it’s best not to dip the fish into the marinade, since the ghee or butter can solidify. Use a brush to coat it instead
• You can substitute ghee with grass-fed butter, coconut oil, or avocado oil

For more fish-friendly recipes like this, head to TheHealthyFish.com. When you are looking to purchase Regal Springs Tilapia, feel free to use this store locator to help you. Keep in mind that Costco sells the fish under the Kirkland brand.