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Easy Baked Fish Dinner Recipes


  • Author: Bianca

Ingredients

Scale

Here is everything you will need to create this show-stopping dish. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the quality of its components.

  • 4 (6-ounce) White Fish Fillets: Use cod, haddock, tilapia, or halibut, about 1-inch thick. The key is to choose a mild, firm white fish that will flake beautifully when cooked.
  • 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter, melted: Using unsalted butter allows you to control the sodium level of the dish perfectly. Melted butter forms the rich base of our sauce.
  • 4 Cloves Garlic, minced: Freshly minced garlic provides a pungent, aromatic depth that is essential to the flavor profile. Avoid pre-minced jarred garlic if possible for the best taste.
  • 1 Lemon, zested and juiced: We use both the zest and the juice for a double dose of bright, citrusy flavor. The zest adds aromatic oils, while the juice provides a tangy kick that cuts through the richness of the butter.
  • 2 tablespoons Fresh Parsley, chopped: Fresh parsley adds a clean, herbaceous note and a vibrant splash of color.
  • 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt: Or to taste. Salt is crucial for enhancing all the other flavors in the dish.
  • 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper, freshly ground: Freshly ground pepper offers a much more potent and complex flavor than pre-ground varieties.
  • 1 Lemon, thinly sliced for garnish (optional): These slices not only look beautiful but also infuse the fish with more lemon flavor as it bakes.

Instructions

Follow these simple steps to achieve perfectly baked fish every single time. The process is straightforward and designed for a foolproof result.

  1. Preheat and Prepare: Begin by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper. Using parchment paper is a fantastic tip for zero-sticking and incredibly easy cleanup.
  2. Prepare the Fish: Gently pat the fish fillets completely dry with paper towels. This step is crucial! Removing excess moisture ensures the fish will bake to a perfect flakiness rather than steaming, and it helps the sauce adhere better. Arrange the fillets in a single layer in your prepared baking dish.
  3. Create the Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, minced garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, and chopped fresh parsley. This combination is the heart of the recipe, creating a sauce that is both rich and vibrant.
  4. Season the Fish: Season the fish fillets generously on both sides with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Don’t be shy with the seasoning; it’s what builds the foundation of flavor.
  5. Sauce and Garnish: Pour the prepared lemon garlic butter sauce evenly over the fish fillets, making sure each piece is well-coated. If you’re using them, arrange the thin lemon slices on top of each fillet.
  6. Bake to Perfection: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes. The exact time will depend on the thickness of your fish fillets. The fish is done when it is opaque and flakes easily when tested with a fork. Be careful not to overbake, as this is the most common mistake and can lead to dry fish.
  7. Serve Immediately: Remove the dish from the oven. For an extra touch of richness, you can spoon some of the delicious sauce from the bottom of the pan over the fillets before serving. Garnish with additional fresh parsley if desired.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: one normal portion
  • Calories: 380
  • Protein: 35g