Paleo diets are definitely a hot topic. Inspired by the foods our ancestors ate, they focus on fresh, natural foods and require a lot of discipline. The goal of this fad diet is to help you stay lean, healthy, strong and energetic by eliminating dairy, grain, alcohol and a large number of other foods and chemicals from your diet.

It can be difficult to eat a strictly Paleo diet, especially if you struggle in the kitchen or are craving a dish that’s definitely not Paleo-friendly. But it doesn’t have to be that hard! For those practicing or hoping to begin a Paleo diet, Tilapia is a source of lean protein that’s extremely versatile, making it an ideal seafood to add to your arsenal. Here are five delicious Paleo recipes that feature Tilapia, giving you a jumpstart on your new eating endeavor!

Almond Encrusted Tilapia With Lemon

Photo Credit: Anytime Fitness Blog

This recipe by Anytime Fitness takes about a half hour to prepare and is quite simple to make. Only requiring a handful of ingredients you probably have in your pantry, this protein-rich meal is rich in flavor and packs a nutty crunch.

Ingredients:

• 4 servings of Tilapia (4-4oz. filets), thawed

• ½ cup of coarsely crushed almonds

• ½ cup of finely crushed almonds or almond meal

• Salt (to-taste)

• Pepper (to-taste)

• ½ lemon wedge

• 1.5 tablespoons + 0.5 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)

Instructions:

1. Throw half a cup of whole or slivered almonds into a food processer and blend until it has a flour-like texture. Then add in another half cup of almonds, but this time coarsely chop them up so they take on a texture similar to the image above. Mix in a little salt and pepper, give it one last mix and move the blend onto a large plate.

2. Preheat a large skillet with 1.5 tablespoons of EVOO over medium heat. While this is heating up, slice the Tilapia fillets into halves or thirds depending on the size you’d like your strips to be.

3. Use the remaining olive oil to coat the sliced fillets on both sides and repeat with the almond toppings.

4. Place the coated fillets in the skillet and cook each side for 5-6 minutes.The almonds should have a nice browned color to them.

5. Once cooked, move the Tilapia to a plate and serve with a squeeze of lemon.

Pan Fried Lemon Tilapia

Photo Credit: Taste of Divine

This very quick and simple recipe by Taste of Divine doesn’t compromise taste. It takes just over half an hour to prepare, but most of the time is spent letting the fish marinate in the fridge. This is the perfect option if you’ve come home from a long day and need something to give you a boost of energy with minimal effort.

Ingredients:

• 2 Tilapia fillets

• 3 tablespoons oil

• Juice of half a lemon (about 1 and ½ tablespoons)

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• ½ tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped

• ½ teaspoon capers, or some kalamata olives (optional)

• ¼ cup roasted almonds, or pecans, or cashews (optional)

Instructions:

1. Add lemon juice, garlic, oregano, oil and, if you’re using it, capers or olives into a ziplock bag. Mix by shaking.

2. Add Tilapia fillets into the bag, seal and place into the refrigerator to marinate for about half an hour.

3. Heat a splash of olive oil over medium/high heat in a large skillet. Add the contents of the bag into the skillet and pan-fry for roughly 1-2 minutes on each side.

4. Roast almonds to top fish (if you so choose) and serve.

Bacon Wrapped Tilapia

Photo Credit: ILEISH ANNA / Shutterstock

Yes, you can indeed have bacon while maintaining a Paleo diet! This recipe from FastPaleo incorporates the delicious meat into a hearty, simple meal that uses Tilapia. Using the fat from the bacon to cook everything else, you avoid using oil or butter (unless you want to—butter is technically dairy, but still enjoyed by those practicing a Paleo diet). If you can’t eat it all in one sitting, you could even incorporate the fillets into a very filling breakfast the next day.

Ingredients:

• Tilapia filets

• Bacon

• Asparagus

• Butter (if desired)

• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. If the Tilapia fillets are not narrow enough to wrap a strip of bacon around them, slice them so they are.

2. Wrap a piece of bacon around each of the fillets.

3. Warm a skillet over medium-high heat and place bacon wrapped fillets inside once fully warmed.

4. Cook each side for 1-2 minutes, until bacon is crispy.

5. Take out the cooked fillets and drain the grease off of them.

6. Throw in asparagus into the pan (along with butter if you’d like) and pan fry them in the bacon grease.

7. Serve the asparagus with bacon wrapped fillets.

Coconut Lime Tilapia

Photo Credit: Women’s Health

This Women’s Health recipe is low in calories and jam-packed with 30 grams of protein per serving. It’s a great, light meal for lunch that will help you get through the rest of the day without overeating while providing you with enough energy to maintain your busy schedule.

Ingredients:

• 3 limes zested

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• ¼ teaspoon pepper

• 2 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon coconut oil, melted, divided

• 4 Tilapia fillets (5 oz each)

• 8 cups fresh spinach

• ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon lime juice

Instructions:

1. Mix together lime zest, garlic, salt, pepper and and four teaspoons of coconut oil in a small bowl while preheating a large frying pan over medium-high heat.

2. Coat Tilapia fillets on both sides with the oil mixture in the small bowl and then place them two at a time in the frying pan. Cook them for three to four minutes on each side. They should be golden brown and crisp when cooked.

3. Toss the spinach leaves, remaining oil and one tablespoon of lime juice in a sizable bowl. Split the mixture into four servings and top with cooked Tilapia fillet. Drizzle lime juice and serve.

Paleo Pecan-Paprika Tilapia on Bacon Brussels Sprout Toss

Photo Credit: teleginatania / Shutterstock

This meal is perfectly suited for the fall. Dreamed up by TheFitFork, it includes decadent pecans so that you’ll be able enjoy that autumnal taste you crave without compromising your dietary restrictions. What’s more, this meal is tastier and far better for you than even the smallest slice of pecan pie. Did we mention that it also has bacon?

Ingredients for Pecan-Paprika Tilapia:

• 1 lb tilapia filets

• ½ cup pecan meal (ground raw pecans)

• 1 tablespoon ground paprika

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 large egg

• ¼ cup coconut oil

Instructions for Pecan-Paprika Tilapia:

1. Mix together the ground raw pecans, paprika and salt into a large, but shallow bowl.

2. Whisk the egg in a separate, smaller dish.

3. Get both sides of the Tilapia fillets covered in egg and then do the same with the pecan mix. Be sure to get even coats of each.

4. Over medium-high heat, heat the coconut oil. Once hot, place Tilapia fillets inside and pan fry each side for 3-4 minutes. It will have a golden color outside and be white and flaky on the inside when done.

Ingredients for Bacon Brussels Sprout Toss:

• 4 slices bacon

• ¼ cup finely minced sweet onion

• 1 teaspoon paprika (sweet or hot, your preference)

• 1/3 chopped raw pecans

• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

• ¼ cup wine or cooking wine

• 2 tablespoons real maple syrup

• 1 teaspoon garlic paste

• 1 lb shaved Brussel sprouts

Instructions for Bacon Brussels Sprout Toss:

1. Cook bacon until it’s crispy in a large skillet. Crumble them up and place aside. Keep roughly two tablespoons of bacon grease in the skillet.

2. Add paprika, onions and pecans to the bacon grease and mix over medium-high heat. The pecans will be lightly roasted, onions will be soft and paprika will be aromatic after cooking for several minutes.

3. To deglaze the skillet, add vinegar and cooking wine and stir for stir for about a minute. Lower the heat to a low-medium and mix in syrup and garlic paste.

4. The last step is to add shaved Brussels sprouts (you can prepare them yourself or buy pre-cut) and sauté in the mixture for about 3-4 minutes, allowing everything to caramelize. Serve.

A Paleo diet can be difficult to follow when cravings hit. The best way to stay on the right track is to make exciting and delicious meals that will leave you just as satisfied as a loaf of buttered bread. Tilapia is easy to cook and goes well with just about anything you can throw at it (even bacon!).

Photo Credit: Nickola_Che / Shutterstock