Tilapia Baked in Parchment with Walnut Pesto, Spinach and Chickpeas – Printable Recipe

Ingredients

Pesto Ingredients:
• ½ cup chopped walnuts, toasted
• 1 large bunch of basil
• 3-4 large garlic cloves
• 1 whole lemon, zested and juiced
• 1/3 cup parmesan cheese
• Coarse Kosher salt
• Pepper
• Olive oil

Tilapia Packet Ingredients:
• Parchment paper or parchment cooking bags (can substitute aluminum foil in a pinch)
• 1 bag of baby spinach
• Tilapia fillets patted dry with a paper towel (one fillet per packet you are preparing)
• Pesto sauce
• 14 ounce can of chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed.
• 1 – 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
• Red pepper flakes to taste
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Instructions for Pesto:
1. If you haven’t already toasted your chopped walnuts, to do so now in a preheated 350 degree oven until they start to brown and become fragrant (approximately 10 minutes). When evenly browned, remove from the oven and allow to cool to about room temperature.
2. Place the toasted walnuts in a food processor or blender and finely chop. Turn off the processor and add the basil, garlic, and lemon zest. Cover blend together well.
3. Turn off the processor and add the parmesan and lemon juice. Blend well again. With the processor running, slowly pour in the olive oil. Add in as much olive oil as needed to create the consistency you prefer.
4. Turn off the device. Use right away or pour into an air-tight container and store in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Instructions for the Parchment Tilapia:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. On each of your prepared parchment paper packages, place a large handful of spinach. Place a tilapia fillet on top of each spinach bed. Season the fish with salt and pepper.
3. Drop a large dollop or two of the pesto on top of the tilapia spread to evenly distribute across the fish. Pour a handful of chickpeas on top of the tilapia along with a handful of halved cherry tomatoes. Sprinkle everything with red pepper flakes and a few grinds of pepper.
4. Close your packets and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake on the middle rack of your preheated oven for approximately 12-14 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the packets to cool until safe to handle.

Serving suggestions:
1. Serve over a bed of white or brown rice. For presentation, you can open the packets in the kitchen and slide everything onto the plates in advance of serving. Or place an unopened packet on a plate prepared with the other side dishes and have each guest cut open the packet at the table.

Notes

https://mixedandmashed.com/tilapia-baked-in-parchment-with-walnut-pesto-spinach-and-chickpeas-printable-recipe/