Description
This Baked Fish with Cherry Tomatoes and Olives is a flavorful and aromatic dish featuring seasoned fish fillets seared to perfection, then baked together with a vibrant mix of cherry tomatoes, olives, garlic, and fresh herbs. The combination of paprika, Italian seasoning, Cajun spices, and fresh thyme and parsley creates a deliciously balanced meal that is both easy to prepare and impressive to serve.
Ingredients
Scale
Fish and Seasoning
- 1 Fish Fillet
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning (old bay or creole seasoning)
- ½ tsp Chilli flakes
- 1 tsp Fish seasoning (optional)
- ½ tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Black pepper
- 3 tbsp Cooking oil
Tomato and Olive Mix
- 2 cups Cherry tomatoes
- ¼ cup Olives
- 2 sprigs Parsley (fresh)
- 2 sprigs Thyme (fresh)
- 3 Garlic cloves (minced or diced)
- ½ tsp of the mixed seasoning reserved from fish mix
- 2 tbsp Water
- 3 tbsp Salted butter
- Pinch of Salt and Pepper
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400℉ (200℃) to prepare for baking the fish after searing.
- Prepare Seasoning Mix: Combine all the spices including paprika, Italian seasoning, Cajun seasoning, chili flakes, fish seasoning, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Reserve 1 teaspoon of this mixture for cooking the tomatoes later.
- Season the Fish: Rub both sides of the fish fillet thoroughly with the seasoning mix to ensure it’s well coated and flavorful.
- Sear the Fish: Heat cooking oil in a pan over medium heat. Sear the fish for about 1 minute on each side, aiming to achieve a charred appearance without cooking it fully through.
- Remove Fish: Once both sides are charred, remove the fish from the pan and set aside temporarily.
- Sauté Tomatoes and Olives: In the same pan on medium heat, add cherry tomatoes, olives, minced garlic, fresh parsley, thyme, reserved 1 tsp seasoning, water, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir continuously and sauté for about 3 minutes until the tomatoes begin to soften.
- Combine and Add Butter: Place the fish in the center of the pan on top of the tomato mixture, dot the fish with salted butter evenly.
- Bake: Transfer the oven-safe pan directly into the preheated oven. If your pan is not oven-safe, transfer everything to a baking sheet or oven-safe dish. Bake for 10 minutes at 400℉ until the fish is cooked through.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and serve immediately with your choice of sides for a warm, flavorful meal.
Notes
- Make sure the pan used for searing the fish is oven-safe before placing it in the oven to bake.
- If the pan is not oven-safe, transfer the fish and tomato mixture to a baking dish before baking.
- Adjust seasoning according to your taste preference, especially the chili flakes for spiciness.
- Fresh herbs add great aroma, but dried thyme or parsley can be used in a pinch.
- Serve this dish with rice, crusty bread, or roasted vegetables for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: baked fish, cherry tomatoes, olives, Mediterranean fish recipe, easy baked fish, garlic fish dish
