Easy Fish Recipes: 10 Quick Seafood Dinners

Fish are aquatic cold-blooded vertebrates found both at sea and in freshwater. Many edible fish are great sources of nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, protein, B vitamins, iodine, and calcium, but fish also pose a risk of harboring toxins and parasites and spoil much more quickly than other meats, which is why it’s especially important to buy fish that’s fresh and in season.

Some types of fish are easier to cook than others. Here are fish you can cook using multiple methods to result in palatable, flavorful dishes:

1. 1. Flounder: Flounder fish fillets are thin. You can fry, bake, or top or stuff them with crabmeat or other seafood mixtures as an entrée. The white fish fillets are flaky and delicate and require a short cook time.
2. 2. Halibut: Halibut is a meaty fish, with fillets coming from either side of the fish as well as the cheeks. Commonly used in more delicate preparations, halibut tastes just as well poached, pan-fried, or baked. Try serving the baked fish with pesto on the side, a cilantro-lime juice sauce drizzled over top, or with capers and lemon juice for a lemony version.
3. 3. Haddock: Haddock is a firm but flaky white fish that you can serve fresh, smoked, canned, or dehydrated, although it’s most commonly used in fish and chip recipes. Haddock is sturdy and holds up well to breading and frying, as it will remain moist and flaky on the inside.
4. 4. Red snapper: Red snapper, prepared as a whole fish or broken down into fillets, is a sweet and nutty-tasting meat that pairs well with hot peppers and robust herbs, as well as mild aromatics like leeks. Grilling red snapper whole is a popular way to prepare it.
5. 5. Salmon: Salmon has a mild taste, so it can complement strong flavors, especially ones usually found in Asian cuisine. Soy sauce, miso, and teriyaki sauce are popular flavors for a salmon marinade. Salmon recipes can vary in cooking methods, from poaching to grilling and others.
6. 6. Sea bass: There are many types of sea bass. Black sea bass and Chilean sea bass are common varieties you can find in grocery stores. Sea bass is a fatty fish with a mild flavor and a meaty texture. Cook this fish on the grill or on the stovetop and garnish it with an herb oil.
7. 7. Tilapia: Tilapia has a tendency to have an unusual flavor, much like trout and catfish, due to the conditions in the waters in which they live. However, tilapia has low levels of mercury, and their muddy or murky flavor is no indication of the freshness of the fish. Tilapia pairs well with a lemon butter sauce or broiled with a mixture of breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese on top.

Some types of fish come with food safety concerns for certain types of people. Listed below are a few fish that you should eat sparingly:

• Mahi-mahi: There are food safety concerns with mahi-mahi—the fish is potentially poisonous due to toxins that accumulate in the flesh of the fish over time.
• Swordfish: Due to potentially high levels of mercury in swordfish, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends children, pregnant women, and women of childbearing age stay away from consuming swordfish.
• Tuna: Whether fresh or canned, tuna can come with a risk of high mercury levels. While these levels can vary, the FDA recommends pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children consume tuna moderately, if at all.

When you want to make a quick main dish on a weeknight or any other time, these easy fish recipes can come in handy:

1. 1. Baked halibut: Halibut are huge fish and sold as fillets. The meat should be firm and white with no discernable smell. It’s commonly paired with citrus, butter, herbs, and wine-based sauces. For an easy meal, try this baked halibut recipe.
2. 2. Branzino: Branzino is popular in Italian cuisine and is a fish commonly served whole and filleted or deboned tableside. Serve it stuffed, fried, or roasted with garlic butter and lemon wedges. Try Chef Gordon Ramsay’s crispy whole branzino recipe.
3. 3. Ceviche: Cooking fish ceviche-style uses citrus, such as lemon or lime, to “cook” the fish. Shrimp is a popular shellfish to use, but other varieties of white fish also work. Other ingredients include fruit, like mangoes, and bell peppers, cilantro, or cherry tomatoes. Try this shrimp ceviche recipe.
4. 4. Fish tacos: Make fish tacos with baked or crispy, fried fish wrapped in a tortilla and use your preferred toppings—examples include scallions, cabbage slaw, fresh salsa, or slices of avocado. Possible flavor profiles include Cajun, Mediterranean, and classic coastal Mexican. Try this fish taco recipe.
5. 5. Grilled whole red snapper: Red snapper recipes involving the whole fish are popular, especially for grilling. Season the outside and inside with salt, pepper, paprika, and stick lemon or lime slices inside of the cleaned fish. Brush it with oil to prevent the skin from sticking as it cooks. Try out this grilled whole red snapper recipe.
6. 6. Mediterranean sea bass: Sea bass is a white fish you can use in recipes with fresh and light ingredients since it has a mild flavor. Good additions include Mediterranean flavors like olives and capers, as well as vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and zucchini. Try this Mediterranean sea bass recipe.
7. 7. Pan-roasted monkfish: You may find monkfish intimidating given its size, but it tastes mild and takes on other flavors well, like a red wine sauce or a bright vinegar mixture. The meat texture is closer to lobster than a flaky white fish. Try Chef Thomas Keller’s pan-roasted monkfish tail recipe.
8. 8. Pan-roasted swordfish: Sold in steaks, swordfish holds up to high-heat cooking preparations and handles seasoning well. Serve it with buttery sauces, herby sauces, or wine sauces. Try out this easy pan-roasted swordfish recipe.
9. 9. Salmon en papillote: “En papillote” means “in paper,” such as in parchment paper. Place the salmon fillets, lemon slices, olive oil, salt, black pepper, and other veggies, such as zucchini or green beans, on a piece of parchment paper. Fold the paper around the ingredients, cut two slits in the paper to allow steam to escape, and then bake the package in the oven on a sheet pan. For more details, try out this easy baked salmon recipe.
10. 10. Tuna sashimi: Sashimi can be a light and refreshing way to consume tuna. A common starter served before main dishes, sashimi is often paired with crunchy veggies or even fruits, like Chef Wolfgang Puck’s tuna sashimi with ponzu sauce and fennel apple salad.

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