Harissa Baked Haddock
A spicy, flavorful baked haddock, topped with a lime harissa, with undertones of garlic, and baked in butter for a rich, easy, and (mostly) healthy meal!
Three of my four kids are in school most of the day, which means it is just me and my little sidekick. I am super lucky because my little sidekick is a total gem. She is a sweetheart, but in addition, she will eat pretty much anything I put in front of her.
I am not joking, I love this so much! The kid just above her age wise is the pickiest little eater, which really sucks! I am so grateful that only one of my four is picky, because otherwise it would be the death of me. I have a hard enough time keeping him fed.
Anyway, this little angel of mine (the youngest), loves seafood. And since I do too, it is perfection! I can throw together some fish for lunch, and we are both happy campers.
Haddock is one of my favorite fish to keep on hand. It is mild, flaky, and cooks in minutes, and frozen individual portions make it so easy to pull out just what I need.
Basically for someone like me, who always has more on my plate than I have time for, it is a dream. A couple of fillets, a spoonful of harissa, and lunch or dinner is ready in about 15 minutes!
And so, let’s talk about the Haddock.
I have actually never prepared haddock before. I have had it several times at restaurants. When we were visiting London last year I had it a lot, as it is often used in fish and chips. It is a white fish, and can be cooked like you would other white fish, such as cod. It has a mild flavor, so it is great for pairing with bold spices.
And so I paired it with Harissa! Truth be told, I probably should have added some honey or brown sugar to my sidekick’s piece, just to tone it down a bit. But it was really yummy, and she ate it anyway. She did comment that it was, “A little spicy, mommy!” but that did not stop her, or me! However, if food with a kick is not your thing, tone it down with a little sweetener, and cut back on the amount of harissa you use.
I love that it bakes up really quickly. You set the oven high, so you are almost to the broil point, and thus, it cooks quickly, and becomes this gorgeous, flaky, white fish! I served it over a bed of spinach, and drizzled a little extra lime on top for some more acidity. Yum!
Try it! If you like spice, I think you will like it as much as I did. And you can’t beat a delicious lunch in under 15 minutes!
What Is Harissa?
Harissa is a North African chili paste made with roasted red peppers, hot chiles, garlic, olive oil and spices like cumin and coriander. It is smoky, a little garlicky, and has a nice kick. You can find it in jars or tubes in most grocery stores, usually in the international aisle or near the tomato paste, and at Middle Eastern markets. It also comes as a dry spice blend; just stir it together with a little olive oil to make a paste.
Swaps and Substitutions
- Other fish: Cod and tilapia work great here, or any mild white fish. Thinner fillets like tilapia cook faster, so start checking them a couple of minutes early.
- Less heat: Use less harissa and stir in a little honey or brown sugar to tone it down for the kids.
- No lime? Lemon juice works just as well.
What to Serve with Harissa Baked Haddock
I love it over a bed of spinach for lunch, but for dinner, serve it with Cilantro Lime Rice to soak up the spicy butter, and a pan of Roasted Greek Vegetables.
Other Fish Recipes
- Asian Marinated Salmon
- Tilapia Fish Tacos
- Parmesan Pesto Steelhead & Roasted Potatoes
- Oven Fried Fish
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Harissa Baked Haddock
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pieces Haddock fillets fresh or frozen, defrosted
- 1/4 cup Harissa
- 1/2 A lime juiced
- 1 tsp Granulated garlic
- 1 Tbs Salted butter
- Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Turn oven on to 500 degrees
- Move rack to top wrung
- Cover baking sheet with foil
- Put defrosted haddock on baking sheet, and lightly season with salt and pepper
- In a small bowl mix harissa, lime juice, and garlic granules together
- Spread mixture over the top of your Haddock
- Put 1/2 Tbs of butter over the top of each piece of haddock
- Bake for 8-10 minutes until butter is melted and haddock is flaky!
Nutrition
Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.
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What to serve with harissa haddock
- Cilantro Lime Rice
Rice to soak up the sauce - Roasted Greek Vegetables
A pan of roasted veggies - Pineapple Limeade
A sweet drink to cool the heat - Healthy Pineapple Dole Whip
A light, fruity dessert
Pam says
My family loved it. I did add a little bit of honey as suggested and it came out perfectly. I will make this again.