13 Rockfish Recipes to Try at Home (2024)

If you’re in the mood for seafood, check out these 13 rockfish recipes.

While not as popular as other white fish like cod or snapper, rockfish is a delicious, healthy fish.

It has a mildly sweet, almost nutty flavor, and it is versatile. You can bake it, fry it, grill it, or add it to chowder. Either way, it’s flavorful and full of protein.

13 Rockfish Recipes to Try at Home (1)

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It’s also an excellent source of potassium, vitamins A and C, and calcium. Furthermore, like most fish, it contains few carbs and very little cholesterol.

Despite being lean and light (in flavor), it’s incredibly filling and satisfying. It’s almost like eating red meat in terms of heartiness.

Now, without further ado, let’s jump right into these yummy rockfish recipes.

1. Pan-Seared Rockfish

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to prepare rockfish, pan-searing is the way to go. It takes less than 15 minutes and gives the fish a gorgeous golden sear.

Cooked this way, the fish retains its moisture and locks in the zesty lemon flavor.

You’ll need fewer than 10 ingredients. Plus, you can substitute gluten-free flour for a gluten-free option.

Gluten-free or not, it’s buttery and herby. Plus, the capers in the sauce add a bold saltiness that enhances the fish’s natural flavor.

Pair it with a side of rice and a Chardonnay or dry rosé for a full-flavored dinner option.

2. Darius’ Rockfish Chowder

This eight-ingredient chowder is buttery, hearty, and full of chunky goodness. It combines the rich umami flavor of rockfish with corn, potatoes, and onions.

The result is a filling dinner option with a full serving of both veggies and protein. Pair it with a leafy green salad or thick, dark bread for a complete meal.

3. Alaska Rockfish Tacos

Because it’s so tender and flaky, rockfish is an excellent fish for tacos. You can have them ready in half an hour, and the hands-on work is minimal.

Plus, the great thing about tacos is that you can tailor them to suit everyone’s tastes. Simply prepare the rockfish and toast the tortillas.

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Then, lay them out with various toppings and garnishes so everyone can make their dream taco.

It’s one of the easiest ways to ensure you please everyone in the crowd.

4. Baked Rockfish With Lemon

Baking is usually one of the healthiest ways to cook your food.

Even though we know that, we sometimes avoid baking because it takes so much longer than frying.

That isn’t the case at all with baked rockfish with lemon. From start to finish, it takes only 30 minutes to prepare and bake this fish.

Since you’ll cook the fish whole, it looks fantastic – golden and juicy. It also smells and tastes just as amazing.

You’ll season it with lemon juice, thyme, and paprika, giving it a bright, zesty flavor.

*Note: You can also cook rockfish filets using this recipe. Just adjust the baking time and temperature to accommodate the smaller cuts of fish.

5. Grilled Alaskan Rockfish

The rockfish is a relatively large fish. As such, it makes a gorgeous sight when cooked whole or in large filets. That’s especially true of grilled Alaskan rockfish.

It’s large and thick, and the black grill lines across the golden fish look absolutely lovely.

Fortunately, it tastes as good as it looks, especially when paired with marinated, grilled shrimp.

6. Authentic Chinese Steamed Rockfish

You’ll only need five ingredients to prepare authentic Chinese steamed rockfish.

With whole rockfish, oil, green onions, ginger, and soy sauce, you’ll have it ready in 30 minutes.

It’s a simple, protein-rich meal with only two net carbs per serving. The soy sauce and ginger give it a distinctly Asian flair, and the presentation is lovely.

7. Panko-Crusted Oven-Fried Rockfish Filets

These hand-breaded rockfish filets feature a crispy exterior but are juicy and succulent inside.

It takes less than 20 minutes to prepare dinner for two. You can even use your air fryer if you prefer.

The ingredients are common kitchen staples. Additionally, the Old Bay seasoning gives the fish a delightful flavor.

Just remember that the breadcrumb coating ups the carb count on this one. Therefore, this recipe might not be the best option for low-carb diets.

8. Baked Rockfish With Cajun Tomato Relish

When it comes to cooking seafood, Cajun chefs know how to do it right.

That’s why baked rockfish with Cajun tomato relish is one of my favorite rockfish recipes.

It’s buttery, garlicky, tender, and flaky. And the Cajun tomato relish is mouth-wateringly delectable.

It’s so good, you’ll want to put it on practically everything.

It looks like salsa or bruschetta. However, the Cajun-style seafood sauce gives it a spicy Creole flavor that makes it distinct.

The whole meal takes only half an hour to make, and your entire family will love it.

9. Portuguese-Style Baked Rockfish

If you’re looking for a rockfish recipe that features plenty of fresh veggies, give this one a try.

It includes potatoes, onions, tomatoes, herbs, and parsley, along with the fish.

That may not seem like many vegetables, but this meal packs a wallop of a garden-fresh veggie taste.

Rockfish is a mild-flavored fish anyway, and it’s not overly fishy.

However, if you want a seafood meal that doesn’t really taste like seafood, this is it.

10. Crispy Pan-Fried Rockfish

This is an excellent option if you’re in the mood for something a bit zestier. The Panko breadcrumbs give it a wonderfully crispy exterior.

The parmesan, Dijon mustard, and garlic give it a tangy, earthy flavor.

It takes less than 20 minutes to make, and you’ll love how it crunches when you bite into it.

There’s a ton of flavor in every bite, and the fish is so tender, it practically falls apart.

11. Almond Flour Crusted Fried Rockfish Filets

Check out this recipe if you love a crunchy crust but don’t need all the carbs that usually come with it.

You’ll use almond flour, which gives the fish its crunchy exterior.

Luckily, almond flour is super low in carbs. So, even with the crust and tangy lemon cream sauce, it has only 2.7 net carbs.

This recipe might become a fast favorite if you’re on the keto diet.

12. Fried Rockfish Bites

These are a great way to get your children to eat more fish. They look like – and even have the same texture as – chicken fingers.

And what kid doesn’t love chicken fingers?

Plus, they have a mild, light flavor. If you have the kiddos dip them in the flavorful aioli sauce, they might not even notice the difference.

13. Baked Rockfish Almondine

This six-ingredient, 30-minute dish is a favorite among rockfish lovers everywhere. It’s just so elegant and straightforward, and it tastes fantastic, too.

Rockfish already tastes slightly nutty, so adding almonds enhances that natural nuttiness. The lemons and butter provide another layer of juicy flavor.

And asparagus is asparagus. It’s always great.

Serve this over a bed of rice or with a side of couscous for a complete meal.

13 Rockfish Recipes to Try at Home (2)

13 Best Ways to Cook Rockfish

Try these rockfish recipes for tasty meals any night of the week! From pan-seared to tacos to grilled and steamed, this flaky white fish can’t be beat.

Instructions

  • Select your favorite recipe.
  • Organize all the required ingredients.
  • Prep a rockfish recipe in 30 minutes or less!
13 Rockfish Recipes to Try at Home (3)

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13 Rockfish Recipes to Try at Home (2024)

FAQs

What is the easiest way to cook rockfish? ›

Pan-frying is one of the quickest ways to prepare Pacific rockfish, and also the most dynamic: with a proper sear, the fillets develop a crisp, golden crust that complements this white fish's robust flavor profile.

How do you eat rock fish? ›

Rockfish is a mild whitefish that is somewhere between Cod and Halibut. Like most whitefish, rockfish has a flaky texture and mild flavor. It's perfect fried, broiled, grilled or pan-sauteed. It also makes delicious rockfish tacos!

How good is rockfish to eat? ›

If you're a seafood lover, you've likely already eaten rockfish, but it was probably served to you as snapper or perch. Rockfish has a mild, slightly-sweet flavor, making it a delicious clean-tasting fish.

How fishy tasting is rockfish? ›

The medium-firm fish is mild tasting with a flakey texture, making it ideal for a range of cooking techniques and flavoring options; it can be simply poached or spiced up and fried.

How to cook fish for beginners? ›

Almost any fish may be gently cooked in heated liquid, such as wine, water, fish stock, or milk.
  1. Pour just enough liquid to cover the fish.
  2. Cover the pan tightly and cook fillets just below the boiling point.
  3. Cook fillets 8 to 10 minutes and whole fish 15 to 20 minutes.

Should I soak rockfish before cooking? ›

Directions. Brining fish with salt before cooking is a helpful, but not crucial, step. The brine mixture adds flavor and firmness to the fish as it extracts excess moisture from the flesh which can make it stick to the pan during cooking. Lean white fish like cod and rockfish benefit greatly from a quick, dry brine.

What is the best rock fish to eat? ›

Pacific coast rockfish are among the best-eating fish around, and can be cooked a variety of ways.

Do you eat the skin on rockfish? ›

Pacific rockfish skin is excellent, as is that of any sort of snapper or mackerel, not just the little ones. The skins from the various drum species — redfish, speckled trout, croakers, freshwater drum, etc. — are excellent, but many of the larger drum have heavy scales that are a beast to remove.

Is rockfish good to fry? ›

For the Breaded Rockfish Bites

Trim seafood into pieces no thicker than 3/4" so they fry quickly without becoming too dark. Lay fish pieces out close together on a sheet pan and season lightly on one side with Grill Mates Seafood Seasoning.

Is rockfish better than Tilapia? ›

However, not only is Rockfish wild, local and from a sustainable fishery, but it also delivers about 3 times more Omega-3 than Tilapia… as well as more protein, Vitamin B12 and D, and many other important minerals.

Does rockfish have a lot of mercury? ›

In fact, all species of wild salmon, young halibut (like the kind caught by our fishermen), lingcod, Alaska pacific cod, and rockfish are so low in mercury content that there are no dietary restrictions on the amounts one should eat of these species!

What is special about rockfish? ›

Rockfishes are known for the bony plates on their heads and bodies, and the heavy spines on their fins.

What is rockfish comparable to? ›

Rockfish. Can be used to describe many kinds of saltwater fish, including striped bass, rock cod, redfish and ocean perch. Flavor/Texture: A mild fish with a slightly nutty flavor, a medium texture and a fine flake.

Why does rockfish smell so fishy? ›

Ocean fish tend to rely on trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) for this purpose. The problem, or stink, arises when fish are killed and bacteria and fish enzymes convert TMAO into trimethylamine (TMA), which gives off the characteristic fishy odor.

Should I soak rockfish in milk? ›

Before cooking, soak the fish in milk for 20 minutes

In this scenario, the protein in the milk binds with the compounds that cause that fishy odor, in essence extracting if from the fish.

Is rockfish good for frying? ›

For the Breaded Rockfish Bites

Trim seafood into pieces no thicker than 3/4" so they fry quickly without becoming too dark. Lay fish pieces out close together on a sheet pan and season lightly on one side with Grill Mates Seafood Seasoning.

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