How to Bake Fish | Easy Baked Fish Recipes and Tips

Baking is probably the simplest and best to cook fish because the fish retains its moisture and delicate flavors. The trick is to not over cook the fish and swamp the fish with sauces, herbs or spices. There are a variety of ways of cooking fish in the oven enclosed in parchment or foil, over vegetables in a covered dish or uncovered in a flat baking dish.

Baked fish is a healthy alternative to frying or grilling. A fresh whole fish delicately blended with fresh herbs, ginger and garlic and baked on a bed of fresh vegetables makes a lovely healthy meal for a family or a dinner occasion. Baking fish is quick and easy to do and usually only requires a single dish so that there is only minimum cleaning required.

Choosing the Fish

The fish must be very fresh and whole fish is preferred, but you can also bake fillets. The main thing to avoid is overcooking the fish which will dry it out and destroy the delicate flavour of the fish. Always check the recipes for the correct cooking times, but the ideal time will vary, mostly dependent on the thickness of the fish. As a general rule allow about 10 minutes baking time for every inch (2.5 cm) of fish thickness, measured at the thickest part of the fish. Thin fillets generally take just 15 minutes, whereas fish cutlets make take 15 minutes and very large whole fish make take 20-30 minutes. Oily fish such as tuna, mackerel or salmon are probably best grilled or baked on a grill in a baking pan so that the oil can drain during the cooking.

Baking White Fish

Lean, delicate, white fish such as haddock, bream, whiting, cod, plaice, or other local fish species, that is not oily like tuna, salmon or herring is idea for baking with minimal herbs, spices or other flavours that could ruin the delicate fish flavour. In some ways the cooking is similar to steaming, especially if the fish is wrapped in foil. The delicate flesh of lean white fish needs to be protected so that it does not become dry during the cooking and over cooking is avoided.

To help prevent the delicate white fish from drying out, add some liquid to the baking tray or casserole dish, or add a prepared sauce during the cooking. You can use water, milk, lemon, light coconut milk, lime, wine, butter, or orange juice, oil or a little chicken, vegetable or seafood stock. Various other ingredients and flavours can be added to the dish such as herbs, onions, tomatoes, garlic, ginger or a variety of chopped vegetables.

Baking in Foil

Many people like to bake fish by first wrapping it in foil, which is very efficient, retains the moisture of the fish and helps to infuse the fish with the herbs, ginger and other ingredients added to the foil. Wrapping the fish in foil, creates an effect similar to steaming, as moisture is retained within the foil.

Preheat the oven to about 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and grease a large piece of foil with butter. Take a piece of fish and rub the outside with pepper and salt. Then place the fish onto a piece of foil large enough to completely wrap and seal the piece of fish inside. Add some herbs, spring onions, garlic and lemon juice, and fold up the sides of the foil and fold over at the top to seal. Place he wrapped fish into the oven on a shallow baling tray or directly onto the shelves and cook for the specified time until the flesh is white and firm, but only just cooked.

If baking a whole fish wrapped in foil, make sure the fish is thoroughly scaled, cleaned inside and out before wrapping it in foil. The tail, head and skin can be left attached to the fish. Check that the body cavity is clean and it can stuffed with garlic, ginger, lemon and herbs or with a breadcrumb stuffing mixture. The time taken to cook a whole fish wrapped in foil can be twice as long as a fillet of fish, perhaps around 30 - 45 minutes. Allow 15 minutes for every pound or half kilo of fish plus an extra 15 minutes. Once the fish is cooked, take it from the oven, remove the foil and perhaps remove the skin before serving. For less formal occasions the fish can be unwrapped at the table.

Baking in the Oven without Foil

Oily fish such salmon or trout, or lean white fish can be simply baked on a baking tray or in a shallow baling dish without wrapping in foil. This browns the outside of the fish which is steeped in herbs and spices, while the interior is moist and white. Even lean types of fish can be baked in this way by coating the outside with olive oil or another type of vegetable oil. Generally, many whole fish are baked without foil as the skin tends to act to seal the fish and retain moisture. This method is more suited to large somewhat oily fish.

Baking a Large Whole Fish

For a large thick fish such as a sea bass or grey mullet or other similarly shaped fish with a round profile, make several diagonal cuts into the fish on both sides. This helps to cook the fish more evenly and you can add herbs and spices to the cuts to help the flavour penetrate the fish flesh. Season the outside of the fish with salt and pepper, and the internal body cavity. Make sure the fish is throughout cleaned and all the scales have been removed. Sprinkle with lemon juice, brush with melted butter and add so some herbs to the outside, the cavity and the slits along the body.

The body cavity of the fish can be stuffed with herbs, garlic cloves, ginger pieces, lemon slices or you can use a specially prepared stuffing made from breadcrumbs. Close the cavity by securing it skewers or cocktail sticks and restore the fish to its original shape.

Place the fish on a paper lined or greased baking tray and bake in the oven until the skin and outside of the fish is brown and crisp, and the internal flesh is white and firm. Baste during the baking with the cooking juices and a little melted butter and turn once to brown both sides of the fish.

Baking a whole flat fish

Baking a whole flat fish is similar to other whole fish, although adding stuffing can be a delicate operation and the fish will be cooked in a much shorter time.

As there is only a tiny body cavity, you will need to make slits for the stuffing or to insert herbs and spices into the fish. Take a sharp knife and slice into the flesh right down to the backbone. Fill the cavity with a little stuffing or herbs in a loose fashion as above, dot with butter and bake in the oven until done.

Stuffing for fish

A typical stuffing can be made by combining about 2 oz of fresh breadcrumbs, pepper and salt, chopped bacon, some milk, chopped herbs such as coriander or parsley and a little beaten egg. Mix these ingredients together to form a paste that is used to stuff the fish.

Cooked stuffing can also be used by melting a little butter and lightly frying chopped onions and celery, add chopped herbs and then breadcrumbs, salt and pepper and mixed well.

Baking Fish in Parchment

Prepare one serving packet per person. Place one serving of seasoned fish on one side of a sheet of parchment paper. Add seasonings, salt and pepper, herbs shallots, thinly sliced vegetables and mushrooms.

Fold parchment over the fish, crimp the edges to seal the packets. Put packets on baking sheets for easier handling. Bake until fish is opaque and flaky - don't overcook. Generally it will require about 15 minutes with extra time for thick pieces of fish or whole fish.

If you've sealed the parchment paper it will brown slightly and puff up a bit in the oven.

Baking Fish in Closed Dish

There are many fish casserole recipes when the fish and a variety of other seafood is cooked in a covered dish with a variety of vegetables. Timing is critical and you may need to precook vegetables such as potatoes an carrots to prevent overcooking the fish

Baked fish on a Bed of Vegetables

Baked fish with vegetables is a healthy dish where the flavour of the vegetables is gently infused into the fish. Firstly marinate the fish with fresh dill greens, crushed garlic and coriander leaves, lime juice, chilli powder, salt and olive oil ( or some other herb and spice combination). Season the inside and outside of the fish with this mixture. Line the base of baking tray with onions, garlic, chopped bell peppers, potatoes and carrots (precooked) and sprinkle it with lime juice.

Place the fish on top of the bed of vegetables and sprinkle the fish with a little olive oil to help keep it moist. You can add various herbs and spices. Bake uncovered in the oven, or cover lightly with a piece of foil.

© janderson99-HubPages