Fast Fish Dinner with Herbed Browned Butter
Fast Fish Dinner with Herbed Browned Butter is a perfect solution for busy families who need dinner on the table fast!
Fast Fish Dinner with Herbed Browned Butter Recipe
So let’s jump right into this recipe. This recipe for Fast Fish Dinner with Herbed Browned Butter is for thin fish fillets like flounder, sole, or tilapia. Anything that is less than 1 inch thick will do. That’s why it cooks up so fast.
This recipe for Fast Fish Dinner with Herbed Browned Butter is a simple yet very tasty one that’s perfect for frozen thin fish fillets. Just thaw them out if needed in some warm water, discard the packaging and pat them dry so they can be lightly breaded with salt, pepper and flour. I lay my breaded fish out in a single layer on a baking sheet while I heat the cooking oil in a 12 inch non-stick frying pan.
Lay one batch of fish fillets in a single layer in the pan and leave them alone for 2 to 3 minutes. You don’t need to fuss with them. You want a nice golden brown sear to form underneath.
Flipping can be tricky because the fish is thin and can easily fall apart, but If you use the two spatula method it’s a piece of cake! Using a second spatula to steady the fillet and almost “catch” it when it’s flipped over will keep the fish from falling apart.
Pan Frying Anything is a Great Choice for a fast weeknight meal.
Look at that beautiful color; which also means beautiful flavor! After cooking through the first batch of fish, wipe out the pan and add a little more oil to cook the second batch. Once the second batch is removed, dont’ wipe out the pan. Just throw in your butter and whisk it constantly until it starts to turn brown and has a kind of ‘nutty’ aroma. I like to keep a glass measuring cup handy by the stove and pour a little of the melted butter into it to see if it’s sufficiently browned. It can be a little hard to see the proper color because of the dark non-stick coating in the pan.
Once it’s been browned, remove it from the heat and stir in some lemon juice and one of the following: minced fresh sage, thyme or parsley. Drizzle it over the fish and serve. Give yourself an A+ for being a great parent and cooking up a healthy and fast delicious dinner!
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Fast Fish Dinner with Herbed Browned Butter
- Total Time: 17 minutes
- Yield: 8 fish fillets (4-5 servings) 1x
Description
Fast Fish Dinner with Herbed Browned Butter is just what you need to get a healthy and delicious dinner on the table for your family in less than 20 minutes!
Ingredients
1/2 cup flour
8 boneless, skinless flounder fillets
1/2 teaspoon sat
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 and 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme (1/2 teaspoon dried)
Instructions
Thaw fish if necessary and blot dry with paper towels. Combine salt and pepper in a small bowl and sprinkle it on both sides of each fish fillet. Lightly dredge the fillets in flour, shaking or patting off the excess, and set the fish on a baking sheet or cutting board in a single layer.
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 12 inch non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Swirl the oil around the pan to coat the bottom as much as possible. Gently lay half the fillets in a single layer into the pan and let them cook (without moving them) for 2 to 3 minutes so the bottom can brown.
Flip each fillet over with two spatulas, one underneath and one to catch the topside when gently flipped over. This method helps keep the fish from falling apart. Cook for 1 minute on the other side, then remove the fish fillets to a clean plate or platter and tent with foil. Wipe out the skillet and repeat with the remaining fish fillets.
When the second batch of fish is done, do not wipe out the skillet. Add the butter and whisk constantly until the butter melts. Continue to whisk until the butter turns a slight brown and has a nutty smell/aroma, another 2 or 3 minutes. (The browning happens quickly, so keep a close eye on it.) Off heat, stir in the lemon juice and thyme. Season will a pinch of salt and pepper and pour over the fish fillets and serve.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Lunch or dinner
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fillet
- Calories: 267
- Sodium: 348 mg
- Fat: 8.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 2.6 g
- Protein: 40.4 g
- Cholesterol: 118 mg
can sardines be used in this recipe?
Hi Lex!
Probably yes. Although, they are so tiny they will definitely cook much more quickly than what is written in the recipe so be ready to quickly flip/remove them when they are done.
Thank you, will take note if that!