Pan-Seared Tilapia & Saffron Rice with Sherry-Date Pan Sauce

Pan-Seared Tilapia & Saffron Rice

with Sherry-Date Pan Sauce

30 MIN
+$0.95/serving 2 Servings
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600 Calories Or Less
Coming in at 600 calories or less per serving, these recipes are ideal for those choosing to monitor their caloric intake without sacrificing flavor. The US Food & Drug Administration uses 2000 calorie daily intake for general advice. The 600 calorie cap equates to 30% of the total 2000 calories per day based on 3 meals per day with 200 calories remaining for snack or beverage.
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  • with Tilapia
    includes 2 Sustainably Sourced Tilapia Fillets View recipe
  • with Salmon
    includes two 5-oz Sustainably Sourced Skin-On Salmon Fillets
  • with Salmon

    From the Test Kitchen

    This dish is packed with bold flavors thanks to the blend of Spanish-style spices on our seared tilapia fillets, which we're topping with a rich, buttery pan sauce. It's all served over a bed of fragrant saffron-infused rice studded with sweet dates and spicy sautéed zucchini.
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    • Nutrition
      PER SERVING
    • Calories
      840 Cals (est.)
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    fresh
    ingredients
    Pan-Seared Tilapia & Saffron Rice with Sherry-Date Pan Sauce
    Title
    • 2 Skin-On Salmon Fillets
    • 1 pinch Saffron
    • ½ cup Long Grain White Rice
    • 1 Tbsp Spanish Spice Blend (Smoked Paprika, Ground Cumin, Ground Coriander, Dried Mexican Oregano, Cayenne Pepper & Ground Cinnamon)
    • 1 bunch Parsley
    • 1 Zucchini
    • 2 cloves Garlic
    • 2 tsps Date Syrup
    • 1 oz Butter
    • 2 Tbsps Sliced Roasted Almonds
    • ¼ tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
    • 1 oz Dried Medjool Dates
    • 2 Tbsps Sherry Vinegar
    time-saving
    tips & techniques
    Prepare the ingredients
    1 Prepare the ingredients

    Wash and dry the fresh produce. Pit and roughly chop the dates. Halve the zucchini lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1/4-inch pieces. Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic. Roughly chop the parsley leaves and stems. 

    Cook the rice
    2 Cook the rice

    In a medium pot, combine the rice, saffron, chopped dates, a big pinch of salt, and 1 cup of water. Heat to boiling on high. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook, without stirring, 13 to 15 minutes, or until the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Turn off the heat and fluff with a fork.

    Cook the zucchini
    3 Cook the zucchini

    Meanwhile, in a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the zucchini pieces in an even layer. Cook, without stirring 2 to 3 minutes, or until browned. Add the chopped garlic and as much of the red pepper flakes as you'd like, depending on how spicy you'd like the dish to be; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until combined and softened. Add half the vinegar. Cook, stirring frequently, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until the liquid has cooked off and the zucchini is softened. Transfer to a bowl; cover with foil to keep warm. Rinse and wipe out the pan.

    Cook the fish
    4 Cook the fish

    Pat the fish dry with paper towels; season on both sides with salt, pepper, and enough of the spice blend to coat (you may have extra). In the same pan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium until hot. Add the seasoned fish, skin side up. Loosely cover the pan with foil. Cook 3 to 5 minutes on the first side, or until browned. Flip and cook 2 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned and cooked through.* Leaving any browned bits (or fond) in the pan, transfer to a plate.

    *An instant-read thermometer should register 145°F.

    Make the pan sauce & serve your dish
    5 Make the pan sauce & serve your dish

    Heat the pan of reserved fond on medium-high until hot. Add the remaining vinegar (carefully, as the liquid may splatter), date syrup, and 1/4 cup of water. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes, or until reduced and slightly thickened. Turn off the heat; stir in the butter until melted and combined. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. To the pot of cooked rice, add the cooked zucchini and a drizzle of olive oil; stir to combine. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve the finished rice topped with the cooked fish and pan sauce. Garnish with the almonds and chopped parsley. Enjoy!

    Tips from Home Chefs

    Prepare the ingredients
    1 Prepare the ingredients

    Wash and dry the fresh produce. Pit and roughly chop the dates. Halve the zucchini lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1/4-inch pieces. Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic. Roughly chop the parsley leaves and stems. 

    2 Cook the rice

    In a medium pot, combine the rice, saffron, chopped dates, a big pinch of salt, and 1 cup of water. Heat to boiling on high. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook, without stirring, 13 to 15 minutes, or until the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Turn off the heat and fluff with a fork.

    Cook the rice
    Cook the zucchini
    3 Cook the zucchini

    Meanwhile, in a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the zucchini pieces in an even layer. Cook, without stirring 2 to 3 minutes, or until browned. Add the chopped garlic and as much of the red pepper flakes as you'd like, depending on how spicy you'd like the dish to be; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until combined and softened. Add half the vinegar. Cook, stirring frequently, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until the liquid has cooked off and the zucchini is softened. Transfer to a bowl; cover with foil to keep warm. Rinse and wipe out the pan.

    4 Cook the fish

    Pat the fish dry with paper towels; season on both sides with salt, pepper, and enough of the spice blend to coat (you may have extra). In the same pan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium until hot. Add the seasoned fish, skin side up. Loosely cover the pan with foil. Cook 3 to 5 minutes on the first side, or until browned. Flip and cook 2 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned and cooked through.* Leaving any browned bits (or fond) in the pan, transfer to a plate.

    *An instant-read thermometer should register 145°F.

    Cook the fish
    Make the pan sauce & serve your dish
    5 Make the pan sauce & serve your dish

    Heat the pan of reserved fond on medium-high until hot. Add the remaining vinegar (carefully, as the liquid may splatter), date syrup, and 1/4 cup of water. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes, or until reduced and slightly thickened. Turn off the heat; stir in the butter until melted and combined. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. To the pot of cooked rice, add the cooked zucchini and a drizzle of olive oil; stir to combine. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve the finished rice topped with the cooked fish and pan sauce. Garnish with the almonds and chopped parsley. Enjoy!

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