The first time I made this, I thought, fish with pesto crumbs? Bold move. Then the tomatoes proved me annoyingly wrong.
The tilapia bakes over juicy tomatoes, because plain fish needed a tiny personality upgrade. Fair, honestly.
I added the orange salad once and now my dinner plate expects citrus drama. Rude, but delicious.
Almond Pesto Fish Tomato Bake and Spiced Orange Salad
EQUIPMENT (PAID LINKS)
- Small mixing bowl
- 9-by-13-inch baking dish
- Food processor
- Serving platter
- Oven
Ingredients Â
- 4 cups grape tomatoes halved
- 1 cup diced yellow onions
- 2 tablespoons olive oil for the tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon pesto mix for the tomatoes
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter softened and cut into small pieces
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- 2 tablespoons pesto mix for the almond topping
- 4 tilapia fillets about 6 ounces each
- 1 large egg beaten
- 3 oranges peeled and cut into segments
- 2 tablespoons olive oil for the oranges
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 5 ounces baby arugula
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar balsamic dressing
- 2 ounces goat cheese crumbled
- 1 lemon cut into wedges
Instructions
- Cut and Season Tomatoes: Halve the grape tomatoes and place them in a large mixing bowl. Add the diced yellow onions, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and 1 tablespoon pesto mix to the tomatoes. Toss until the tomatoes and onions are evenly coated.
- Fill Baking Dish: Pour the tomato mixture into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Spread it into an even layer.
- Make Cheese Crumble: In a small mixing bowl, combine the softened butter and flour until the mixture looks crumbly. Add the Parmesan cheese and Pecorino Romano cheese, then mix again until everything forms coarse crumbs.
- Top and Bake Tomatoes: Sprinkle the cheese crumble evenly over the tomato mixture. Bake at 425°F for about 15 minutes, until the tomatoes begin to soften and the topping starts to turn lightly golden.
- Make Almond Pesto Topping: Add the sliced almonds and 2 tablespoons pesto mix to a food processor. Pulse until the almonds are finely chopped and the mixture looks crumbly.
- Add Fish: Remove the baking dish from the oven. Place the tilapia fillets over the baked tomato mixture in a single layer.
- Brush With Egg: Brush the tops of the tilapia fillets with the beaten egg so the almond topping will stick.
- Add Almond Topping: Sprinkle the almond pesto topping evenly over the fish. Press it on gently with your fingers or the back of a spoon.
- Bake Fish: Return the baking dish to the oven and bake at 425°F for 12 to 15 minutes, until the fish flakes easily with a fork and the almond topping is lightly toasted.
- Cut Oranges: Peel the oranges and cut them into chunky segments.
- Make Spiced Orange Mix: In a mixing bowl, stir together 2 tablespoons olive oil, ground allspice, and kosher salt. Toss gently until the oranges are coated.
- Dress Arugula: Place the baby arugula in a large mixing bowl. Add the brown sugar balsamic dressing and toss with tongs until lightly coated.
- Plate Salad: Transfer the dressed arugula to a serving platter. Arrange the spiced orange segments over the top.
- Add Goat Cheese: Sprinkle the crumbled goat cheese over the orange salad.
- Finish and Serve: Serve the baked fish and tomatoes with lemon wedges. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the fish right before eating.
Video Recipe
Tips, Tricks, and Sneaky Little Swaps for almond pesto fish TOMATO BAKE AND spiced orange salad
This is where the recipe gets a little less precious and a lot more useful. Because dinner should taste impressive, not require a tiny culinary committee meeting.
Use Any Mild White Fish That Behaves Itself
Tilapia works great because it cooks fast and does not argue with the pesto topping. But cod, haddock, or even swai can step in just fine, as long as the fillets are similar in thickness. Thin fish cooks fast, thick fish needs patience, and nobody enjoys mystery rubber seafood.
Dry the Fish Before Topping It
Pat the fish dry before brushing it with egg, even though it feels like one of those fussy steps people pretend matters. It does matter. The egg sticks better, the almond topping stays put, and you avoid that sad watery layer that makes dinner feel like it gave up.
Don’t Pulverize the Almonds Into Dust
Pulse the almonds until they are crumbly, not sandy. You want crunch, not pesto-flavored sawdust. If the topping looks like something from the bottom of a cereal bag, you went too far.
Jarred Pesto Can Save Your Entire Personality
If you do not have pesto mix, use a spoonful or two of jarred basil pesto and reduce the olive oil slightly if things look too wet. It is not cheating. It is called having a life, and frankly, basil already did the work.
Swap the Cheese Without Starting Drama
Parmesan and Pecorino bring salty, sharp flavor, but you can use all Parmesan if that is what is in the fridge. Romano also works. This is not the moment to buy three cheeses unless you’re emotionally avoiding another errand.
Give the Tomatoes a Little Breathing Room
Try not to pile the tomatoes too deep in the baking dish. A single even layer helps them roast instead of steam. If your dish is packed like a holiday airport, grab a bigger pan.
Watch the Fish, Not the Clock
The bake time is a guide, not a legally binding contract. Fish is done when it flakes easily with a fork and looks opaque in the center. The oven does not care about your schedule, which is rude but true.
Make the Salad Right Before Serving
Arugula is dramatic. Dress it too early and it wilts like it just read a bad text message. Toss it right before serving so it stays fresh, peppery, and slightly smug.
Use Clementines When Oranges Are Annoying
If peeling and segmenting oranges feels like too much on a weeknight, use clementines or mandarins. They are sweet, easy, and do not make you question your knife skills.
Goat Cheese Is Optional, But Also Not Really
You can swap in feta if you want a saltier bite, or leave the cheese off if needed. But the creamy tang against the oranges and arugula is very much doing important work. Goat cheese is basically the friend who shows up late but saves the party.
Leftovers Need Gentle Treatment
Store the fish and tomato bake separately from the salad if you can. Reheat the fish gently in the oven or air fryer so the topping has a chance to stay crisp. The microwave works in an emergency, but it will soften the topping and make your kitchen smell like fish took over management.
Make-Ahead Without Making It Weird
You can halve the tomatoes, dice the onion, prep the almond topping, and segment the oranges earlier in the day. Keep everything separate until you are ready to bake and toss. Future you will be smug, and honestly, she deserves it.
