Recipes

[godi]

I want to surprise DH with a baked fish dish, cod or flounder. I NEVER cooked fish what do I do? how do i buy it? Please help me! Thanks in advance for any and all tips and recipes.. I would even put it in the skillet too!!

[DiAnne]

Go to a quality fish market and they will help you with cooking ideas depending on the kind of fish you purchase. They are usually a wealth of knowledge.

[Scooby Doo]

McCormick has some good sauces in a bottle that you can put on whatever type fish you choose. I like to just sprinkle a little lemon pepper on mine and then make my own dill sauce.

[HUENEME GIRL]

Digo, the secret to cooking fish is to not overcook it. Buy boneless fillet at butchers and depending on thickness you can fold over the fillet so it does not cook to fast. A little olive oil and salt on top and bake at 325 for 6 or 7 minutes, Check to see if fish will flake if not add a minute or so, Now you can "dress" your fish. Melted butter , browned bread crumbs, sauce, whatever you wish. It is fast and easy!

[ennui1]

Fish cooks quickly, so be careful not to overcook it.

[glmama]

Hi-First, buy the best piece of fish you can. In my case, the best is available at my closest Whole Foods. The fish guys there completely know what they're doing, can make suggestions, and can also de-scale or trim, or filet your fish in any way that you want. In my experience, I think starting out using a grill or grill pan is the best way to try cooking fish. We grill fish all the time in the summer months, and have a grill pan for inside. For grilling, though, I would always go with a meatier, heartier fish, like a swordfish. Something that's not going to fall through the cracks of a grill AND can stand up to higher heat. If you're a novice, I would stay away from more delicate pieces of fish, like, say sea bass. These take a little bit more time to get used to cooking, I think (at least in my experience). Baking your fish is another great option. I like to bake my fish (I like salmon done this way) in a foil package, drizzled with evoo, s&P, and maybe some cherry toms. The tomatoes burst while baking and it is delicious. Do a google search for how to bake fish in foil. Once you start baking that way it is so easy to do. I don't have the temps in front of me or I'd tell you this info, of course!

[glmama]

Oh, and I remember years ago I read somewhere that the rule of thumb (primarily with thicker fish) is 10 minutes grilling or cooking time for every inch. That rule has served me well many times. My fish on the grill is usually done in about 6-7 minutes and that usually completely corresponds to its thickness.

[Jerz-girl]

For quick ideas...first if you're not going to a fish market, go to your grocery store and obviously go to the Seafood department, there you will tell him what you and your hubby's likes and dislikes are, such as a you like a fishy flavor or don't and you want a very mild fish Etc, from there over the amounts of pieces you want Etc...depending on the type and size of fish will depend on how long you cook it and the best method (more than one) Etc.

Doesn't sound like you are going to coat the fish and fry, so I'll give you a few quick ideas

If you like salmon, there's a great recipe that includes soy sauce, brown sugar, salt & pepper, a little Dijon mustard Etc (Adding citrus is very good!) cooked on a cedar plank...you can buy the cedar plank at hardware stores.

You can season a fish such a tilapia with salt & pepper, have a frying pa heating up with some olive oil, add the fish flesh/skin side down and cook for about 2 mins, flip over and add a pesto, finish cooking under the broiler for about 3 minutes.

OR you can take haddock with salt & pepper and bake at 350 for about 15-20 minutes or broil for shorter with a mixture of crushed Ritz crackers, melted butter, a little water and Salt & Pepper spread over the fish. (Lots of butter)

OR you can do the above with the Ritz crackers and add some minced garlic, Old bay, salt & pepper, little garlic powder and onion powder, onions, minced celery with a little white wine and shredded crab. You would saute the onions and celery with the butter to translucent, then add the minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 mins(do not brown the garlic), add seasonings and white wine, cook for another minute or two, take off from heat and add your crackers and cooked or canned shredded crab meat. Either bake or broil. Broiling takes less time, baking about 15-20 minutes at 350. Sometimes 12 minutes depending on the oven. Makes a beautiful, tasty topping! (Lots of butter)

OR take fish of your choice, depending on the fish will depend on cooking time, like flounder (flounder doesn't take as long as haddock Etc) and season with salt & pepper and a little garlic powder...Next saute a little peppers and onions with spices of your choice (at least salt & pepper, and garlic powder, even a little onion powder), add a little Worcestershire. Once soften but not cooked add to the bottom of a baking dish. Then add your seasoned fish on top of the peppers & onions. Next saute in butter a little diced onion & celery and season. Now add a bag of crushed salad croutons with a little water to your onion and celery (White wine works too). Mixture will be soft and moist. Add this mixture to the top of the fish, bake (350)...5-7 minutes before finished cooking, add some shredded Monterey Jack cheese to the top and finish cooking, very good!!

Last idea...take fish of your choice and season with Salt & Pepper, garlic powder, minced parsley (Sometimes dried oregano, depends on you), capers is your choice as well, dabs of butter, lemon and white wine, broil. Broil time depends on thickness of fish...you will tell by the color of the fish and how it flakes. (Butter, lemon/wine sauce)

Mahi Mahi is very good cooked with a soy sauce & citrus & butter concoction...even with miso.

Coating fish in a nut such as pecans is good as well....

Always season your fish with at least Salt & Pepper!! Try not to over cook and keep it simple.

Jerz

[godi]

Thank you all for replies! I would coat the fish with bread crumbs, I should if said that. I am so new at this fish thing I just haven't a clue! Thank you all I will take your suggestions and give it a shot this Friday! If any of you have a breaded fish recipe and can post please do. Thanks again for the help.

[denisemb]

Digo, if you want to try something a little different, I'm a big fan of "Broiled Tilapia Parmesan" from the allrecipes.com site. (Their recipes don't copy well, so I can't post it here.) They also show a "healthier" version. It's fast, easy and yummy.

I'm sure you could use flounder in the place of tilapia, but thicker cod would require the broiler rack to be moved down and broiled a bit longer.