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How to Broil Fish

How to Broil Fish

When it comes to cooking fish, this is the only recipe you will ever need; the result is moist, flavorful, perfect fish every time. ~ by Serena Ball, MS, RD

How to broil tilapia

So you think cooking fish is tricky? Think again.

This Cooking Light recipe is the ONE I go to whenever I need to cook dinner quick – or if I don’t have time to search for a recipe for the catfish I bought on sale – or the salmon a neighbor dropped off – or the tilapia I forgot about in the bottom of the freezer. This broiling technique is no-fail and works for pretty much any variety of fish. Here’s why:

Hard to overcook: Because it cooks so quickly, I’m not tempted to run out of the kitchen to multitask.
Simple temp + time to remember: Broil 10 minutes on high! (Preheat the broiler a few minutes – and begin to check for doneness at 8 minutes.)
Stays moist: Thanks to the simple brush of oil and the bath of wine (or beer) it comes out super moist – also thanks to the quick cooking.
No flipping: Again, because of the quick cooking and there’s no need to manage the slippery, fall-apart fillets on the spatula.
No breading: No egg wash, no bread crumbs = No mess.
Super healthy: You’re cooking fish because it’s delicious, but also because you know you should eat more of it, so why mess up a good thing? The wine, onion, garlic and black pepper – surprisingly – flavor it A LOT. But you could add a fresh salsa like this Mango Avocado Salsa or a sprig of thyme like I did.

Simple cook fish

So here are the specifics on how I adapted this no-fail Cooking Light Magazine recipe for Clam Shack-Style Broiled Fish:

  • Use beer if you don’t have wine. The alcohol helps carry and intensify the flavor. Plus it elevates the super simple dish.
  • Instead of shallots, use 1/3 of a medium onion, very thinly sliced.
  • Brush the oil on both sides of fish to ensure moist fillets – instead of just placing on pan. (You won’t need more.)
  • Even if you have more than 4 fillets, use the called-for ingredient amounts; this is a very adaptable recipe.

Broiled fish

Now, go forth…and fear cooking fish no more!

And please, please let me know your results or leave a comment on your favorite way to cook fish.

For more easy fish recipes, you may want to check out these:

Freshwater Fish Tacos

Freshwater Fish Tacos | Teaspoonofspice.com

Tea Smoked Tilapia

Tea Smoked Tilapia | Teaspoonofspice.com

Roasted Pepper & Salmon Tostadas

Roasted Pepper & Salmon Tostadas | Teaspoonofspice.com

GiGi Eats

Friday 19th of September 2014

Broiling is pretty much the only way I cook fish! I LOVE the way salmon tastes when broiled, that crispy exterior is MOUTH WATERING :)

Serena Ball

Monday 22nd of September 2014

Thanks GiGi!This was pretty much a life changing moment when I finally caught onto this broiling thing!

Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes

Thursday 18th of September 2014

I love this Serena because my neighbor calls me about this exact thing all the time. I never know exactly what to tell him. Now I will point him to this page!

Serena Ball

Friday 19th of September 2014

Thanks Katie. It's my sister who's always calling me! That's what inspired this post. Plus - I feel like I was always calling someone till I discovered this method. (:

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