Seared Tilapia & Creamy Cilantro Sauce with Vegetable Barley & Pepitas

Seared Tilapia & Creamy Cilantro Sauce

with Vegetable Barley & Pepitas

35 MIN
+$0.95/serving 2 Servings
Wellness at Blue Apron
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Vegetarian
These recipes don’t contain meat, poultry, fish, or seafood.* They’re made with fruits and vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. *Select artisanal cheeses may contain animal-derived rennet.
Carb Conscious
These meals have 48g or less of net carbs (total carbs minus dietary fiber) per serving. They replace refined carbohydrates from sources like white flour, rice, and cane sugar with high-fiber foods like fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
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.
Wellness Grain
These recipes feature grains such as barley, quinoa, farro, orzo, couscous and more, handpicked by our Culinary team in collaboration with our Registered Dietitian.
Pescatarian
These recipes feature a wide array of nutritious seafood options like salmon, cod, tilapia, crab, and shrimp. While these dishes never contain meat, pork or poultry, they may contain animal derived ingredients such as milk, butter, cheese and/or honey.
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  • with Tilapia
    includes 2 Sustainably Sourced Tilapia Fillets View recipe
    Wellness
  • with Salmon
    includes two 5-oz Sustainably Sourced Skin-On Salmon Fillets
    Wellness
  • with Salmon

    From the Test Kitchen

    In this dish, flaky tilapia fillets are seared with a coating of our Mexican-spice blend, then served over a bed of barley tossed with spinach and marinated carrots. It’s all topped with a mix of crème fraîche and herbaceous cilantro sauce.
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    Dietary Information Wellness

    This meal was designed in collaboration with nutritionists with your holistic health in mind.

    • Nutrition
      PER SERVING
    • Calories
      780 Cals (est.)
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    fresh
    ingredients
    Seared Tilapia & Creamy Cilantro Sauce with Vegetable Barley & Pepitas
    Title
    • 2 Skin-On Salmon Fillets
    • ½ cup Pearled Barley
    • 6 oz Carrots
    • 3 oz Baby Spinach
    • 1 Lime
    • ¼ cup Cilantro Sauce
    • 2 Tbsps Raw Pepitas
    • 2 Tbsps Crème Fraîche
    • 1 Tbsp Mexican Spice Blend (Ancho Chile Powder, Smoked Paprika, Garlic Powder, Ground Cumin & Dried Mexican Oregano)
    • 2 tsps Honey
    time-saving
    tips & techniques
    Cook the barley
    1 Cook the barley

    Remove the honey from the refrigerator to bring to room temperature. Fill a medium pot 3/4 of the way up with salted water; cover and heat to boiling on high. Once boiling, add the barley and cook, uncovered, 30 to 32 minutes, or until tender. Turn off the heat. Drain thoroughly and return to the pot.

    Prepare the ingredients
    2 Prepare the ingredients

    Meanwhile, wash and dry the fresh produce. Peel the carrots and grate on the large side of a box grater. Halve the lime crosswise. In a large bowl, whisk together the honey (kneading the packet before opening), the juice of both lime halves and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the grated carrots and season with salt and pepper; stir to combine. Set aside to marinate, stirring occasionally, at least 10 minutes. In a separate bowl, combine the crème fraîche and half the cilantro sauce. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired.

    Toast the pepitas
    3 Toast the pepitas

    In a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the pepitas; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes, or until golden brown (be careful, as the pepitas may pop as they toast). Transfer to a plate and immediately season with salt. Wipe out the pan.

    Cook the fish
    4 Cook the fish

    Once the barley has cooked about 20 minutes, pat the fish dry with paper towels. Season on both sides with salt and pepper. Season only on the skinless side with enough of the spice blend to coat (you may have extra). In the same pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned fish, skin side down. Cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until the skin is browned and crispy. Flip and cook 1 to 2 minutes, or until lightly browned and cooked through.* Turn off the heat. 

    *The USDA recommends a minimum safe cooking temperature of 145°F for fish.

    Finish the barley & serve your dish
    5 Finish the barley & serve your dish

    To the pot of cooked barley, add the spinach, marinated carrots (including the liquid), and remaining cilantro sauce. Stir to combine; taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve the cooked fish over the finished barley. Top with the creamy cilantro sauce and toasted pepitas. Enjoy!

    Tips from Home Chefs

    Cook the barley
    1 Cook the barley

    Remove the honey from the refrigerator to bring to room temperature. Fill a medium pot 3/4 of the way up with salted water; cover and heat to boiling on high. Once boiling, add the barley and cook, uncovered, 30 to 32 minutes, or until tender. Turn off the heat. Drain thoroughly and return to the pot.

    2 Prepare the ingredients

    Meanwhile, wash and dry the fresh produce. Peel the carrots and grate on the large side of a box grater. Halve the lime crosswise. In a large bowl, whisk together the honey (kneading the packet before opening), the juice of both lime halves and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the grated carrots and season with salt and pepper; stir to combine. Set aside to marinate, stirring occasionally, at least 10 minutes. In a separate bowl, combine the crème fraîche and half the cilantro sauce. Taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired.

    Prepare the ingredients
    Toast the pepitas
    3 Toast the pepitas

    In a medium pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the pepitas; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes, or until golden brown (be careful, as the pepitas may pop as they toast). Transfer to a plate and immediately season with salt. Wipe out the pan.

    4 Cook the fish

    Once the barley has cooked about 20 minutes, pat the fish dry with paper towels. Season on both sides with salt and pepper. Season only on the skinless side with enough of the spice blend to coat (you may have extra). In the same pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned fish, skin side down. Cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until the skin is browned and crispy. Flip and cook 1 to 2 minutes, or until lightly browned and cooked through.* Turn off the heat. 

    *The USDA recommends a minimum safe cooking temperature of 145°F for fish.

    Cook the fish
    Finish the barley & serve your dish
    5 Finish the barley & serve your dish

    To the pot of cooked barley, add the spinach, marinated carrots (including the liquid), and remaining cilantro sauce. Stir to combine; taste, then season with salt and pepper if desired. Serve the cooked fish over the finished barley. Top with the creamy cilantro sauce and toasted pepitas. Enjoy!

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