23 Must-Try Fish Dinners

Updated March 29, 2017
Credit: Justin Walker

Oh, the reasons to choose fish. It's lower in saturated fat, usually higher in healthy fat, has a shorter cook time, and you can buy just the right amount. And let's just be real, we could all use a break from chicken. Whether you prefer salmon, cod, halibut, or catfish, there's a recipe for a gorgeous, fresh fish dinner that fits your taste. We're loving the ease and bright flavors of these healthful dishes. 

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Roasted Salmon with Kale-Quinoa Salad

Credit: Colin Price; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Roasted Salmon with Kale-Quinoa Salad Recipe

Wild salmon served over a simple, filling kale salad with grapes. The salmon is seasoned with everything that it needs: salt, pepper, and olive oil.

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Seared Cod with Bacon, Braised Fennel, and Kale

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Seared Cod with Bacon, Braised Fennel, and Kale Recipe

Sear the cod fillets in the bacon drippings to form a delicious crust and soak in flavor. You could also use grouper or snapper in this recipe.

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Tortilla-Crusted Tilapia with Citrus Slaw and Chipotle Tartar Sauce

Credit: Steven DeVries; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Tortilla-Crusted Tilapia with Citrus Slaw and Chipotle Tartar Sauce Recipe

Bread tilapia fillets in a mixture that includes tortilla chips and cumin and coriander. Serve the warm crispy fish alongside orangey slaw.

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Seared Grouper with Black-Eyed Pea Relish

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Seared Grouper with Black-Eyed Pea Relish Recipe

This black-eyed pea relish is paired with grouper, here, but you may use halibut or cod. Make the relish a few days in advance, it only gets better as it sits.

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Sautéed Snapper with Curried Greens

Credit: Greg DuPree; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Sautéed Snapper with Curried Greens Recipe

Braised greens aren’t just for Southern soul food, they make a perfect bed for simply seared snapper, tilapia, or any mild, firm white fish. You'll love the way these greens become wonderfully silky and aromatic when stirred into a fragrant broth of coconut milk, curry powder, garlic, and fresh ginger.

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Sea Bass with Citrus Salsa

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clark

Sea Bass with Citrus Salsa Recipe

This recipe gives you dinner party elegance in a 20-minute dish. We rely on sea bass, a tender, mild-flavored fish with a lovely buttery quality. Grapefruit, orange, cilantro, and lime juice make up this tangy topping.

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Cod with Shiitake-Bacon Crust and Arugula Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Cod with Shiitake-Bacon Crust and Arugula Salad Recipe

Shiitake mushrooms have a bolder flavor than most mushrooms, with an almost smoky quality that amplifies the flavor of the bacon. It's not likely that you've had a breading like this one!

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Grilled Tuna Over Green Bean, Tomato, and Chickpea Salad

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Caroline Cunningham

Grilled Tuna Over Green Bean, Tomato, and Chickpea Salad Recipe

This easy meal is high in protein, making is super satisfying. The green beans, chickpeas, tomatoes, walnuts, olives, and Parmesan make a delicious bed for sliced tuna steaks.

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Salmon with Potatoes and Horseradish Sauce

Credit: Romulo Yanes; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen

Salmon with Potatoes and Horseradish Sauce Recipe

You can't go wrong when you start with salmon and a sour cream sauce, especially if the sauce is flavored with dill and horseradish. Fill out the plate with a side of steamed green beans.

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Seared Tuna with Shaved Vegetable Salad

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanches; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Seared Tuna with Shaved Vegetable Salad Recipe

Shaving raw root veggies into a side-dish salad is a fantastic approach. They're ready in just a few minutes, their earthy flavors stay vibrant, and a simple vinaigrette tenderizes them while retaining some crunch. This fresh, simple dish is ready in minutes.

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Cod with Herbed Pea Relish

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Cod with Herbed Pea Relish Recipe

Frozen green peas help make this dish. Oregano, capers, lime juice, and red pepper bring flavor to the topping.

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Almond-Crusted Trout with Dill

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Almond-Crusted Trout with Dill Recipe

Trout gets an extra-crispy crust from the almonds. You could sub flounder for the trout and pecans or walnuts for the almonds. The delicate nut crust gives a welcome crunch to the tender trout.

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Cod with Fennel and Fingerling Potatoes

Credit: Greg Dupree

Cod with Fennel and Fingerling Potatoes Recipe

Fingerling potatoes add some satisfying heft to a light dish of fish and veggies in a clean broth. We like the color contrast the purple potatoes lend, but any fingerlings you have will be fine. Use your most flavorful olive oil in this dish—it makes the sauce richer.

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Pan-Seared Tilapia with Sweet Pea Puree

Credit: Jennifer Causey Styling: Lindsey Lower

Pan-Seared Tilapia with Sweet Pea Puree Recipe

This lightly sweet, herby puree radiates with spring flavor and color.

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Roasted Halibut with Tahini Sauce

Credit: Annabelle Breakey

Roasted Halibut with Tahini Sauce Recipe

This fish gets its Middle Eastern tang from zaatar, a spice blend, and its sesame-rich sauce. A fine side dish: oven-roasted diced potatoes (start them before the fish) tossed with parsley and olive oil.

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Pan-Seared Grouper with Balsamic Brown Butter Sauce

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Pan-Seared Grouper with Balsamic Brown Butter Sauce Recipe

This is the secret to restaurant-quality fish. The magic happens on the bottom of the pan where the fish forms an even, crisp crust. The sauce seals the deal.

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Grilled Tilapia with Smoked Paprika and Parmesan Polenta

Credit: Oxmoor House

Grilled Tilapia with Smoked Paprika and Parmesan Polenta Recipe

Discover the wonders of smoked paprika with this easy and economical fish dinner. Creamy polenta complements the full-flavored fish.

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Seared Tuna with Eggplant and Edamame

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Seared Tuna with Eggplant and Edamame Recipe

Eggplant is the real star here, with its meaty texture and savory notes that match those of the tuna. Soy sauce and sesame oil deepen the effect, and edamame offers delightful chew.

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Pan-Roasted Grouper with Provençale Vegetables

Credit: Jim Bathie; Jan Gautro

Pan-Roasted Grouper with Provençale Vegetables Recipe

Use a broiler pan for both components of this recipe. The fennel-tomato mixture cooks in the bottom of the pan, helping to steam the fish on the rack above.

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Mackerel with Herb Salad

Credit: Marcus Nilsson; Styling: Victoria Granof

Mackerel with Herb Salad Recipe

Brining the fish in water with salt and sugar heightens its natural flavor, but it also provides a little added insurance that the fish will remain moist, even if it's slightly overcooked. Mackerel has a firm texture and full-bodied flavor, making it a perfect candidate for the grill.

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Cornmeal-Crusted Catfish

Cornmeal-Crusted Catfish Recipe

Farmed catfish is an inexpensive, sustainable option. This recipe is also kid-friendly!

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Halibut with Balsamic Cherry Tomatoes

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Halibut with Balsamic Cherry Tomatoes Recipe

For a more budget-friendly option, try substituting a similarly textured fish, such as cod, for the halibut fillets.

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Grilled Trout with Cherry Compote

Credit: Justin Walker

Grilled Trout with Cherry Compote Recipe

This recipe may look intimidating, but if you can't find whole trout, use fillets; they'll only need to grill for about 4 minutes. You can also use 20 ounces frozen, thawed cherries: Use the liquid (don't drain them); simmer in step 1 until the liquid almost fully evaporates before stirring in the port and honey.

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