Salvadorian Baked Fish Recipes

EASY BAKED FISH WITH GARLIC AND BASIL

Steps:

• Pat fish fillet dry and season with salt and pepper on both sides.
• Place the fish in a large zip-top bag. Add the oregano, coriander, paprika, minced garlic, basil, extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice. Zip the bag shut and massage to be sure the fish is evenly coated in the marinade. Marinated for 30 minutes or up to 1 hour in the fridge (see notes).
• Heat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Arrange bell peppers and shallots in the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish. Place the fish on top and pour the marinade over it.
• Bake in heated oven for 15 minutes or until fish is done and flakes easily.

CRISPY BAKED FISH WITH TARTAR SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees and set a rack in the upper part. In a medium bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, capers, pickles, herbs and Worcestershire sauce. Using a Microplane, finely grate the garlic into the bowl, then grate in the zest of the lemon. (Hold onto the lemon; you'll use the juice later.) Stir to combine and season the tartar sauce to taste with salt and lots of pepper.
• In a small bowl, stir together the panko and olive oil; season with salt and pepper.
• Pat the fish dry on all sides and season lightly all over with salt and pepper. Transfer to a lightly greased or foil-lined sheet pan. Coat the top with a thin layer of the tartar sauce (a scant tablespoon per fillet). Sprinkle the panko evenly on top (about 2 tablespoons per fillet), pressing gently to adhere.
• Bake the fish on the top rack until almost cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes for fillets between ½- and ¾-inch-thick (though you should check earlier, if using a thinner fish). An instant-read thermometer should read somewhere between 125 and 130 degrees when inserted into the thickest part of the fish.
• Meanwhile, add 1 tablespoon juice from the lemon to the tartar sauce and cut the remaining lemon into 4 wedges for serving.
• When the fish is nearly cooked through, switch the oven to broil. Broil the fish on the top rack until the bread crumbs are golden and the fish flakes easily and registers 140 degrees in the thickest part, 2 to 3 minutes. Eat with a spoonful of tartar sauce, more black pepper and a squeeze of lemon. (Any extra tartar sauce will keep for up to a week in the fridge.)