If you love fish, you probably already have a few favourite recipes – those ‘go-to’ dishes you instantly think of when you get a craving for some seafood. But fish is an incredibly versatile ingredient, and there are many ways you can eat it; from adding it to pasta and pies to using it in stews, curries, and tagines.
If you’re looking for new fish recipes, look no further. We’ve picked nine of the most delicious fish dishes to get you inspired.
1. Fish tacos
If you’re looking for a healthy fish recipe that feels like a real treat, why not make fish tacos? Though they look impressive, fish tacos are actually pretty simple to cook.
The key to great fish tacos lies in the marinade, and part of the fun is choosing which toppings you want to add. While salmon and shrimp work well, flaky white fish is generally best in tacos. You can use whichever white fish you like, just make sure it’s super fresh.
To ensure your tacos are packed with flavour, you need to marinate your fish properly. Key ingredients include lime juice, olive oil, salt and pepper, though you can add paprika, chilli, cumin, cayenne, chipotle, or any other spices you like – just make sure the fish doesn’t marinate for more than 20 minutes, or the lime juice will ‘cook’ the fish. Then, fry or bake your fish, and add your toppings. This recipe by Delish tops the fish with fresh cabbage slaw, avocado, sour cream, and lime.
To see how to make perfect fish tacos, have a watch of Jamie Oliver’s video below.
2. Bouillabaisse
If you’re a fan of French food, there’s a good chance you’ll love bouillabaisse. This classic French stew originated in Marseille, when local fishermen cooked up whatever fish they couldn’t sell to markets or restaurants. While traditionally bony rockfish was used, these days you can use whatever fish and seafood you like – it just needs to be very fresh, and ideally as sustainable as possible.
Sea bass, red mullet, haddock, and halibut are all frequently used, and mussels, squid, and crab are often added. The distinctive orange colour of bouillabaisse comes from saffron (and tomatoes), and garlic, fennel, orange zest, and white wine ensure the broth tastes just as good as the fish itself. Why not try making Mary Berry’s bouillabaisse, which contains sea bass, cod, mussels, and crayfish?
To learn more about making an authentic bouillabaisse, you can watch a French chef prepare the classic dish below.
3. Moroccan fish tagine
Another delicious and healthy fish recipe is Moroccan fish tagine. Packed with aromatic flavours and colourful veg, it might look fancy but it’s actually pretty easy to make, and is a great way to impress guests.
Traditionally, the fish and vegetables are cooked in a tagine – the cone-shaped pot which gives these dishes their names – but you can just as easily use a pot. Any firm, thick fish works for this recipe, though eel, swordfish and dorado are most typically used.
First, you need to make the chermoula, which is a Moroccan marinade made from paprika, garlic, ginger, cumin, cayenne, saffron, and oil (you can buy this from some supermarkets), and the fish needs to marinate for at least two hours or overnight. Vegetables including peppers, potatoes, onions, and tomatoes provide extra vitamins, and Moroccan flatbread or couscous is the perfect way to soak up the juices.
If you have a tagine, why not make this fish tagine by Deliciously Mediterranean? Or, if you’re cooking on a stove, try this recipe from The Spruce Eats. For more guidance, have a watch of the video below.
4. Fish pie
If you’re in the mood for some warming comfort food, then fish pie is surely the first recipe that comes to mind. This dish may be beige, but it’s definitely not boring – and aside from being delicious, fish pie is actually surprisingly adaptable. You can use salmon, haddock, cod, or pollock; you can add anything from mackerel to mussels; and the topping can be made from mashed potato or flaky puff pastry.
The only ‘rules’ for fish pie are that it contains fish and has a creamy, savoury sauce running through it. For a classic recipe, you might want to make Rick Stein’s fish pie, which combines cod and smoked haddock with a fluffy potato and parsley topping.
Or, for a healthier twist on the classic recipe, why not make Jamie Oliver’s fish pie, which has a crispy root vegetable topping instead of mashed potato? This doesn’t only add colour, it also provides extra nutrients.
To find out more about making the perfect fish pie, have a watch of the video below.
5. Ceviche
If you’re in the mood for a light, fresh fish dish that’s packed with flavour, you can’t go wrong with ceviche. Though it originated in Peru, ceviche is eaten all throughout Latin America, and in more recent years it’s become a popular dish in many top restaurants.
Aside from being delicious, ceviche is arguably the healthiest fish recipe around; the fish is ‘cooked’ in a marinade of lime juice, chillies, sliced onion, salt, and pepper. Locally, the marinade is called leche de tigre, or tiger’s milk.
There are many ways to prepare ceviche, but most white fish can be used. Red snapper or sea bass are common, but whatever fish you use, it’s vital to ensure it’s high-quality and really fresh. While the fish ‘cooks’ in the lime juice, it’s essentially still raw, so check with your fishmonger if you’re not sure. The limes in South America aren’t as sour as they are here, so you might want to add a squeeze of orange for balance. After the fish has marinated for five minutes, add olive oil, fresh herbs, and salt and eat immediately!
To find out more about making ceviche, have a read of The Guardian’s guide to perfect ceviche, or follow this recipe from RecipeTin Eats. Alternatively, have a watch of the video below.
6. Seafood pasta
Seafood pasta is one of those dishes many of us enjoy on holiday, but never really cook at home. But there’s no reason why you can’t conjure up those summery, holiday flavours from the comfort of your own kitchen. Aside from being delicious, seafood pasta feels like a real treat – yet because it’s so quick and simple to make, it’s the perfect weeknight dinner when you’re in the mood for something a bit more indulgent.
Seafood pasta is incredibly versatile – you can use mussels, prawns, clams, calamari, anchovies, crab – though spaghetti or linguine is almost always the pasta of choice. What makes seafood pasta so delicious often tends to be the sauce; while there are many different types, garlic, white wine, lemon, butter, and parsley usually make an appearance, and when combined with the salty, fishy seafood flavours, it becomes the perfect savoury sauce.
Why not try this creamy garlic seafood pasta by Simply Delicious, which uses prawns, calamari, squid heads, and mussels? Or alternatively, you might want to make Jamie Oliver’s spaghetti vongole, a Venetian clam dish that’s become an Italian classic?
For more inspiration, you can watch Jamie in action in the video below.
7. Salmon fish cakes
Salmon is a fish that people often get stuck in a rut with. Many people tend to find one recipe they like and stick with it, and for salmon, that tends to be roasted salmon fillet (with a side of veg). While this is a healthy recipe, there are many other ways to eat salmon – and one of the most delicious is to make your own salmon fish cakes. Combining salmon with creamy mashed potato is the perfect pairing, and while it feels indulgent, fish cakes can actually be very healthy.
Tinned red salmon works really well in fish cakes, so there’s no need to buy fresh salmon and then cook it. Simply add the drained salmon to a bowl of mashed potato, then add some herbs (parsley and chives are ideal), eggs and any other ingredients you fancy; capers, mayonnaise, gherkins, and anchovies are all popular. Then, form into cakes, dust in flour, and fry until crisp.
You might want to make Jamie Oliver’s pea and salmon fishcakes, which are ready in just 20 minutes. Or for something a little fancier, why not try Delia’s salmon fishcakes recipe?
Have a watch of the video below to get inspired.
8. Fish curry
Good news for curry fans: the salty flavour of fish goes perfectly with the aromatic spices of curries. You can use all kinds of seafood in curries, and whether you want to make fiery Caribbean curries, fragrant Thai curries or spicy Indian curries is up to you and your taste buds.
A great recipe that combines British and Indian flavours is kedgeree, where smoked haddock is paired with boiled egg and rice, making a quick and tasty weeknight dinner.
One of the most delicious fish curries around is Goan fish curry. With an aromatic tomato and coconut sauce, this dish evokes the sun, sea and sand of Southern India – and while you need a decent amount of spices on hand, it all comes together quickly once you start cooking. This Goan fish curry recipe by RecipeTin Eats suggests using firm-fleshed white fish like snapper, cod, or halibut, and serving the curry with basmati rice. While the flavours are complex, it only takes 20 minutes to make!
To find out more about making the perfect fish curry, have a watch of the video below.
9. Homemade fish and chips
And finally, there’s the great British classic: fish and chips. With so many excellent fish and chip shops in the UK, making your own from scratch might seem a bit pointless – but there’s something really satisfying about tucking into a steaming plate of fish and chips that you’ve made yourself. Plus, while traditional fish and chips are delicious, due to the high oil content, it’s a dish that’s usually not considered healthy. So, making your own is a great way to give it a lighter, healthier twist.
To make a healthier version of fish and chips, why not try this recipe from BBC Good Food, which uses skinless hake? Or, if you want to keep things classic, you might want to try Jamie Oliver’s fish and chips recipe, where old-school battered fish is paired with chunky chips and comforting mushy peas.
For something really indulgent, you might want to emulate Tony Fleming, one of the country’s top fish and seafood chefs, and make beer-battered fish and chips with marrowfat mushy peas.
For more on making the perfect fish and chips, check out the video below.
Final thoughts…
As this article hopefully shows, fish is enormously versatile, and whatever type of cuisine you like, you’re sure to find a fish recipe to suit you. From fragrant curries to flaky fish cakes, and colourful tacos to refreshing ceviche, some of the best fish dishes aren’t just delicious and healthy. They’re also really quick to prepare, which makes them perfect for midweek meals as well as leisurely dinners with friends.
The key to most fish recipes is to ensure you’re buying high-quality fresh fish – and it’s also a good idea to buy sustainable fish whenever you can.
Are you tempted to make any of these fish dishes? Or do you have any of your own favourite fish recipes you’d like to share with our readers? We’d love to hear about your culinary adventures in the comments below.