Description
Lemon Cream Baked Fish comes together faster than your favorite weeknight dinner, delivering restaurant-quality flavor straight from your kitchen. Tender fish fillets swim in a zesty, creamy sauce that makes your taste buds dance with pure delight.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 6-ounce skinless white fish fillets (cod, halibut, or sea bass)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup dry white wine (Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio)
Seasoning and Aromatics:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
Garnish and Finishing:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- Optional: 1 pinch red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 375F. Brush a 9×13 inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Thoroughly dry 4 (6-ounce) fish fillets with paper towels. Season each fillet with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
- Arrange the seasoned fish fillets in a single layer inside the prepared baking dish.
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add 2 minced garlic cloves and cook for exactly 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour ¼ cup white wine into the pan. Let it simmer for 2 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Add the juice and zest from 1 whole lemon to the wine mixture. Stir to combine.
- Pour 1 cup heavy cream into the saucepan. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens.
- Taste the cream sauce. Adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes if desired.
- Carefully pour the entire lemon cream sauce evenly over the fish fillets in the baking dish.
- Bake the fish at 375F for 12-15 minutes. Check that the fish flakes easily and reaches an internal temperature of 145F.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley over the top.
- Serve immediately with your favorite side dishes, offering extra lemon wedges at the table.
Notes
- Check fish freshness by ensuring it smells clean and oceanic, not fishy or sour.
- Select firm white fish like cod, halibut, or sea bass that holds its shape when baked.
- Use fresh lemon juice and zest for the brightest, most vibrant flavor in the cream sauce.
- Avoid overcooking the fish by monitoring internal temperature and checking for easy flaking with a fork.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 385 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 305 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg