Cilantro Baked Fish Recipe
Calling all cilantro lovers to enjoy a beautifully balanced yet bold fish recipe. This cilantro-baked fish is a perfect choice when you want a light and refreshing main course. It takes two minutes to blend the ingredients and 15 minutes to bake in the oven. Perfect with a side dish or salad.
In our home, Sunday afternoon is fish for lunch. Why? Because it’s the first day of the week here. Saturday is the weekend. And, Friday dinner is a big deal. Also, I try to keep my weekends open so I can spend them with the kids.
You have to love cilantro to enjoy this dish. And yet, I know that some people cannot stand cilantro while some, like me, can’t have enough of it. I LOVE cilantro, and as a result, I use it in almost everything. In fact, when a recipe calls for parsley, I use cilantro instead.
Why make this fish?
- This is a simple and easy recipe with minimal effort using easy-to-find ingredients.
- The marinade takes just 5 minutes to prep in the food processor or mortar and pestle. And it takes just 15 minutes to bake the fish in the oven, which gives you enough time to make a side of veggies or salad. So it is perfect for a whole meal.
- Today I served it with my rice pilaf, but I will often serve it with either of these potato sides like mashed potatoes, spiced Indian potatoes, oven-crisp chips, or oven-baked wedges. Sometimes, we go with a side of vegetable rice, which the kids love very much. Personally, I love my fish with beans or asparagus on the side.
Ingredients and substitutes
- Fish – Use a fleshy fish that you will enjoy under all the delicious crispy topping. I use either Sea Bass or Tilapia because that’s what I get here. If you get fresh, it’s always the best. And yet, if you have to rely on frozen fish, like me, then thaw the fish well before you cook it so it cooks evenly. I prefer to thaw in the fridge overnight. And yet, fish thaws really fast, so a quick dip in the water for 15 minutes also works great.
- Ginger and garlic – Garlic does what it always does best – adds so much flavor. You can also use garlic powder. Ginger has a nice warmth that works beautifully with cilantro. Therefore, I highly recommend using it.
- Lemon Juice – A bit of freshness from the lemon is all you need to bring the flavors together.
- Cilantro – This herb is readily available in most supermarkets these days. Bright green in color, with a wonderful, fresh smell and taste.
Step-by-step: Cilantro Baked Fish Fillets
- Preheat the oven to 400°F/ 200°C / Gas Mark 6
- Prep the fish – Wash, clean, and pat dry the fish. Season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
- Prepare marinade – Blend the marinade ingredients – cilantro, garlic, ginger, onions, salt, pepper, and oil into a food processor, blender, or mortar and pestle.
- Pan – Line a baking tray with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy clean-up. Spray or brush with oil to prevent the fish from sticking.
Pro tip – Make sure the fish is dry; otherwise, the marinade will slide down the fillets as soon as they are in the oven.
- Marinate the fish – Place the fish on the baking tray and spread the marinade over the fish fillets evenly. Top each with a slice of lemon.
Pro tip – Alternatively, you can add the fillets to the marinade bowl and leave them to marinate for an hour on the counter or overnight in the fridge - Bake – Bake in the preheated oven on the middle rack for 15 minutes or until the fish is cooked.
- Cool – remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Pro tip – Use a large flat spatula to pick and transfer the fish without breaking.
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Frequently asked questions
How long will these baked fish keep?
This fish will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make sure to wrap well so the marinade does not dry.
What to do with leftover fish?
Leftovers are perfect to use in sandwiches and wraps!
What do you serve with these baked fish fillets?
The simplicity of this dish means you can serve it with just about anything. Today, I am serving it with a side of my cauliflower and some baked oven-baked carrot, but beans or asparagus also work. Potato as a side is always a treat with my kids – mashed potatoes, oven-baked potato wedges, or chips are their favorite. When my kids were little, they had to have a side of vegetable rice pilaf with their fish.
Cilantro Baked Fish Fillets
Calling all cilantro lovers to enjoy a beautifully balanced yet bold fish recipe. This cilantro-baked fish is a perfect choice when you want a light and refreshing main course. It takes two minutes to blend the ingredients and 15 minutes to bake in the oven. Perfect with a side dish or salad.
Video
Ingredients
- 4 (600 g) Fish fillet see note above
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice
- ¼ tsp Salt
- ¼ tsp Pepper
- 3 slices Lemon 1/2 lemon
Marinade
- 1 cup Cilantro chopped
- 2 tbsp Chopped onion (optional)
- 2 cloves Garlic thinly sliced
- ¼ inch Ginger thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 small Green chili (optional)
- ¼ tsp Salt
- ¼ tsp Pepper
Plus
- 1 tbsp Oil or spray for the pan
Method
- Preheat the oven to 400°F/ 200°C / Gas Mark 6
- Prep the fish – Wash, clean, and pat dry the fish. Season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice.4 Fish fillet, 1 tbsp Lemon juice , ¼ tsp Salt, ¼ tsp Pepper
- Prepare marinade – Blend the marinade ingredients: cilantro, garlic, ginger, onions, salt, pepper, and oil into a food processor, blender, or mortar and pestle.3 slices Lemon, 1 cup Cilantro, 2 tbsp Chopped onion, 2 cloves Garlic, ¼ inch Ginger, 1 tbsp Olive oil, 1 small Green chili, ¼ tsp Salt, ¼ tsp Pepper
- Pan – Line a baking tray with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy clean-up. Spray or brush with oil to prevent the fish from sticking.1 tbsp Oil or spray for the pan
- Marinate the fish: Place the fish on the baking tray and spread the marinade evenly over the fillets. Top each with a slice of lemon.
- Bake – Bake in the preheated oven on the middle rack for 15 minutes or until the fish is cooked.
- Cool – remove from the oven and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Choose Fresh, High-Quality Fish: Fresh fish ensures the best flavor and texture. Look for firm, white fish fillets like cod, tilapia, or halibut. Ensure the fish has a clean, ocean-like smell and clear, moist eyes if purchasing whole fish.
- Marinate the Fish: Ensure the fish is well-coated in the marinade for maximum flavor infusion. Let the fish marinate for at least 15-20 minutes but not more than 30 minutes to prevent the acid from breaking down the fish too much.
- Balance the Flavors: Adjust the amount of lime juice and honey to your taste. The acidity and sweetness should complement each other without overpowering the fish. Taste the marinade before applying it to the fish to ensure it’s well-seasoned.
- Control the Heat: Adjust the chili flakes based on your heat preference. Start with a small amount and add more if desired. For a milder dish, omit the chili flakes or replace them with sweet paprika.
- Use Proper Baking Techniques: Preheat the oven to the correct temperature before placing the fish inside to ensure even cooking. Use parchment paper or a lightly greased baking sheet to prevent the fish from sticking and to make cleanup easier.
- Monitor Cooking Time: Bake the fish until it flakes easily with a fork but is still moist. Overcooking can lead to dry, tough fish. Check the fish for doneness at the minimum recommended baking time to avoid overcooking.
- Serve Immediately: Baked fish is best enjoyed fresh from the oven for optimal flavor and texture. Serve it promptly after cooking. Garnish with extra chopped cilantro and lime wedges to enhance the presentation and flavor.
- Consider Side Dishes: Pair the fish with complementary sides like steamed vegetables, rice, quinoa, or a fresh salad to create a balanced meal. A light, citrusy dressing or sauce can enhance the overall flavor of the dish.
Equipment you will need
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?
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I made this with sole and while the marinade smelled amazing before cooking, for some reason it fell flat after baking and the flavors didn’t really come through. I followed the recipe except used shallot instead of onion.
Jean, sounds like you needed more salt, Pepper, and lemon juice to bring out the flavors.
I just made it and it’s was very fresh and delicious. I didn’t feel like getting out the blender, since it’s just me so I chopped up everything very fondly and added the olive oil. i used flounder. It was delicious.
Thank you so much for the lovely feedback Nicole.
I’m a Cilantro lover! Tried this fish meal with my family and it was a hit! It was incredibly flavorful and light. The ginger was a nice addition too. Perfect for a quick and healthy dinner. I’ll be making this again.
The minute I saw this recipe I was immediately captivated by the pretty colors especially the red from the pomegranate seeds. We eat lots of fish so this recipe is really welcome. I’m pinning it so I can make it next week. The colors remind me of Christmas.
Thank you, Marisa. We love fish and this is one of our favorites.
These sound delicious, and I love how easy they are to put together! Love the pop of color from the pomegranate as well, and it just happens to be in season right now so why not 🙂
yeah they are in season right now. Thanks Donna
This looks awesome. I love cilantro but had never considered putting it on fish before!
Oh it’s goes so beautifully. You must try..
Oh yum! I LOVE cilantro. This fish dish looks AMAZING and healthy. Can’t wait to make this.
Thank you Katie. Let me know if you try it.
I absolutely love how easy this is! I’m going to make fish today, but more like the British classic of battered fish with chips. But will pin this to try later!
I love the British Classic Battered Fish.. use to have that every trip to Manchester. Thanks for commenting
I love baked fish meals. I usually do fish midweek here and lucky for us in Australia, certain types of fresh fish are reasonably priced. I am a big fan of cilantro and especially love it with fish. Great recipe!
Thank you so much Amanda <3