Easy Mediterranean Baked Fish
This healthy Mediterranean baked fish dinner takes just 20 minutes from start to finish and is made with only 8 ingredients! It almost sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it?! Well, it’s not. It’s just another quick and easy dinner that your family is going to LOVE!
Instructions
This recipe starts with Wild Alaskan Pacific Cod. It’s the perfect mild, white fish for this fresh Mediterranean dish.
Place fish into a shallow baking dish. Combine olive oil with melted butter and pour it over the fillet.
Season the fish with coriander, paprika, salt and pepper. Then top it with lemon zest, sliced lemon, sliced garlic and capers.
Bake in a 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until the thickest part flakes easily with a fork. Then garnish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and chopped cilantro.
Fish to Use
- cod
- haddock
- stripped bass
- mahi mahi
- grouper
You’ll Love This
- Did you see that ingredient list?? Only 8 ingredients! Talk about simple! This recipe is loaded with fresh Mediterranean flavors of olive oil, lemon, and capers. This combination enhances the mild white fish, while still allowing it to shine through as the star!
- A quick cook time of just 15 minutes means you can have a healthy, flavorful dinner on the table in no time at all! It takes only minutes to melt the butter, slice the garlic, and zest the lemon. Then it’s into the oven to poach the cod in that delicious oil and butter combo.
- It’s unexpected. This is not your run-of-the-mill baked fish dish. This Mediterranean fish is something your dinner guests have likely never made at home, which makes it a really fun dish to enjoy with friends and family!
Tips
- Butter makes everything better. And that is VERY true in this Mediterranean baked fish. If you only have olive oil on hand, feel free to sub that for the butter. However, the melted butter combined with the olive oil is going to give this fish the MOST decadent, melt in your mouth flavor and texture. So don’t skip it!
- Green olives are a great substitute for capers. I usually keep capers on hand because their briny bite is one of my favorite things to add to any fish or pasta dish. But in a pinch, green olives would be a great sub! I’d add slightly more green olives in this recipe to match the bold flavor that the capers deliver.
- Don’t overcook the fish! This seems like a no-brainer, but sometimes I think people get really stuck on following a recipe to the T and forget to use their judgment. Everyone’s oven cooks differently. Everyone’s fish fillet may be of a different shape or thickness. Everyone’s baking dish heats up differently. Use your judgment when it comes to baking time here. As soon as the fish starts to flake easily, it’s done!
Serve With
- Spaghetti is another one of my go-to’s to serve alongside this cod! Cook the spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. When the cod is baked, gently remove it from the baking dish and toss the spaghetti in the leftover butter, oil, lemon, caper mixture in the bottom of the baking dish. Then nestle the cod into the spaghetti and serve!
- Greek Potato Wedges would also be a great accompaniment if you’re looking for a Mediterranean play on the traditional “fish and chips” dish. The wedges have some of the same flavors but that crispy texture is going to contrast really well with the tender, flaky fish.
Try these easy seafood recipes next!
Did you love this recipe?
Please leave a 5-star rating and review below!
Mediterranean Fish
This healthy Mediterranean dinner takes just 20 minutes from start to finish and is made with just 8 ingredients! It almost sounds too good to be true doesn’t it?! Well, it’s not. It’s just another quick and easy dinner that your family is going to LOVE!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients
- 1 lb. cod fillet
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- zest of 1 lemon + slices
- 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons capers
- Kosher salt
- fresh cracked pepper
Garnish:
- fresh lemon wedges
- fresh chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Heat oven to 400 degrees. Place cod into a large baking dish.
- In a small glass measuring cup combine oil and butter. Pour over cod.
- Season cod with coriander, paprika and a large pinch of Kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper.
- Then top it with lemon zest, sliced lemon, sliced garlic and capers.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the cod flakes easily with a fork.
- Garnish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and chopped cilantro.
Equipment
Buy Now → Notes
Butter makes everything better. And that is VERY true in this dish. If you only have olive oil on hand, feel free to sub that for the butter. However, the melted butter combined with the olive oil is going to give this fish the MOST decadent, melt in your mouth flavor and texture. So don’t skip it!
Green olives are a great substitute for capers. I usually keep capers on hand because their briny bite is one of my favorite things to add to any fish or pasta dish. But in a pinch, green olives would be a great sub! I’d add slightly more green olives in this recipe to match the bold flavor that the capers deliver.
Don’t overcook the fish! This seems like a no-brainer, but sometimes I think people get really stuck on following a recipe to the T and forget to use their judgment. Everyone’s oven cooks differently. Everyone’s fish fillet may be of a different shape or thickness. Everyone’s baking dish heats up differently. Use your judgment when it comes to baking time here. As soon as the fish starts to flake easily, it’s done!
I used haddock. And followed the recipe just as instructed (I had all 8 ingredients for a change), and used the spaghetti option as the accompaniment. Followed the tip and emptied the juices from the bottom of the baking dish into the drained spaghetti, gently mixed through the fish, and it was to die for!!!! So easy. Thank you!
Yessssss! Love to hear it, Richard! Those juices from the baked fish are like liquid gold!!
Easy, delicious, and savory.
I used Mahi instead of the cod, and fresh parsley instead of cilantro.
Outstanding , and tasted like a 5-star restaurant meal!
This will be a go-to on nights I want fish but don’t have a ton of time!
Woohoo! I love to hear that, Lauri! So glad you enjoyed this recipe and thanks so much for leaving a review. I really appreciate it 🙂
Kylie, I would like to make the side dish pictured – looks like Israeli couscous with cherry tomatoes, zucchini and asparagus perhaps? Would you share?
Thanks,
Karen
It is a Greek couscous salad. Here is a similar recipe – you could just use Israeli couscous instead of the orzo pasta. Great question, Karen. Thanks for reaching out! https://midwestfoodieblog.com/easy-20-minute-greek-orzo-salad/
Simple and easy fish! Comes together quickly and d packs a big punch. Loved it!
I’m so glad that you enjoyed this recipe, Alyss! Thanks for leaving a review – I really appreciate it 🙂
Made this with trout and it was wonderful! Cooked for 15 minutes which was just right. Served with Trader Joe Frozen brown rice and grillled asparagus. YUMM
This was so good! I used sea bass and the spices were perfect. We’re adding this to the rotation!
I have made this twice. First time did not have capers, hubby loved it! Tonight had capers, hubby LOVED it! He is a huge fish eater, me..not so much. I have to say this is delicious, I loved it as well!’
I will be making this dish often. Excited to share with guests!!
Capers make EVERYTHING better! 🙂 I’m so glad that you enjoyed this recipe. Thanks for leaving a review – I really appreciate it!