Mediterranean Baked Fish with Tomatoes, Olives, and Herbs

This healthy Mediterranean baked fish dinner takes just 20 minutes from start to finish and uses only eight simple ingredients. It’s fresh, flavorful, and easy enough for a weeknight meal—perfect for families who want a quick, healthy dinner everyone will enjoy.

Instructions

This recipe features Wild Alaskan Pacific cod, a mild white fish that pairs beautifully with bright Mediterranean flavors.

Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the cod in a shallow baking dish. Combine the olive oil and melted butter, then pour the mixture evenly over the fillets.

Season the fish with ground coriander, paprika, salt, and fresh cracked pepper. Top with lemon zest, lemon slices, thinly sliced garlic, and capers.

Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until the thickest part of the fish flakes easily with a fork. Remove from the oven and finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a sprinkle of chopped cilantro before serving.

Fish to Use

• Cod
• Haddock
• Striped bass
• Mahi mahi
• Grouper

You’ll Love This

• Only eight ingredients. The short ingredient list highlights fresh Mediterranean staples—olive oil, lemon, and capers—that enhance the mild flavor of white fish without overpowering it.
• Fast cook time. With just about 15 minutes in the oven and a few minutes to prep, this dish comes together quickly for a healthy, satisfying meal any night of the week.
• Distinctive flavor. This isn’t a plain baked fish—bright citrus, briny capers, and warm spices give it a Mediterranean character that feels special but is still easy to make at home.

Tips

• Use butter with olive oil. The combination of melted butter and olive oil creates a rich, silky poaching liquid for the fish. If you must, you can use olive oil alone, but the butter adds a more decadent texture and flavor.
• Olives can replace capers. If you don’t have capers, chopped green olives make a good substitute—use a bit more to match the briny intensity capers provide.
• Avoid overcooking. Oven temperatures and fillet thickness vary, so watch your fish closely. It’s done as soon as it flakes easily with a fork; remove it promptly to retain moist, tender flakes.

Serve With

• Spaghetti: Cook until al dente, then toss the pasta with the buttery olive oil, lemon, and caper juices left in the baking dish. Nestle the baked cod on top for a simple pasta-and-fish plate.
• Greek potato wedges: For a Mediterranean take on fish and chips, crispy oven-roasted potato wedges with tzatziki pair beautifully with this tender, flaky fish.

Try these easy seafood recipes next!