Description
This Baked Red Snapper with Garlic and Herbs recipe features tender snapper fillets marinated in a flavorful blend of Cajun seasoning, garlic, lemon pepper, paprika, and fresh herbs, baked over a bed of vibrant vegetables for a wholesome and aromatic meal. Perfectly balanced with a touch of butter and lemon slices, this dish delivers a deliciously savory and fresh taste ideal for a healthy dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Fish and Marinade
- 2 snapper fillets
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic paste (or 3 cloves minced)
- 1 tsp lemon pepper
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- Fresh rosemary, basil, oregano, and thyme (or 1–2 types of dried herbs)
- ½ tsp chili flakes (optional)
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- Salt, to taste
Butter and Garnish
- 2 tbsp butter
- Lemon slices
Vegetables
- Carrots, chopped
- Tomatoes, chopped
- Bell peppers, chopped
- Other vegetables of choice, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) to warm up while you prepare the ingredients.
- Prepare Marinade: Combine the Cajun seasoning, garlic paste or minced garlic, lemon pepper, paprika, black pepper, chopped fresh or dried herbs, chili flakes if using, olive oil, and salt in a bowl to create a flavorful marinade.
- Marinate Fish: Pat the snapper fillets dry with paper towels. Rub the marinade generously over both sides of each fillet, reserving about 2 teaspoons of the mixture for the vegetables.
- Season Vegetables: Toss the chopped carrots, tomatoes, bell peppers, and any other chosen vegetables with the reserved marinade until evenly coated. Arrange them evenly in a baking dish.
- Assemble: Place the marinated snapper fillets on top of the bed of seasoned vegetables in the baking dish. Add 1 tablespoon of butter on top of each fillet and place lemon slices over the fish to infuse fresh citrus aroma while baking.
- Bake: Bake the assembly uncovered in the preheated oven for 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets, until the fish flakes easily with a fork and the vegetables are tender.
Notes
- Adjust cooking time based on fillet thickness to avoid overcooking.
- Use fresh herbs for a more vibrant flavor, but dried herbs work perfectly well too.
- Feel free to swap out vegetables for your favorites or whatever is seasonal.
- If you don’t have garlic paste, freshly minced garlic is an excellent substitute.
- For a milder version, omit the chili flakes.
