Baked Ocean Perch Recipe

This delicious baked perch recipe has the best mustard spice blend topping. You'll bake this fish till tender and juicy.

Ocean perch has a lovely, mild flavor and firm flesh. It's high in protein and low in fat. It tastes similar to cod and tilapia but has a slightly sweeter flavor and is moister.

This is an ocean perch recipe, but can also be made with lake perch. Freshwater and saltwater perch have a similar name but aren't particularly similar in taste. Ocean perch have a stronger, briny flavor and lake perch have a more delicate flavor.

Lake perch are often used in fish sticks because they have a mild flavor.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Tips for Making this Recipe
• Storage
• Substitutions & Variations
• What to Serve with Perch
• More Great Fish Recipes
• Baked Perch Recipe

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make this ocean perch fish recipe.

• Ocean Perch Fillets - a firm textured, white fish with a mild flavor. You can use fresh or frozen fillets.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil - will help to cook the fish and keeps the seasonings on the fish.
• Kosher Salt - can be substituted for sea salt as well. Helps bring the natural sweetness out of the fish.
• Dried Mustard - the punch of flavor in the seasoning blend! I don't recommend substituting this ingredient.
• Smoked Paprika - adds a wonderful warmth and smoky flavor to the seasoning blend.
• Red Pepper Flakes - adds a little heat to the seasoning.
• Ground Black Pepper - brings a crisp, low-heat flavor to the spice mixture.

Optional for topping - chopped fresh parsley, cilantro, lemon wedges, or a squeeze of lemon juice.

See the recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine the salt, mustard, paprika, black pepper, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl. Stir to mix.

Pat fish fillets dry with paper towels.

Place fillets on a parchment lined baking sheet or a greased baking dish.

Brush the tops of the fillets with the oil. 

Sprinkle the seasoning over the fish. Rub the seasoning into the fish gently with your fingers.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until fish reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F on an instant read thermometer and the fish flakes apart easily with a fork.

Serve with optional chopped fresh herbs, lemon slices, or sliced green onions.

Tips for Making this Recipe

Cooking Tips - Use an instant-read thermometer to make sure the fish is cooked through. It should reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. Depending on the thickness of the fish it may need a minute or two less or more of cooking time.

Alternate Cooking Methods - You can make this as pan-fried ocean perch fillets as well. Prepare the spice blend and fish as listed above, but heat an additional tablespoon of olive oil in a large frying pan. Cook the fish on both sides for 3 to 5 minutes or until it flakes apart and is cooked through.

Storage

• Refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container
• Freeze for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container. Place pieces of parchment paper between the fillets to keep them from sticking.
• Reheat in the microwave in 30-second increments or a 350-degree oven for 10 minutes.

Substitutions & Variations

Here are some optional changes you can make to this recipe.

• Spices - feel free to add additional spices to the blend if you'd like - garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and chili powder will all work well.
• Oil - you can swap the olive oil for avocado oil or even melted butter.

What to Serve with Perch

Here are some delicious side dishes to pair with perch. I highly recommend pairing it with a dry white wine as well!

• Sautéed Zucchini - the easiest zucchini recipe with garlic and herbs
• Oven Roasted Root Vegetables - a fantastic medley of root vegetables roasted to perfection.
• Roasted Radishes - the best way to enjoy radishes.
• Spring Mix Salad - a simple salad with a container of spring mix, tomatoes, feta, and toasted nuts.

More Great Fish Recipes

If you love easy fish recipes, try some of these favorites.

• Baked Parmesan Panko Cod Recipe - a delicious cod recipe with a crispy crust of panko breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and herbs.
• Lemon Baked Swordfish - a delicious swordfish recipe with lemons and shallots.
• Lemon Garlic Sole Recipe - ready in just a couple of minutes, this tender sole recipe is ridiculously easy to make!

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