...

Coconut-Crusted Tilapia

Total Time: 30 mins Difficulty: Beginner
Crispy coconut-crusted tilapia with a golden crust - a healthy paleo dinner ready in 30 minutes
Golden-brown coconut-crusted tilapia fillet on a white plate with lime wedges and microgreens pinit

Some of the posts on our site may contain affiliate links. Clicking may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!

A crispy, tropical twist on classic fish fillets that’s both healthy and delicious

Recipe Information

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty Level: Easy
  • Cuisine: Fusion/Paleo

Equipment Needed

Organized layout of cooking equipment including skillet, breading dishes, and utensils on wooden surface

Ingredients

Fresh ingredients for coconut-crusted tilapia arranged on dark stone counter

For the Fish

  • 4 tilapia fillets (6 oz each)
  • 1½ cups unsweetened shredded coconut
  • ½ cup coconut flour
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ cup coconut oil (for frying)

For the Optional Sauce

  • ½ cup paleo mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 clove garlic, minced

Instructions

  1. Pat tilapia fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt and pepper.
  2. Set up your breading station:
    • Dish 1: Coconut flour mixed with garlic powder and paprika
    • Dish 2: Beaten eggs
    • Dish 3: Shredded coconut
  3. Heat coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat (175°C/350°F).
  4. Dredge each fillet:
    • First in coconut flour mixture
    • Then in beaten egg
    • Finally in shredded coconut, pressing gently to adhere
  5. Once oil is hot, cook fillets for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 63°C/145°F.
  6. Transfer to paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
  7. For the sauce, combine all sauce ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
Four-panel collage showing steps of breading and cooking coconut-crusted tilapia

Tips & Notes

  • Ensure oil is hot but not smoking before adding fish
  • Work in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding
  • Can be air-fried at 200°C/400°F for 10-12 minutes

Nutrition Information (per serving)

  • Calories: 425
  • Protein: 32g
  • Fat: 28g
  • Carbohydrates: 12g
  • Fiber: 7g
  • Net Carbs: 5g
  • Sodium: 580mg

Suggested Pairings

  • Cauliflower rice
  • Roasted vegetables
  • Fresh lime wedges
  • Tropical salsa
  • Zucchini noodles

Golden-brown coconut-crusted tilapia fillet on a white plate with lime wedges and microgreens pinit
0 Add to Favorites
Paleo

Coconut-Crusted Tilapia

Difficulty: Beginner Prep Time 15 mins Cook Time 15 mins Total Time 30 mins
Cooking Temp: 350  F Calories: 425
Dietary:

Description

A crispy, tropical twist on classic fish fillets that's both healthy and delicious

Ingredients

For the Fish

For the Optional Sauce

Instructions

  1. Pat tilapia fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt and pepper.
  1. Set up your breading station
    • Dish 1: Coconut flour mixed with garlic powder and paprika
    • Dish 2: Beaten eggs
    • Dish 3: Shredded coconut
  1. Heat coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat (175°C/350°F).
  1. Dredge each fillet
    • First in coconut flour mixture
    • Then in beaten egg
    • Finally in shredded coconut, pressing gently to adhere
  1. Once oil is hot, cook fillets for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 63°C/145°F.
  1. Transfer to paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
  1. For the sauce, combine all sauce ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.

Nutrition Facts


Amount Per Serving
Calories 425kcal
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 28g44%
Sodium 580mg25%
Total Carbohydrate 12g4%
Dietary Fiber 7g29%
Sugars 5g
Protein 32g64%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Note

Tips & Notes

  • Ensure oil is hot but not smoking before adding fish
  • Work in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding
  • Can be air-fried at 200°C/400°F for 10-12 minutes

Suggested Pairings

  • Cauliflower rice
  • Roasted vegetables
  • Fresh lime wedges
  • Tropical salsa
  • Zucchini noodles

Pin this recipe to share with your friends and followers.

pinit
File under

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand All:
Can I make this ahead of time?

Best served fresh, but can be reheated in oven at 180°C/350°F for 10 minutes.

What's a good substitute for tilapia?

Any white fish like cod, halibut, or mahi-mahi works well.

Is this recipe AIP-compliant?

No, due to eggs and black pepper. Modify using gelatin eggs for AIP.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Seraphinite AcceleratorOptimized by Seraphinite Accelerator
Turns on site high speed to be attractive for people and search engines.