Summer Fish Recipes

Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, fish contributes to a balanced diet, promoting heart health and overall well-being. Best of all, fish lends itself to quick and easy cooking methods, minimizing time spent in a hot kitchen and allowing you to enjoy summer's longer days. Think poaching, pan searing, and cast-iron skillet cooking, and even a no-cook method using sushi or sashimi grade tuna for a poke bowl.

Savoring the fresh flavors of the ocean on a warm summer day is not just a meal — it's a glorious celebration of the season’s bounty. Here's a lineup of terrific summer fish recipes paired with vibrant seasonal vegetables, herbs, and fruit.

Halibut with Brown Butter and Sage

Beurre noisette (brown butter) is the secret to this succulent halibut. The butter keeps the fish moist and imparts a beautiful, nutty flavor. The technique to make it is a cinch to master: Cut the butter into small same-size pieces for even melting, and use a light-colored pan to note when the milk solids separate and turn their signature hazelnut color. Fresh sage, an early summer bloom, lends its woody warmth, flavor, and fragrance.

Crab Cakes

Using cooked and shucked Dungeness crab meat makes these crab cakes a breeze to make for easy summer entertaining. Once formed into patties, cook for three to four minutes on each side to render them golden brown. Serve with lemon aioli, tartar sauce, and a Southwestern fresh corn and black bean salad.

Salmon Burgers

Salmon burgers make a terrific addition to a summer burger bar replete with all the summer fixins: tomatoes, thick slices of red onion, pickles, and fresh guacamole. Set out relishes for new flavor combinations, and serve with a colorful array of grilled or roasted summer vegetables. Try shrimp burgers, too!

Poke bowl

Say “aloha” to one of my favorites. Poke (POH-keh) means “sliced or cut” in Hawaiian and refers to an easy preparation of diced raw fish served as an appetizer or meal with rice and customizable toppings, such as carrot ribbons, edamame, cubed cucumber, avocado slices, mango, and fresh cilantro. This convenient kit comes with pre-cut yellowfin tuna, Hawaiian poke seasoning, and a recipe card with easy instructions. 

Shrimp Ceviche

Traditional Peruvian ceviche — a citrus-marinated chilled fish salad — relies on just a few ingredients, including fresh lime juice. (The citric acid from the limes cures the fish.) In this recipe, however, lightly poaching the shrimp renders them extra plump and ready to absorb the flavors of the citrus marinade. Garnish with fresh avocado, and serve with tortilla chips for a refreshing poolside or picnic treat.

Crispy Alaskan Cod BLT Sandwich

This cross between a BLT and fish and chips might be the perfect sandwich. Set battered and pan-fried, wild-caught cod on a mayonnaise-slathered soft potato roll, then top with thick-cut bacon (if you want to go all fish, try salmon bacon!), crispy lettuce, and a juicy tomato. The moist, large cod flakes melt under the crisp batter, and briny pickles pack a punch of summer.

Chilean Sea Bass with Avocado Mash

Pair buttery, clean-tasting Chilean sea bass with a Sicilian-inspired citrus, green olive, and fennel salad for a light, satisfying dinner. To shave fennel slices, lay the bulb on its side and pass it quickly over a handheld mandoline. The fennel will still retain its crunch while absorbing the dressing's flavors. A mash of avocado adds ultimate creaminess.

Build your fish sauce repertoire

Learning new sauces to complement fish freshens your summer dinner repertoire. Serve a vibrant pepper-and-tomato-based romesco sauce or easy lemon caper sauce over broiled salmon. Elevate sauteed shrimp with an elegant saffron sauce, pair mild Black cod with an herbaceous Argentinian chimichurri, or quickly sear tuna with a bold sweet and spicy citrus sauce.