Baked Fish with Lemon Butter (Printable)
Tender fish fillets with a bright lemon butter sauce. A quick, light main dish ready in 30 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Fish
01 - 4 white fish fillets (cod, haddock, or tilapia), 5.3 oz each
02 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
→ Lemon Butter Sauce
03 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
05 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
08 - 1 teaspoon fresh dill, chopped
→ Garnish
09 - Lemon slices
10 - Extra chopped parsley
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking dish with parchment paper or lightly grease with oil.
02 - Pat fish fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper. Arrange in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, parsley, and dill until well combined.
04 - Pour the lemon butter sauce evenly over the fish fillets, ensuring complete coverage.
05 - Top each fillet with a lemon slice for added flavor and presentation.
06 - Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork and appears opaque throughout.
07 - Remove from oven, garnish with extra parsley, and serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The sauce pools in little golden pockets that become concentrated bursts of flavor you'll find yourself chasing with your fork.
- Its elegant enough for company but takes just 10 minutes of hands on time, saving you from kitchen exile when friends drop by.
02 -
- Overcooking fish by even two minutes can transform it from silky to stringy, so start checking at the 12 minute mark by gently separating the flesh with a fork.
- The residual heat continues cooking the fish after removing it from the oven, so take it out just before it seems completely done.
03 -
- Reserve a tablespoon of the lemon butter mixture to brush over the finished fish just before serving for an extra hit of fresh flavor.
- Place a few lemon slices underneath the fish as well as on top to infuse flavor from both directions and prevent the bottom from sticking.