Cooking Haddock: Four Methods

To make a tasty and flavorful haddock dish, you will need to gather the following ingredients: 2 pounds (0.91 kg) of haddock filets, 3 tablespoons (44 mL) of melted butter, ¼ (.58 g) of black pepper, ⅓ teaspoon (2 g) of salt, 1⁄2 teaspoon (2.5 mL) of lemon juice, 2 minced garlic cloves, ½ teaspoon (.27 g) of parsley, ¾ teaspoon (.45 g) of crushed tarragon, and ½ teaspoon (1.15 g) of paprika. Start by preheating your oven to 350 °F (177 °C) to ensure that it gets fully heated up before you begin cooking your haddock.

Next, prepare the baking dish by coating it with non-stick cooking spray. This will ensure that your haddock filets do not stick to the surface of the dish. If you do not have non-stick spray, you can brush the surface of the baking dish with olive oil instead.

Place the haddock filets in the prepared baking dish. Season them with salt, pepper, parsley, tarragon, and paprika. Drizzle melted butter over the top of the fish, making sure that each filet is thoroughly coated. Add minced garlic and lemon juice to provide an additional burst of flavor.

Place the dish into the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork. Once done, remove the dish from the oven and allow it to cool for a few minutes before serving. Optional garnishes include lemon wedges or capers for an added zing to the dish.

For a crispy fried haddock dish, prepare the fish differently. Start by patting dry 2 pounds (0.91 kg) of haddock filets before seasoning them with ½ teaspoon (1.2 g) of onion powder, ½ teaspoon (1.15 g) of paprika, ½ teaspoon (1.64 g) of garlic powder, ½ teaspoon (1.17 g) of ground black pepper, and ½ teaspoon (3 g) of salt. Dust the filets with ¼ teaspoon (.58 g) of paprika on one side only before dipping them into a mixture of 1/2 cup (120 mL) of milk and 1/2 cup (120 mL) of buttermilk.

After dipping them, transfer the filets to a mixture of 2 cups (320 g) of cornmeal, salt, and black pepper. Coat the filets generously with the cornmeal mixture, making sure each side is evenly coated.

Next, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and coat the bottom with canola oil. Once the oil is heated, cook the haddock filets until golden brown and crispy on both sides. This should take 4-5 minutes per side. Once done, transfer the fried filets to a paper towel-lined plate to drain any excess oil.

Serve the fried haddock filets on buns or rolls with tartar sauce, coleslaw, and pickles on the side. Enjoy this delicious and satisfying dish!