Cilantro fish is a quick, healthy dish made with spices, eggs, and cilantro. Cubed cod fillets are marinated with spices, lemon zest, egg and cilantro and baked with olive oil. These fish nuggets are so delicious that they will please even the pickiest of eaters!
I created this quick and easy Cilantro Fish recipe for my kids who love fish nuggets, so I used to pack these fish nuggets in their school lunch boxes. Processed and frozen fish fingers or nuggets are so unhealthy for growing children. Therefore, I came up with a recipe that uses healthy ingredients and is also easy to prepare and cook. Baking or air-frying the fish is a fuss-free method for all those years while I was juggling with my kids’ busy schedules and routines.
Other types of fish for the Cilantro Fish recipe:
You could use this recipe to make fish nuggets or fillets with white fish varieties. Sole fish fillets are so thin that I bake them as fillets and not nuggets because they get too crispy and shrivel up so I reduce the baking time by 10 minutes. Red snapper and Swai fillet are also perfect for this Cilantro Fish recipe. Tilapia is also a good choice, but do not get discouraged by the smell emanating from the oven while it is baking. Once it is baked, the fish will smell and taste fine. I have not tried making Cilantro Fish with haddock or grouper. Catfish can become rubbery if overbaked. So test the catfish fillets while baking and adjust the timer accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- How long should I marinate the fish cubes?
Please marinate the fish cubes or fillets for at least 15 minutes.
2. Can I air-fry the fish using this Cilantro Fish recipe?
Yes, you could air-fry the fish cubes at 400 degrees F for 25-30 minutes in a foil-lined baking tray. Flip the nuggets over halfway through the baking process.
3. Can I omit adding an egg to the marinade?
The beaten egg in the recipe adds moisture and helps bind the ingredients to the fillets. You can substitute the egg with milk.
If you’ve tried this recipe or have questions, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to share (below) your thoughts, comments, or any questions that you might have. And if you like my recipes, you could subscribe to my mailing list for the latest recipes that will be delivered straight to your inbox. From my pen to your table, Bon Appetit!
Ingredients:
- Fish: cod fillets; substitute with snapper, sole or tilapia (please see blog post above)
- Spices: cumin, turmeric, pepper and curry powder
- Aromatics: ginger and garlic paste and lemon zest
- Egg: whole egg; substitute with milk
- Herb: cilantro; feel free to use mint
- Oil: olive oil or peanut oil
How to make the Cilantro Fish:
- Prepare the ingredients. Cube, rinse and pat dry the cod fillets with paper towels.
2. Add the dry ingredients to the fish cubes and coat the fish by mixing them. Then, add the wet ingredients and mix thoroughly. Marinate the fish cubes for at least 15 minutes.
3. Place the fillets on a foil-lined tray and drizzle the olive oil on top.
5. Bake in a foil-lined tray at 400 degrees F for 13 minutes. Then, flip the fillets over using tongs and bake again for another 10-13 minutes or until the fillets are browned on top and are white and flaky on the inside.
1. Marinate the fish for at least a few minutes before baking.
2. Coating the fillets with egg helps seal the spices and adds moisture to the fish.
3. Flip the fillets over halfway through the baking process.
4. Cut the fish into even-sized pieces to ensure even cooking.
Serving suggestions:
I like serving the Cilantro Fish with Nasi Kuning or Dum Biriyani. You could also serve it with a colorful salad.
Storage:
You can freeze the Cilantro Fish in airtight containers for 3 months or refrigerate them for a day. Frozen fish nuggets taste good if consumed the day of defrosting and reheating them. To reheat, bake them at 300 degrees F for 5-10 minutes, carefully watching the nuggets after 5 minutes of baking/reheating them.
Other fish recipes that you might like:
Cilantro Fish
Equipment
- Oven
Ingredients
- 1 lb cod fillets cubed
- 1 tbsp curry powder
- 1½ tsp cumin powder
- 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
- ¼ tsp black pepper powder
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 egg beaten
- 6 sprigs cilantro
- ¾ tsp salt
- 1½ tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Prepare the ingredients. Cube, rinse and pat dry the cod fillets with paper towels.
- Add the dry ingredients to the fish cubes and coat the fish by mixing them. Then, add the wet ingredients and mix thoroughly. Marinate the fish cubes for at least 15 minutes.
- Place the fillets on a foil-lined tray and drizzle the olive oil on top.
- Bake in a foil-lined tray at 4000F for 13 minutes. Then, flip the fillets over using tongs and bake again for another 10-13 minutes or until the fillets are browned on top and are white and flaky on the inside.
Video
Notes
- You could use other fish varieties for this recipe. (see blog post).
- Do not crowd the tray by piling the fillets on top of each other. Leave some space between each fillet.
Nutrition
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Great dinner for a working mom with three kids! I made this in no time!
Thanks, and I’m happy that it saved you some time!
Simple and tasty!
Thanks,
Ram
Great! Thanks, Ram.
so easy and quick i made this in my dorm in no time
I’m happy you liked the recipe. Thanks.
This is so easy to make on a weeknight, thank you Kanchan!