QUICK SUMMARY: Over 45 fish and seafood recipes developed across 20 years of cooking at HeathGlen Organic Farm. Quick weeknight dinners, Southern fried fish (without the frying), Mexican-inspired seafood from my trips to Oaxaca, scallop recipes for every occasion, and a full section on holiday entertaining for anyone planning a fish-forward Christmas Eve or New Year’s dinner. Organized by style so you can find what you need.
Jump to: Quick Weeknight Dinners | Southern-Style | Mexican & Latin | Soups & Stews | Scallops | Salmon | Holiday & Entertaining | Cooking Guides | FAQ
Fish became the center of my cooking somewhere around 2015, when I shifted from a strict slow carb diet toward what I’d describe as Pesco Mediterranean eating: lots of fish, vegetables, legumes, olive oil, and good vinegar. It wasn’t a conscious decision so much as a natural drift toward what i like to eat and what made me feel best.
At HeathGlen Organic Farm, I grow many herbs that pair well with seafood, and I dry and sell several fish-forward spice blends at the St. Paul Farmers Market. I talk to people every Saturday about cooking and growing food, and when it comes to fish, people want to eat more of it but don’t feel confident cooking it.
The spice blends help with creativity, but a well-written, time-tested recipe is what my customers really appreciate.
This collection of tested recipes is organized the way I actually think about fish: by what kind of meal you’re making. A Tuesday night dinner calls for something different than a Christmas Eve spread. Whether you’re looking for a 20-minute salmon, a slow-simmered cioppino, or a full seafood platter for a holiday party, it’s here.
Quick Weeknight Fish Dinners
These recipes take 30 minutes or less and use simple techniques. Most need nothing more than a hot skillet, a sheet pan, or an indoor grill.
- Red Snapper with Sour Cream Dill Sauce: My go-to sautéed fish dinner. Crispy skin, tangy dill sauce, ready in 15 minutes. Includes tips on five different methods for cooking white fish fillets.
- Italian Flat Beans and tomatoes as side for Cod: Wide, flat Romano beans slow-cooked with smashed cherry tomatoes and caramelized onions, topped with flaky cod. One of the most popular recipes on this site and a perfect one-pan dinner.
- Cod Veracruz: Mexican Fish with Olives, Capers and Tomatoes: A bright, briny skillet dinner with Mexican flavors. Slow carb compliant.
- Harissa Baked Salmon: Sheet pan salmon with North African spice paste. Twenty minutes, one pan, done.
- Sesame-Crusted Baked Salmon with Sautéed Bok Choy: An Asian-inspired sheet pan dinner with a crispy sesame crust.
- Pan-Fried Mahi Mahi with 10-Minute Plum Sauce: A quick fruit sauce that balances the mild fish beautifully.
- Roasted Salmon with Savory Rhubarb Ginger Sauce: An unexpected spring pairing that works surprisingly well.
- Low-Carb Almond Crusted Cod with Dijon Mustard: A nut-based breading that keeps it slow carb compliant while delivering crunch.
- Nut Crusted Fish Fillets with Sour Cream Sauce: Another nut-breaded option with a creamy sauce.
- Low Carb Breaded Fish Topped with Jicama-Tomatillo Slaw: Light, crunchy, and Mexican-inspired.
- Spanish Cod al Pil Pil (Garlic Emulsion Sauce): A traditional Basque technique where the cod creates its own silky garlic sauce. Simple and elegant.
Southern-Style Fish
My Louisiana roots (my mom was from Shreveport, and I was born in Alabama) show up in how I cook fish. These recipes bring a Southern technique to the table, but I will often modify the recipes to be slow carb, or a little healthier.
- Oven-Baked Cornmeal Fish: Crispy Without Frying: The most popular fish recipe on this site. Seasoned cornmeal coating baked until crispy, no frying required. Includes two homemade seasoning blends: smoky chipotle and chile-lime tajin.
- Baked Fish Cakes with Southern Comeback Sauce: Flaky fish cakes with a classic Mississippi-style dipping sauce.
- Spicy Fish Cakes with Frozen White Fish and Panko: A different take on fish cakes using frozen fish and a crispier coating.
- Hush Puppy Dipping Sauces (Plus the Best Hush Puppy Recipe): Three sauces for the classic Southern side.
- Slow Carb Breading Mix for Fried Fish and Vegetables: A low carb alternative to traditional breading.
- Louisiana Seafood Gumbo with Okra: No roux, no filé powder needed. A simpler approach to gumbo that still delivers deep flavor.
- Spicy Jambalaya with Jerk Seasoning: A low carb version with Caribbean-inspired spice.
- Fried Green Tomatoes with Crab Remoulade: Where the tomato garden meets the fish kitchen. The best green tomato varieties for frying, topped with a crab and remoulade combination.
Mexican and Latin-Inspired Seafood
My cooking classes in Oaxaca and years of cooking Mexican food at home with my daughter’s Mexican foster teen inform these recipes. Many pair well with the chile spice blends I sell at the St. Paul Farmers Market.
- Mexican Scallop Ceviche with Charred Habanero and Sour Orange (Oaxaca Style): The Oaxacan technique of blending charred habanero into the curing liquid adds smoky heat that transforms this ceviche.
- Fish Tacos with Pickled Red Onions and Avocado Cream (Baja Style): Baja-style fish tacos with quick pickled onions and a creamy avocado sauce.
- Mexican Spiced Salmon with Chipotle Rub (Indoor Grill): Salmon rubbed with chipotle seasoning and grilled on an indoor griddler. Quick and smoky.
- Baked Salmon with Mayonnaise and Salsa Macha: A protective mayo coating keeps the salmon moist while the salsa macha adds chile oil heat.
- Mexican Tuna Salad: Ensalada de Atún: A bright, lime-forward Mexican tuna salad that’s nothing like the American mayo version.
- Mexican Fish Stew (Sopa de Pescado): A tomato-based fish stew with Mexican chiles and spices.
- Cod Veracruz: Mexican Fish with Olives, Capers and Tomatoes: Also listed under weeknight dinners. The Mexican version of a Mediterranean flavor profile.
- Shrimp in Pumpkins: Camarão na Moranga: A Brazilian-inspired dish of shrimp in a creamy sauce served inside a roasted pumpkin. Stunning for fall entertaining.
Soups, Stews and One-Pot Seafood
These are the recipes I turn to in cooler months or when I want to feed a crowd from one pot. Several are ideal for holiday entertaining.
- Cioppino vs Bouillabaisse: What’s the Difference (and How to Make Both): One of the strongest posts on the site. A side-by-side comparison of these two classic fish stews with recipes for each.
- Easy French Bouillabaisse with Fennel and Orange Zest: A more accessible version of the Provençal classic with fennel and citrus.
- Christmas Eve Oyster Stew: A simple, traditional oyster stew for Christmas Eve. Low carb.
- Louisiana Seafood Gumbo with Okra: Also listed under Southern. A simplified gumbo that skips the roux without losing the flavor.
- Seafood Corn Chowder (Without Shellfish): A creamy chowder that works for people who can’t eat shellfish.
- Mexican Fish Stew (Sopa de Pescado): Also listed under Mexican. A warming, chile-forward fish stew.
- Mussels in Coconut Curry Broth: A Thai-inspired one-pot mussel dish with coconut milk and curry.
Scallop Recipes
Scallops are one of my favorite proteins because they cook in about two minutes and taste luxurious. Here are six different ways to prepare them.
- Fennel Seared Scallops on a Bed of Creamed Spinach: Fennel-crusted scallops over a rich spinach base. Low carb and elegant.
- Grilled Scallops over Cheese Polenta with Tomato Jam: Scallops on creamy polenta, drizzled with sweet-savory tomato jam from the farm.
- Pan Seared Scallops in Grapefruit Butter Sauce: A citrus butter sauce that brightens the scallops without overwhelming them.
- Seared Scallops with Lemon Caper Orzo: Scallops over lemony pasta with briny capers.
- Restaurant-Style Spanish Creamed Spinach with Seared Scallops: A Spanish take on creamed spinach inspired by a restaurant in Andalucía.
- Mexican Scallop Ceviche with Charred Habanero (Oaxaca Style): Also listed under Mexican. Raw scallops cured in citrus with smoky habanero heat.
Salmon Recipes
Salmon is forgiving, widely available, and takes well to bold seasonings. These recipes range from 20-minute weeknight dinners to quick and easy grilled options for summer.
- Harissa Baked Salmon: Sheet pan, 20 minutes, North African spice.
- Mexican Spiced Salmon with Chipotle Rub: Indoor grilled with smoky Mexican seasoning.
- Baked Salmon with Mayonnaise and Salsa Macha: Mayo-coated for moisture, salsa macha for heat.
- Sesame-Crusted Baked Salmon with Sautéed Bok Choy: Asian-inspired with a crispy sesame coating.
- Roasted Salmon with Savory Rhubarb Ginger Sauce: A spring recipe with an unexpected fruit sauce.
- Salmon Kebabs with Lemon Herb Marinade (Indoor Grill): Cubed salmon on skewers with a bright herb marinade.
Holiday Entertaining and Seafood for a Crowd
Planning a fish-forward holiday dinner? These recipes are excellent for Christmas Eve, New Year’s, or any gathering where you want to serve something impressive.
- How to Build a Seafood Platter: Three Approaches from Simple to Showstopper: The complete guide to assembling a seafood platter at three budget levels.
- Seafood Boil Timing Chart: How Much to Buy, Cook Times, and Party Tips: Everything you need to plan a seafood boil for a group. Includes a timing chart and quantity guide.
- Christmas Eve Oyster Stew: Simple, traditional, and low carb. A Christmas Eve classic.
- Cioppino vs Bouillabaisse: Either stew works beautifully as a Christmas Eve or New Year’s centerpiece. One pot, feeds a crowd, prep-ahead friendly.
- Traditional Spanish Seafood Paella (Paella de Mariscos): A showpiece rice dish for entertaining. Takes time but rewards the effort.
- Best Gifts for Seafood Lovers: Gift ideas for the fish lover in your life, organized by budget.
Cooking Guides and Tips
- How to Cook Fish: 5 Methods for Perfect Fillets Every Time: Sautéing, roasting, grilling, poaching, and steaming explained with timing and temperatures.
- Pesco Mediterranean Diet: Food List, Meal Plan Ideas, and Recipes: What the Pesco Mediterranean eating style looks like in practice, with meal plan ideas and links to recipes.
- A Guide to Spanish Rice Dishes: Paella and Beyond: Spanish rice traditions from paella to arroz negro.
- Slow-Carb Sushi Rolls with Cauliflower Rice: How to make sushi compliant with a slow carb lifestyle.
FAQ:
Cod, tilapia, and mahi mahi are the most forgiving. They have mild flavor, firm texture, and work with almost any cooking method. Start with a simple sauté or sheet pan roast.
Fish is done when the flesh is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. If you have a digital thermometer, pull it at 118°F and let it rest to 120°F. Overcooked fish is rubbery, so err on the side of less time.
For elegance: scallops or red snapper. For feeding a crowd: cioppino, bouillabaisse, or a seafood boil. For simplicity: a baked salmon with a bold seasoning rub. For tradition: oyster stew on Christmas Eve.
Fish and seafood are naturally low carb and fully slow carb compliant. The carb count depends on what you serve with it and how you bread or sauce it. Many of the recipes in this collection are marked as slow carb friendly. For the full slow carb food list, see the slow carb diet allowed foods list. [LINK to Allowed Foods post]
Plan for 6 ounces of boneless fillets per person for a main course, or 4 ounces for lighter appetites or if you’re serving multiple courses. For a seafood boil, see the timing chart post for detailed quantity planning. [LINK to seafood boil post]
Yes, and in many cases frozen fish is fresher than what’s sold as “fresh” at the grocery store because it’s flash-frozen at sea within hours of catching. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and pat completely dry before cooking.
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