The best way to get the freshest fish available is to simply ask. Ask your local market what’s fresh today? This will sometimes require being flexible about the kind of fish you cook. Fresh fish always tastes better. The freshest fish will smell of the sea (briny) but not fishy; the gills should be bright and moist; the meat firm and springy; and the scales should not be dull or flake off easily.
Fish come in three basic varieties:
- White fish — cod, grouper, sole and haddock, etc. These fish have translucent skin that turns an opalescent white when cooked. This type of fish is good for sauteing and baking.
- Meaty fish — salmon, trout, tuna and sardines, among others. Meaty fish are oilier and thicker than other varieties and contain good oils (omega 3 fatty acids). They are often grilled.
- Shellfish — lobster, shrimp, scallops, mussels, clams, mussels and oysters. Shellfish can be cooked almost any way and served hot or cold.
Resist the temptation to cook fish until it flakes. Fish is done when the color turns from translucent to opaque (white) or has reached 140°F on an instant read thermometer, otherwise, you run the risk of overcooking it.
If you buy fresh seafood, use it the same day or freeze it immediately. If frozen, thaw in the refrigerator overnight, never on the kitchen counter. Rinse fish in cold water, drain and pat dry with paper towels.
Almond-Crusted Fish
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons minced red onion
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 cup coarsely chopped green pimento-stuffed olives
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 1 tablespoon chopped drained capers
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons plus 4 tsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- Four 5-oz skinless white fish fillets (cod, grouper, catfish, sea bass, halibut, grouper, haddock, snapper, etc.) about ¾ inch thick
- 1 large egg white, lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup sliced unsalted almonds
Directions
In a medium bowl, combine the minced onion, olives, parsley, capers, vinegar and the 2 tablespoons olive oil; set aside.
Brush the top (skinless side) of the fish with egg white. Press almonds evenly over the top of the fish.
In a very large skillet on medium, heat the remaining 4 teaspoons of oil. Add the fish, crusted side down and cook until the almonds are toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Carefully turn the fish with a wide spatula and continue cooking until the fish is cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes.
Remove the fish to a serving platter and spoon the olive mixture on top.
Parchment-Baked Fish
Serves: 1
Ingredients
- One 6-oz fish fillet
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 medium clove garlic, minced
- Ground black pepper, to taste
- 3 sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 2 thin slices red onion
- 1/2 small fennel bulb, cored and thinly sliced
- 4 Kalamata, pitted and thinly sliced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper (chili) flakes, or to taste
- 2 large sprigs rosemary
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Tear off 1 piece of parchment to form a square large enough to enclose the fish. Place the parchment on a baking dish and place the fish in the center of the square. Drizzle with oil, then rub in the garlic and season with black pepper. Sprinkle sun-dried tomatoes over the top.
Arrange onion slices over the fish and top with the fennel and olives. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes and lay rosemary sprigs on either side of the fish, tucking them firmly against the fish.
Grasp the top and bottom edges of the paper parallel to the work surface and bring them together up over the fish, pinching together at the top. Fold over by about 1 inch, then continue folding down, leaving about 1/2 inch of space above the fish to allow for steam. Fold each side toward center until about 1/4 inch from fish.
Place the baking dish in the oven and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish. Remove the baking dish from the oven and place the pouch on a serving dish or plate. Carefully unfold parchment to allow steam to escape and serve immediately.
Fish Florentine
Serves 2
Ingredients
- Two 5-oz fish fillets
- 5 grape tomatoes, sliced
- 1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian-leaf parsley
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 2 large shallots, finely diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 oz. baby spinach
- 1/4 cup feta cheese
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Place the fish and the tomatoes in a glass baking dish. Sprinkle garlic and parsley over the top and squeeze the lemon juice over the fish. Cover with foil and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the fish is opaque and registers 140°F on an instant read thermometer.
In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, sauté shallots in oil for 1 minute. Reduce the heat to medium and add the spinach, cooking until wilted, about 5 minutes. Stir in the feta cheese and heat until melted and evenly distributed.
To serve, place 3/4 cup of the spinach-feta mixture on each plate and place 1 fillet and half the tomatoes on top of each serving.
Poached Fish In Tomato Sauce
4 servings
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper or ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (chili)
- One 14.5-oz. can whole peeled tomatoes, drained
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 2 bay leaves
- Pinch of saffron threads
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Four 5-oz. skinless cod, bass, flounder, etc. fish fillets
Directions
Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and Aleppo pepper and cook, stirring often (garlic should not brown), about 2 minutes.
Add tomatoes, crushing with your hands as you add them, wine, bay leaves, saffron and ½ cup water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, 5 minutes; season to taste with salt and pepper.
Reduce heat to medium-low; season fish with salt and pepper and place in the skillet with the poaching liquid. Cover and cook at a bare simmer until fish is opaque throughout, about 5–7 minutes and the fish registers 140°F on an instant read thermometer. (Thicker pieces will take longer to cook).
Gently transfer fish to individual shallow bowls and spoon poaching liquid over.
Fish Baked in Phyllo Pastry
This recipe makes a great entree for company.
Serves 6
Ingredients
- Six 5 ounce fish fillets
- 4 ounces reduced fat cream cheese, softened
- 4 ounces crab meat
- 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
- Salt and pepper
- 12 sheets phyllo pastry
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 8 tablespoons butter, melted
- Hot sauce to taste
Directions
In a mixing bowl gently combine the crab, cream cheese, onion, parsley, salt, pepper and a few shakes of hot sauce.
Divide the stuffing evenly on top of each fillet and pat it flat with a spatula.
Heat the olive oil in a skillet and brown the fish fillets on the side without the stuffing.
Remove 2 sheets of phyllo pastry from the roll and cut them in half. Lightly brush each piece with melted butter and stack them together.
Place a fish fillet on top of the phyllo layer and fold the pastry over the fish so it is completely covered and the edges are sealed.
Repeat the process with the remaining 5 fish fillets and pastry. Place the fish packets on a platter and refrigerate until it is time to cook them.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and bake 20-25 minutes until the pastry is puffed and golden.
ohiocook
Reblogged this on My Meals are on Wheels.
Animalcouriers
Your wrapped recipes sound great.
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way
YUM!! As I mentioned before we now have lots of fish and I’m going to want to try different methods. Thank you Jovina!! I especially like wrapping the fish. Can’t wait to try it.
tinywhitecottage
Poached fish in tomato sauce sounds delicious!
For the Love of Cooking
I am loving the sound of the fish cooked in parchment with fennel. YUM!
karenpavone
I love baking fish in parchment with veggies and a little wine. SO good!
Amanda | What's Cooking
I love all of these recipes and all of these fish. I used to be a fish monger and really can’t get enough. Every Monday I make salmon and sometimes branzino or trout on tuesdays. I just love it. I like the parchment idea. I actually have never done it though I’ve eaten it that way many times. I’m going to try it out soon 🙂
Jovina Coughlin
One of the advantages of living in the northeast – you can get branzino. Having worked with fish I am sure you are quite knowledgeable about fish types and selection. The advantage of the parchment, in my view, is that the fish retains moisture and the added flavors stay on the fish – they don’t evaporate. What is your favorite way to prepare salmon? I am always looking for new ideas.
Amanda | What's Cooking
I actually like to spread a thin layer of coarse mustard then cover with cilantro and dill then bake at 350f for 30 to 40 mins. Simple and delish.
Health News Library
wow nice fish recipes Jovina. That Almond-Crusted Fish is a must try. I plain to use a snapper. Thanks for posting this!!
Laisa
Very easy recipe! Worked very well, tastes yummy. Already made it twice in one week