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Saturday, September 14, 2013

Recipe: Oven-baked whole fish (barramundi) with lemon and dill

After posting my recipe for oven-baked "fried" chicken the other day, I got talking to a friend, and she asked how I could survive without deep frying food in the kitchen. She told me that her kids like deep fried fish very much, and asked how I usually cook fish for my kids. 

For the kids, I usually steam the fish and more recently, bake them in the oven. When the fish is very fresh, you can almost cook it naked, but of course, a little lemon and dill complements it well. I also like to squeeze some of the lemon juice at the stomach area to get rid of any "fishy" smells. 


Oven-baked barramundi (siakap) with lemon and dill

So ridiculously simple, but tastes so good. Cooking time will vary depending on the size of the fish, but you will know it is done if a skewer (or sharp knife) inserted in the thickest part goes all the way through. To serve, I made a simple dip using lightly browned garlic, cooking oil and soy sauce. The kids love this and all throughout dinnertime, they were asking for more :)

This will work with most types of whole fish, but I chose to use barramundi (siakap) as it is readily available in Malaysia and the flesh stays moist after oven-baking.


Healthy, simple and delicious


Moist flesh


Oven-baked barramundi (siakap) with lemon and dill
Recipe by Baby Sumo
Preparation time: 2-3 minutes
Cooking time: 25-28 minutes
Serves 4

Ingredients
800-900g siakap/ barramundi / sea perch
1 lemon, washed
3 stalks dill
1 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper

For the dip
3 cloves garlic
1 1/2 tbsp cooking oil
1 1/2 tbsp light soy sauce


1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Clean the fish thoroughly, rub some salt in the stomach area and rinse with water. Pat dry with kitchen towel.

2. Cut the lemon into half. Slice one half of the lemon into thin slices.

3. Line a baking tray with foil. Drizzle olive oil over fish, coating both sides well. Stuff the stomach area with the lemon slices and dill. Squeeze the juice of the remaining half all over the fish (including stomach area). Season with salt and pepper.



4. Place the fish in preheated oven and cook for 25-28 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the thickest part goes all the way through.

5. While fish is cooking, make the dip. Heat the oil in a wok/frying pan over medium high heat then add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until lightly browned. Remove, along with oil into a small bowl. Add the light soy sauce and mix.

6. Serve the fish hot with the soy sauce dip.



Do check out my recipe for oven-baked salmon trout done two ways - Asian and Western style.


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16 comments:

  1. Thanks this delicious fish dish. Ya fresh fish just cook in the simple way is goods.

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  2. If my daughter read this, sure she will said "Mummy, make it for me, plssssss.....". Your healthy dish looks delicious.

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  3. If my daughter read this, sure she will said "Mummy, make it for me, plssssss.....". Your healthy dish looks delicious.

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  4. Looks beautiful! I am sure it taste awesome too! I can imagine the soft moist flesh while the exterior is crispy.

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  5. Looks good & fresh not forgetting healthy too !

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  6. Yummy baked fish! Barramundi has always been seen in modern Australian's cuisine.

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  7. I always think deep frying is too messy - it makes my kitchen all greasy! Have you used an air fryer before, Yen?

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    1. Peggy, I considered getting an air-fryer before. But I think most of it comes with a small tray which can only cook up to 800g (don't think a whole fish can fit in there).

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  8. Such a simple and healthy dish. And most of all, no greasy and oily stove to clean up.

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  9. So much healthier than frying. Not to mention cleaning up the mess after frying. Thanks for sharing. :)

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  10. am a fan of baked and steamed too, for fish :D

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  11. ivy sew http://simplybeautifulhealthyliving.blogspot.comSeptember 15, 2013 at 5:00 PM

    Simple, healthy and yummy and fuss-free too:)

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  12. This is so fresh and yummy. I can also count my fingers the number of times I deep fried my food in my 20 over years of cooking for the family.

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  13. I love freshly baked fish. I can smell it all the way from here!

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  14. Yen, I love this very simple recipe. I have always wondered what is Barramundi and now I know it is siakap :)

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  15. but i noticed that lemon willl turn bitter if u roast it with d fish

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