When it comes to Italian cuisine, there’s a lot to love — especially when you consider how well it pairs with seafood. After all, Italy is a country surrounded by the Adriatic, Ionian, Tyrrhenian and Mediterranean seas.
Almost any species of fish can be prepared using Italian techniques and flavors, but tilapia works particularly well thanks to its mild taste. In other words: it won’t steal the spotlight from all the other ingredients you’re cooking with. Tilapia is also a lean fish that can offset heartier dishes, so an excellent choice if you’re concerned about maintaining a well-balanced diet.
With that in mind, here are eight of our favorite Italian ingredients and tips for pairing them with tilapia. We’ve even thrown in a few tasty Italian fish recipes for good measure…
1. Olives and capers
Olives and capers are staples in Italian cuisine. You can find them in salads and pasta, on top of pizzas, or even served on their own as a starter (what the Italians like to call “antipasto”). These ingredients have a strong salty flavor because of the brines they’re preserved in, making them a perfect complement for fish like tilapia.
Treat olives and capers as your seasoning (just go easy on the salt when preparing a dish that uses a large quantity, such as puttanesca).
Try the recipe: Roasted Tilapia with Tomatoes and Olives from MyRecipes.com.
2. Polenta
Polenta is a versatile ingredient that hails from Northern Italy. This coarsely ground cornmeal can be boiled and served as a hot, savory porridge or cooled and shaped into loaves — which can then be baked, fried, or grilled, depending on your preference.
Tilapia tastes great with most starches and grains, and polenta is no exception. Plus, it’s great for soaking up the extra sauce on your plate!
Try the recipe: Tilapia with Creamy Polenta from The Healthy Fish.
3. Arborio rice
Speaking of grains, tilapia also pairs well with arborio rice: the main ingredient in risotto. Getting a perfect, creamy consistency will require some patience as the rice has to be cooked by gradually adding broth, with plenty of stirring in between — but it’s well worth the effort.
Top with your favorite seafood, and you’ve got a hearty dish for the whole family.
Try the recipe: Tomato-Roasted Tilapia with Risotto from Regal Springs.
4. Balsamic vinegar
This dark, concentrated vinegar made from grape must (freshly crushed grape juice, complete with skins and stems) doesn’t like to share the stage when it comes to flavor profiles. That’s why a lean, mild fish like tilapia works so well with it — just remember to keep the rest of the dish simple, too.
Try the recipe: Tilapia with Balsamic Butter Sauce from Bon Appétit.
5. Eggplant
Eggplant is a classic ingredient in Southern Italian cooking. While it often takes center stage in a vegetarian parmigiana (breaded and fried eggplant baked in tomato sauce and cheese), it also works well as a side.
Like tilapia, this ingredient pairs well with a variety of flavors — it’s probably why they work so well together!
Try the recipe: One-Skillet Tilapia Caponata from Delicious Meets Healthy.
6. Lemon
Different varieties of lemons are grown all over Italy, but you’ll find them in abundance on the Amalfi Coast and in Sicily. With these regions being so close to the water, it’s no surprise that this ingredient pairs so well with tilapia and other seafood.
Whether you’re squeezing lemon over your dish as a finishing touch or making a citrus-based sauce, this zesty ingredient should be your go-to when you want a fresh and tangy flavor profile.
Try the recipe: Pan-Seared Lemon-Thyme Tilapia Loins from The Healthy Fish.
7. Pasta
Pasta with tilapia fish? Who would’ve thought it?
We couldn’t talk about Italian cuisine without mentioning pasta. Whether you’re craving linguine, fettuccine, spaghetti, pappardelle, macaroni, or tortellini, tilapia is the perfect addition to serve on top.
And since this type of fish is so mild, you can also easily pair it with a pesto, tomato, or cream-based sauce.
Try the recipe: Green Goddess Pasta with Pesto Tilapia from The Healthy Fish.
8. Basil
Along with oregano, thyme, and rosemary, basil is an essential Italian herb. Think of any Italian dish — chances are you can add this versatile ingredient to it.
The best part? Basil works well when cooked into a dish or when sprinkled on top for extra freshness, so try experimenting to see which way you prefer.
Try the recipe: Grilled Lemon Basil Tilapia with Caprese Skewers from The Healthy Fish.
By keeping these ingredients in your pantry and fridge, you’ll always be ready to prepare a delicious Italian fish recipe. Just remember to keep things simple (it’s the Mediterranean way!) and let the flavors speak for themselves.
Need more dinner inspiration? Check out our healthy tilapia recipes.