Blackened Tilapia with Spice Rub

This blackened tilapia recipe is not for the weak! It’s spicy, with bold flavours. For those of you who think healthy eating is boring, think again!

1 lb tilapia fillets, should be 4 fillets
3 Tbsp. vegetable oil

Spice Rub:
3 Tbsp. paprika
1 Tbsp. onion powder
¼ tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried thyme
½ tsp. celery seed
1 Tbsp. sea salt

Garnish:
lemon juice to taste

Combine paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne, dried oregano, dried thyme, celery seed, and salt together in a small bowl. Set aside.

Gently dab tilapia with a paper towel to remove some of the moisture.

Cover generously with your spice rub, making sure to press it in with your finger tips. Gently shake off any extra rub and set aside. You can let the rubbed fish rest at room temperature for up to 20 minutes.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes.

Once hot, add in a Tbsp. of oil, turn to coat the pan, and immediately add in 2 of the tilapia filets. Cook on one side for about 2-3 minutes. Flip, add in a another half tablespoon of oil, and cook for another 2 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through. The tilapia will be opaque and can be flaked with a fork. The outside will be VERY dark.

Remove tilapia from the pan, squeeze lemon juice generously over cooked fillets.

Repeat with remaining tilapia and serve!

Makes 4 servings.

Cook's Notes: I always buy frozen tilapia in bulk. I then defrost only what I need for dinner that night.
This rub recipe is for 1 pound of tilapia, but if you don't want to make a pound of tilapia, make what you like, and save leftover rub in an airtight container in your fridge!