One important part of the Mediterranean diet is fish. This tasty food can be tricky to cook, but it’s worth the trouble when you finally get to taste it.
Its delicate taste is one of the most appreciated features of this gift provided from the sea. There are many ways to cook it in order to enhance its qualities. Besides that, a good fish dish may definitely taste even better when served with the right sauce.
Seafood offers mild, delicate flavors that pair beautifully with a variety of sauces and condiments. The right sauce can enhance the natural taste of the fish without overpowering it. Choosing condiments that complement or contrast the flavors of the fish can take your meal to the next level.
When deciding what to serve with fish, consider the cooking method and type of fish More delicate fish like sole or tilapia go well with lighter sauces Fattier fish like salmon and trout can handle richer, creamier sauces. And grilled or blackened fish calls for zesty condiments.
Here are 25 all-star condiment and sauce pairings to try with your next seafood meal
1. Tartar Sauce
This creamy, tangy sauce made with mayonnaise, pickles, onion, and herbs is a classic pairing with fried fish. It also goes well with fish tacos, fish sandwiches, and grilled fish.
2. Cocktail Sauce
For fried seafood like shrimp, scallops, calamari, and fish cakes, cocktail sauce adds a bright, horseradish kick. It’s made with ketchup, horseradish, and lemon.
3. Drawn Butter
Melted butter is a simple enhancement for boiled or steamed seafood like lobster, crab, shrimp, and mild white fish. Dip your seafood in the hot butter or drizzle it over the top.
4. Miso Butter
Mixing miso paste into melted butter adds a savory, umami flavor and pairs wonderfully with salmon, sea bass, cod, and more.
5. Soy Sauce
A simple drizzle of soy sauce enhances grilled or pan-seared fish without overpowering it. It works well with meatier fish like tuna, salmon, and halibut.
6. Ponzu
This tangy Japanese citrus-soy sauce adds salty-sweet flavors to fish. It’s especially good with salmon, tuna, and arctic char.
7. Lemon Butter
Butter mixed with fresh lemon juice brightens up simply prepared fish like baked, broiled, or grilled. It’s delicious on white fish, trout, and salmon.
8. Chili Sauce or Sriracha
Spicy chili sauces pair well with mild or rich fish like cod, halibut, salmon, and trout. They add some heat and flavor for extra kick.
9. Pesto
The herby flavors of pesto sauce beautifully complement meaty fish like salmon, tuna, and swordfish. Try homemade or store-bought pesto.
10. Salsa
Fresh tomato salsa adds zesty flavor to fish tacos, grilled fish, and fish fajitas. Top with salsa before serving or use it as a dip.
11. Chimichurri Sauce
This fresh herb sauce from Argentina makes grilled fish shine. The parsley, oregano, garlic, and vinegar flavors contrast the char.
12. Romesco Sauce
This Spanish sauce of roasted peppers, tomatoes, nuts, and olive oil is delicious with simply grilled white fish or salmon.
13. Teriyaki Sauce
The sweet soy glaze of teriyaki sauce is excellent with salmon, sea bass, halibut, swordfish, and tuna.
14. Spicy Mayo or Aioli
Mixing sriracha or other hot sauce into mayonnaise makes a spicy spread perfect for fish tacos, sandwiches, or dipping.
15. Garlic Butter Sauce
Butter, lemon juice, white wine, and garlic make a rich sauce for seafood. It’s especially tasty on sautéed shrimp or scallops.
16. Tart Cherry Sauce
Sweet-tart cherry sauce makes a unique pairing for richer fish like salmon and trout. Make it with cherry preserves or dried cherries.
17. Mango Salsa
Fresh mango salsa brightens up fish tacos and grilled fish. The sweet mango contrasts the hot chili peppers and onion.
18. Caper Butter Sauce
Butter boiled with vinegary capers, white wine, and lemon makes a bright pan sauce for sautéed white fish.
19. Yogurt Dill Sauce
Mix Greek yogurt, lemon juice, dill, and mustard for an easy creamy dill dip or drizzle over simply prepared fish.
20. Basil Pesto
Make pesto with basil, olive oil, pine nuts, garlic, and Parmesan to serve over grilled salmon or halibut.
21. Olive Tapenade
Chopped olive tapenade adds a briny contrast to fish like tuna, trout, or bass.
22. Bearnaise Sauce
This luxurious French sauce with butter, egg yolks, and tarragon is divine on grilled or pan-seared steak-like fish.
23. Brown Butter and Sage
Browned butter with fresh sage leaves gives nutty flavor to trout, bass, cod, and more.
24. Fresh Tomatillo Salsa
Tart, lively tomatillo salsa balances oily fish beautifully.
25. Avocado Crema
Rich, cool avocado sauce works wonders on spicy fish tacos and fajitas.
With so many options for sauces and condiments, you can always keep your fish dishes exciting. Get creative with combinations and textures to make meals that pop with flavor.
How to pair sauces and fish?
When cooking fish, there are different sauces that go well with it that depend on the type of fish and how it was cooked. How to choose the best sauce? We can look at how it tastes after being cooked, how thick or thin it is, and, of course, our own personal taste.
A lot of fish sauces are made with mayonnaise. When mixed with yogurt and herbs like thyme, chives, and parsley, it tastes great with steamed or boiled fish, especially sole or seabass. If you like 80s food, all you have to do is mix mayonnaise, ketchup, tabasco sauce, and Worcestershire sauce together to make the famous cocktail sauce. It’s the perfect addition to a shrimp cocktail (or prawn cocktail).
Let’s see in detail some creative pairings to find the best sauces for fishes
Our Pepper Sauce makes a great addition to a fresh swordfish carpaccio because it tastes both sweet and spicy. A really tasty recipe would be to serve it with mackerel, roast brill, or fillets of perch.
If you use our Apricot Sauce with a fish dish, you will see how a smooth, soft texture can go well with the fish and bring out its flavor. Prepare some rockfish fillets and put it to the test, just like we did.
If you like fish that has been grilled or smoked, carpaccio, or mustard sauce, then the answer is “mustard sauce.” Swordfish and salmon are perfect to be served with this spicy preparation. The “simple” recipe isn’t enough for you? You can make a smooth Mimosa Sauce by adding an egg yolk.
Parsley Lemon Sauce for Fish | Sauce for Fish | Sauce for Fish Recipe | White Sauce for Fish
FAQ
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