Baked fish might sound a bit pedestrian…until you’ve tried this Mediterranean baked fish recipe! One bite and you’ll be singing its praises. Roast up any white fish with lemon, garlic and a simple mix of tomatoes, onions and olives. It comes out perfectly fork tender with a punchy zip from the lemon and tender vegetables to flavor each bite. The minute we tried it, we knew it was destined for our regular rotation: it works as both an easy weeknight meal and for dinner parties!
Types of fish to use
You can use any type of white fish in this baked fish recipe: in fact, it doesn’t even need to be white fish! It works with salmon too. Here are some varieties of mild white fish that work well. Keep in mind that each type of fish has a varying level of fillet thickness:
TilapiaHalibutCodGrouperSnapperPollockBass
Ingredients in this baked fish recipe
This baked fish recipe uses a simple Mediterranean preparation to bring big flavors to the dish! It’s easy to slice up the vegetables before baking, and it comes together into something that seems much greater than the sum of its parts. The genius of this recipe is this: the fish bakes on top of the Mediterranean-style vegetables, which give it just the right amount of moisture. The vegetables then form a tangy sauce that infuses a pop of zingy flavor into each bite. When you plate it up, make sure to add Here’s what you’ll need:
White fish filletsCherry tomatoes, red onion, garlicGreen olives and capersFresh parsleyOlive oilDried oreganoLemon juiceSalt and pepper
How to bake fish
Baking white fish is pretty straightforward: it’s all about how thick the fillet is! Here are a few simple tips for how to bake fish:
Pat the fillet dry, then season with olive oil, salt, pepper and lemon. This is a great basic flavor profile.Bake the fish for approximately 20 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit. The exact timing depends on the thickness of the fish. A very thin fillet may take 15 minutes, and very thick may take 25 minutes or more. Bake fish until the internal temperature is 140 degrees Fahrenheit when measured with a food thermometer. This is a more precise measurement that yields perfectly cooked fish.
About the olives
This baked fish recipe uses olives for the Mediterranean-style preparation: which can be a polarizing ingredient! You can omit the olives if you’re cooking for olive haters; the dish is still delicious. But we highly recommend using them for the best flavor here! The Italian variety Castelvetrano is a green olive with a mild, buttery flavor: you can find this variety in many grocery stores near the other canned olives.
Sides for baked fish
Once you’ve got a pan of this baked fish recipe, we think you’ll agree: it’s a winner! Our entire family loves this one. Here are a few ways to pair this Mediterranean-style dinner: both for quick weeknight meals and for dinners to impress:
Simple salad: Try Romaine Salad with Green Goddess, Arugula Salad, or Kale Caesar SaladElegant salad: Go for Endive Salad with Parmesan & Orange, Frisee Salad or Fennel Orange SaladVegetables: Opt for Sauteed Broccolini, Perfect Roasted Broccolini, Pan Fried Broccoli, Sauteed Green Beans or Easy Shaved Brussels SproutsGrain or pasta: Add Spinach Rice with Feta, Easy Couscous, Lemon Orzo, Basic Farro, Farro with Mushrooms & Parmesan, Basic Quinoa, or Seasoned Quinoa
More baked fish recipes
Love baked fish recipes? There are loads of ways to prepare fish in the oven. Here are a few more ideas:
Tilapia: Try Baked Tilapia with Tomatoes & Feta or crispy Parmesan Crusted TilapiaCod: Opt for Baked Cod with LemonAny white fish: Go for Epic Fish TacosSalmon: Try Baked Salmon, Pesto Salmon, Salmon with Capers or Pistachio Crusted Salmon
This baked fish recipe is…
Pescatarian, gluten-free and dairy free. 4.9 from 16 reviews
