Spicy Tilapia Fish Curry Recipe with Coconut Milk
If you have been looking for homemade tilapia fish curry recipes, look no further. This simple bowl of curry is my favorite weeknight dinner that takes just 30 minutes! This delicious fish curry recipe combines Thai and Indian curry methods to make an easy rice dish with a rich creamy texture and so much flavor! Trust me, this effortless meal will quickly become a family favorite! Full recipe card below.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
This simple curry recipe uses basic ingredients and brings superior flavors to your table without spending hours in the kitchen. It combines elements traditionally found in both Indian cooking and Thai cuisine for a delicious coconut curry rice bowl. The best part is, this uncomplicated recipe can be made in 30 minutes making it perfect for busy weeknight meals.
Curry Bowl Ingredients
This homemade tilapia curry rice bowl is an easy recipe with simple ingredients that anyone can make. I make this dish often and have experimented with different ingredients, so I will give you my notes and helpful tips based on what gives me the best results.
Curry Sauce – I make my own homemade curry sauce and let me tell you, it’s easier than you think! My quick recipe uses a simple combination of pantry staples, curry seasoning, red chili flakes, and a can of coconut milk for a warm and spicy silky sauce you want to eat with a spoon. It requires no curry paste or curry leaves but brings so much flavor! You can also modify my sauce recipe to have less heat if your taste buds prefer mild spice.
Tilapia Fillets – I keep a variety of frozen fish stocked in my freezer and tilapia is one of them. Tilapia is a light and flaky fish that pairs well with bold flavors and is perfect for curry. You can use fresh fish fillets or frozen fish pieces. Just make sure to full defrost before baking.
Rice – In my opinion, nothing goes better with curry than hot rice. I personally like jasmine rice the best because it is slightly sweet and adds more flavor than white rice or brown rice and it isn’t quite as dry. You can use regular cooking rice or instant. Feel free to use whatever type of rice you prefer or even quinoa.
Bell Peppers – I like to add red, yellow, and orange bell peppers for added sweetness, color, and veggie component. I typically buy the mini peppers and use a variety of colors, but you can also just use a whole bell pepper. Red, yellow, and orange are all very similar in taste.
Green Onions – Green onions pair really well with Indian and Thai style cuisine and add a lot of flavor. Because they are best served raw, they are the perfect topping for curry dishes. I have also used red onion with good results.
Curry Seasoning – The key ingredient to this curry bowl is curry seasoning. I use it in both my homemade sauce and on top of the fish.
Lime Juice – A little acidity helps cut the richness of the creamy coconut sauce and brings some brightness to it. Use fresh lime juice if you can.
Additional Veggies – Typically I make this curry rice bowl with whatever fresh veggies I have on hand. I have used carrots, zucchini, and even broccoli with good results.
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Spicy Tilapia Fish Curry Recipe with Coconut Milk
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Diet: Pescatarian
Description
This easy homemade spicy tilapia fish curry recipe is a great way to bring warm aromatic takeout flavors right to your dinner table. This simple rice bowl of curry is my favorite weeknight dinner that takes just 30 minutes! This delicious fish curry recipe combines Thai and Indian curry methods to make an easy rice dish with a rich creamy texture and so much flavor! Trust me, this effortless meal will quickly become a family favorite!
Ingredients
- 2 Tilapia Fillets
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1/2 cup Jasmine Rice
- 1 Red Bell Pepper sliced
- 3 Green Onions chopped
- 1 tbsp Unsalted Butted
- 2 tbsp Tomato Paste no salt added
- 1 tbsp Curry Powder
- 1 tbsp Dark Brown Sugar
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 cup Coconut Milk
- 1/4 cup Water
- 2 tbsp Sour Cream
- 1/2 Lime juice from
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a rimed baking sheet with foil.
- In a small pot, add 1 cup of water and bring to a boil.
- Once the water is boiling, add 1/2 cup of jasmine rice and reduce heat to low and cover. Cook for 20 minutes for regular rice or follow box instructions for instant rice.
- Spray the baking sheet with non stick cooking spray.
- Add the tilapia fillets to the baking sheet and spray with olive oil. Season with salt, pepper, curry powder, and red pepper flakes. I do not measure this part. Just a few shakes per fillet.
- Bake the tilapia in the oven for 10-12 minutes until white and flaky.
- When the rice is cooked, fluff with a fork and scoop into a single layer on to the bottom of a plate or bowl. Top with curry sauce, bell peppers, tilapia fillets, and green onions.
Curry Sauce Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium low heat.
- Whisk in tomato paste and spices. This will be a lumpy thick paste.
- Slowly whisk in coconut milk and water and increase to medium heat. Whisk until sauce is fully combined.
- Add sour cream and whisk until combined.
- Simmer on medium-low heat for about 5 minutes stirring occasionally. DO NOT allow the sauce to boil. The sauce will thicken as it cooks.
- Finish the sauce with the juice of half a lime and stir.
Notes
Note, this is a very spicy curry sauce. You can control the spice level by reducing the amount of red pepper flakes.
You can also sauté the bell peppers if you would like or cook them in the sauce. I find it is good either way and enjoy a little crunch.
Looking for more fish recipes? Try my frozen Costco Tilapia fish tacos, teriyaki salmon bite rice bowls, spicy tuna sushi poke rice bowls, or my air fryer salmon tacos.
Looking for more bold global flavors? Try my spicy shrimp pad Thai noodles, spicy Korean ground beef bulgogi lettuce wraps, Caribbean jerk chicken tacos, or my Thai peanut spicy ground turkey lettuce wraps.
Looking for more easy dinner recipes? Try my quick and easy brothless TikTok egg ramen noodles, lemon garlic parmesan cheese buttered noodles, or my ground buffalo chicken blue cheese lettuce wraps.
Storage
Leftover tilapia fish curry can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. I just got these glass storage containers and they are perfect!
When to Make Tilapia Fish Curry
This easy tilapia fish curry recipe is in our regular dinner rotation. If you follow me on Insta you know I make this quite frequently! It is a great option on busy weeknights for a spicy comforting dish or you can save it for a weekend splurge.
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