This creamy and spicy dipping sauce for tilapia is flavored with fresh basil and diced jalapeno pepper. It's fresh, spicy, lemony and comes together in minutes. Serve it with breaded and fried tilapia bites for a quick, easy and delicious summer meal.
For another great sauce for fried fish, also check out this tartar sauce with sour cream!

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Recipe ingredients:

How to make it:
Step 1. Finely dice jalapeno pepper, then add all ingredients to a bowl.

Step 2. Whisk together until smooth.

Frequently asked questions:
I recommend serving this sauce with breaded and fried tilapia bites. Here's how to make 2 servings of tilapia bites:
• Cut 2 raw tilapia fillets into bite-sized chunks.
• Beat 1 egg in a shallow dish and pour 1 ½ cups panko bread crumbs into a second shallow dish.
• Dip the tilapia bites in the egg and then in the bread crumbs.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a pan, then fry the fish bites on both sides until golden-brown on the outside and flaky on the inside.
• Dip each tilapia bite in the sauce.
Store the sauce in an airtight container in the fridge until you're ready to serve it.
The level of spiciness of this sauce is determined by the jalapeno pepper. The less ribs and seeds you remove, the spicier the sauce will be.
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Full Printable Recipe

Dipping Sauce for Tilapia
Equipment:
- measuring cups and spoons
- knife and cutting board
- garlic press (optional)
- citrus juicer
- mixing bowl
- whisk
Ingredients:
- 1 small or ½ large jalapeno pepper, most of the ribs and seeds removed*
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons full-fat sour cream
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil (you need about 20 medium/large leaves or an equivalent amount for that)
- 1 large or 2 small garlic cloves, peeled and minced or pressed through a garlic press
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions:
- Finely dice the jalapeno pepper (this should yield about 2 tablespoons).
- Add all ingredients to a bowl and whisk together.
- Season to taste with a pinch of salt.
- Serve with breaded and fried tilapia bites.
Notes:
Nutrition Information (Estimated):
Nutrition values provided on this website are generated from a nutrition database and are estimates only. The accuracy of the nutrition information for any recipe on this website is not guaranteed. Nutrition values can vary quite a lot depending on which brands are used.
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