Tilapia with Plums, Pasilla and Tequila
Tilapia con Salsa de Ciruela, Pasilla y Tequila
Recipe Yield
6 servings
Cooking time
30 minutes
Rate this recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil plus 2 more for cooking the fish
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups slivered white onion
- 3 cloves garlic pressed or minced
- 4 ripe plums halved, pitted, sliced
- 4 to 6 pasilla chiles stemmed, seeded, sliced
- 1/4 teaspoon brown sugar or to taste
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt or to taste, plus more to season the fish
- 2 tablespoons silver tequila
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 6 tilapia fillets (about 6 ounces) skin on, or another flaky and mild tasting fish of your choice such as red snapper, rock fish, or grouper
To Prepare
- Heat the oil and butter in a large heavy skillet set over medium heat. Once the butter melts and begins to sizzle, before it browns, add the onion. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until it softens and begins to gently brown around the edges. Add the garlic, mix well and cook for another minute. Toss in the sliced plums and chiles, sprinkle in the sugar and salt, stir, and cook for about 6 to 7 minutes. The plums should be cooked and gently browned and the chiles softened.
- Pour in the tequila, gently tilt towards the fire to ignite it, cook until flames disappear. Add the orange juice, stir, and cook for a couple minutes more. Set aside.
- Heat a couple tablespoons oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Season the fish with a sprinkle of salt and freshly ground pepper. Sear the fish, skin side down first, for 2 to 3 minutes, until skin has crisped and browned. Flip the fish to the other side and cook until desired doneness, my choice is 2 to 3 minutes more.
- Serve with a generous spoonfull of the chunky plum sauce on top.
Comments
36comments inTilapia with Plums, Pasilla and Tequila
Kat N
Jul 28
I love this recipe! I usually make it with local peaches & it’s great. Have served it over cod, chicken and once over thinly sliced pork loin – each wonderful. I often give the sauce a squeeze of fresh lime. One of our favorite meals.
Pati Jinich
Aug 20
Yummy ideas Kat, thanks so much for sharing 😉
M J
Jul 25
I couldn’t find Pasilla, used Guaajillo instead. Not good due to Chile texture. Plum sauce was good.
Pati Jinich
Sep 04
Yep, pasilla and guajillo are really not good substitutes, in fact, pasilla is very unique!
Brenda
Jul 25
This looks so delicioso Pati!
Gracias por tus magnificas recetas 🙂
Pati Jinich
Sep 04
Gracias a ti por tu mensaje Brenda!
N Scott
Jul 25
Sounds absolutely yummy!! Can’t wait to try it!
Pati Jinich
Sep 04
Hope you like it Scott!
Annette B
Jul 17
Getting ready to make this. What would be a good side to go with it?
Pati Jinich
Jul 21
Either a nice fresh salad or some rice, maybe like this? Enjoy! http://patijinich.com/orange-blossom-rice-with-pepitas/
Lourdes Benjamin
Jul 01
Love this recipe, I’m cooking it again, this time with scallops and shrimp .
Adding some dried prunes also.
Pati Jinich
Jul 04
Yummy!
OscarGabo
Aug 12
Espectacular!
Lo hice con cherry plums. No tenia tilapia en ves use tofu frito en mantequilla.
Gracias Pati!
Pati Jinich
Aug 12
Gracias a ti Oscar! Ahora si que creaste tu propia receta a partir de la mia, me encanta!
Helmer
Aug 04
We decided to try this with Mahi-Mahi fish and it was amazing 🙂 A lovely blend of sweet and tart from the plums and the aroma of the peppers. It put a smile on our faces! Gracias!
Pati Jinich
Aug 04
Thanks to you for giving this recipe a chance Helmer 😉
Iliana Velazquez
Jul 29
delicioso!!!!!
Pati Jinich
Jul 31
🙂 Gracias!
CBaker
Jul 24
Dear Pati,
Another fabulous recipe from your files! I l’m fond of fruit and chili sauces and this may be my new favorite.
Didn’t overcook the black plums, so they were toothsome. Loved the texture and taste of the pasillas.
I abhor frying fish (or anything), but the look and taste of the dish were worth the splatter.
Used wild caught red snapper and red onion (fifo); the latter was beautiful in the sauce.
Pati Jinich
Jul 26
So glad to hear you loved this recipe, I am sure the red snapper was delicious with this sauce, gracias!
Abraham
Feb 21
Muy rico……lo preare hoy para comida y cena….gracias por la receta
Pati
Feb 21
Mil gracias, Abraham!
Héctor Chavez
Sep 06
Hola Pati,
Gracias por la receta, la mezcla de ciruelos con los chiles y el tequila es una delicia!
Pati
Sep 11
Super! Gracias, Hector.
Stephen Nycz
Jan 23
I used the prunes, too. It did not look as good as your picture, but it was SUUUUPER deeleescious.
Pati
Jan 26
Yum!
EastIcon
Jan 17
Used the dried pasilla peppers, soaked in warm water to soften. Didn’t have ripe plums but did have prunes (4 prunes = 1 plum). Thought the peppers would be chewy and plums too sweet (as well as melt away). But the finished product was delicious! Thanks Patti!
Pati
Jan 23
So happy to hear. You created a new recipe!
Griselda Hermosillo
Jun 20
We cooked this today… OMG, sooooo good. The sauce is OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD. Sweet and spicy and smoky and sour all at the same time.
Pati
Jun 30
Hooray!
Carey Christensen
Sep 15
I’m also confused about the pasilla peppers. Do you recommend using fresh if available, or is using from dried without reconstituting preferred?
Pati
Sep 16
Hi Carey, I use dried pasillas, seeded and sliced thin, for this recipe. The chiles will naturally soften and reconstitute as they cook in the juices that come out of the plums.
Suzanne
Aug 24
Dear Pati,
I watched this episode (#402) but can’t remember if you rehydrated the pasilla chiles first, or not, & the recipe doesn’t say they need to be rehydrated (I bought dried but they’re still somewhat flexible). Please advise & thanks.
Suzanne
P.S.: Love your show!
Pati
Aug 31
Hola Suzanne, No need to rehydrate the pasillas…they will soften as they cook with the plums. Thank you so much for watching!!
Minerva Castillo
Aug 06
Hi Pati, Yesterday I made fish with plums and tequila but instead of fish I used pork chops.Ohhhhh! It was
mouth watering.I can’t wait to try another of your recipes.One request I bought scallops,so I was wondering if you have a recipie for scallops. Thank you from Chicago
Pati
Aug 12
Oh, that sounds delicious Minerva! As far as scallops, make Aguachile de Callo: Slice them thin, add some thinly sliced red onion and jalapeño, add a generous amount of fresh squeezed lime juice, a drizzle of olive oil, sprinkle of sea salt. Done!