Grilled Croaker Fish Recipe

Whenever you’re craving fish, remember that the Grilled Croaker Fish recipe is worth trying!

There are many kinds of fish you can cook and if you haven’t tried croaker before, then take this as a sign to start now. It gives you a fantastic flavor and texture for the complete dining experience.

Of all the ways you can cook croaker, here, we’ll bake it until it’s flaky on the outside and tender on the inside. Cook it as a main dish to make everyone’s day a little bit more special and interesting.

It only takes less than an hour to cook the Grilled Croaker. You can cook it when you’re hosting celebrations or just want to add fish to your diet. Once you taste it, you’ll realize how fantastic cooking a croaker can be!

How to Make Grilled Croaker Fish

All it takes to cook the perfect Grilled Croaker Fish is some seasoning and a whole lot of baking. Using the right herbs and spices, you can make the croaker so much more flavorful than it already is.

In this guide, you will discover everything you need to know about all about cooking the perfect Grilled Croaker Fish!

Ingredients

Let’s get into the ingredients you will need to cook the perfect Grilled Croaker Fish.

Croaker

Did you know that the croaker fish is named after the sound it makes? It is considered to be the loudest fish of the drum seafood. The croaker is also commonly found in the Atlantic Ocean.

Unlike other fresh seafood, the croaker tends to have a mild sweetness once cooked. It has firm flesh and edible skin that you will surely enjoy after cooking it. Croaker truly has the best quality in flavor and texture.  

Aside from baking it in the oven, you can also pan-fry, grill, roast, or air-fry the croaker to make it more delicious. It’s truly worth including in your regular diet. What’s your favorite croaker fish recipe?

Bell peppers and sweet peppers

If you want to bring out the best in your croaker recipe, then don’t forget to add bell peppers and sweet peppers. Aside from giving color, these peppers can bring a sweet, fruity, and rich flavor, especially when you bake them.

WebMD suggests eating more of these peppers to improve your blood pressure and digestion for your heart and weight loss. You can also use them to make side dishes such as Jollof Rice, Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry, and Egusi Soup!

Herbs and spices

You will be pleased to know that this recipe only requires basic spices such as garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, dill, fenugreek, paprika, and more! Once combined, these will have a robust flavor to the fish and the garnish. 

To infuse the dish with fragrant and refreshing herbs, use basil, parsley, coriander, and mint. Indeed, these are guaranteed to intensify the natural flavors and aroma of the croaker. 

Of course, you can’t forget classic ingredients such as onion and garlic. In fact, these can instantly make a meal better by giving a sweet and pungent taste. Wait until you taste them in the croaker fish!

Scotch bonnet

Use a scotch bonnet to give the dish a kick of spice. You’d be surprised to know that the scotch bonnet is actually spicier than jalapeños. It’s not just spicy, but it also has a hint of sweet and fruity flavors to it.

Keep them fresh by checking out these tried and tested scotch bonnet storage tips. Instead of using fresh scotch bonnet, you can also go for chili flakes or chili powder.

Spring onion

Whenever you want to give your fish recipes a bit of sweet and pungent flavor, add spring onions. They also add texture and fragrance to the croaker. What’s more, is that it works well as a dressing and as a garnish. 

Even a little bit of spring onion can make a huge difference in the dish. It’s added pop of color will make the fish so much more appetizing!

Olive oil

The olive oil gives the fish a good layer of moisture for a soft and decadent quality. It also seals the flavor of the herbs and spices to give the croaker its flavor. Hence, you will need it to keep the fish tender and tasteful!

Doesn’t it sound like a stellar dish already? It is truly an amazing take on how you cook fish. This oven-grilled recipe is a surefire way of surprising yourself and your guests with good-quality fish! 

Directions

Put on your chef’s hat, and let’s start making the Grilled Croaker Fish recipe!

1. Prepare the bell peppers, onion, spring onion, ginger, garlic, and scotch bonnet with a knife.
2. In a bowl, season the chopped ingredients with tarragon, fenugreek, fill, mace, paprika, and sea salt. 
3. Drizzle the ingredients with olive oil.
4. Mix them and set them aside. 
5. In a small container, combine sea salt, garlic powder, and onion powder.
6. Gut and scale the croaker fish.
7. Then, score it on both sides and smear it with olive oil and a dry rub.
8. Dab the seasoning on the inside and the slashed fish areas. 
9. Stuff the croaker fish with basil, parsley, coriander, and mint. 
10. Line the baking tray with parchment paper.
11. Place the seasoned mixed peppers on the tray.
12. Put the fish on top of the peppers.
13. Grill at 200°C for 15 minutes.
14. After 15 minutes, cook the other side for 10 minutes or until fully grilled. 
15. For garnish, finely chop basil and spring onion.
16. Mix the herbs with olive oil and spread them on top of the fish.
17. Plate the dish to your liking and serve!  

Can you believe that it’s that easy and quick to cook Grilled Croaker Fish? This dish is undoubtedly colorful, appetizing, aromatic, and simply delicious in all its qualities! 

Tips

Croaker Fish

Buying croaker fish

• Choose fish that are stored on clean and drained ice.
• You can opt to purchase the fish in pieces or packages.
• The fish should also not have a foul odor.
• Look for fish with shiny and clear eyes.

Storing croaker fish

• According to The Spruce Eats, you can refrigerate the fish by putting it on top of a rack in a large container with ice at the bottom.
• Use the fish within two days.
• On the other hand, you can also freeze the fish in labeled containers or freezer bags to use within two weeks. 

Preparing croaker fish

1. Descale the fish by angling your knife to scrape off the scales.
2. Hold the fish by the tail as you do this step.
3. Then, make an incision between the fins and slice upward.
4. Once the flesh is exposed, pull out the guts and the liver. 

Grilled Croaker Fish Variations

There’s always a way to spice up the classic Grilled Croaker Fish recipe.

Instead of croaker fish, I suggest using other seafood such as mahi-mahi, tuna, or salmon. Tilapia and halibut may also be excellent options for this recipe. However, note that fish also vary in cooking time.

Aside from sweet and bell peppers, Food Network suggests other vegetables you can use for oven-grilled food. The list includes cabbage, okra, artichokes, beets, kale, potatoes, and carrots.

For more herbs and spices, I suggest using mixed herbs, paprika, and chili flakes. Don’t be afraid to try a cooking style that best suits your preferences. Instead of oven-grilling, feel free to opt for frying, steaming, or air frying! 

Alternative Ways to Cook Croaker Fish

Aside from oven-grilling the croaker, you can also try other cooking methods. 

Pan fry

1. Use a nonstick skillet to heat oil or butter over medium to high fire.
2. Then, cook the croaker for three to five minutes on each side.
3. Sautee the vegetables and assemble them on a plate! 

Air fryer

1. First, check if the fish can fit in the air fryer basket.
2. Line or grease the basket and place the marinated fish at the center.
3. Set the air fryer at 200°C for 10 to 12 minutes.
4. Remember to flip it halfway until the skin becomes brown and crispy. 

Barbecue grill

1. Preheat the grill and let the fish cook for 20 minutes.
2. At the 10-minute mark, flip the fish over to cook both sides.
3. You can also wrap it in aluminum foil to protect the skin from direct fire and to fully infuse the herbs inside. 

Steamer

1. In a pot, pour water and put the steaming basket on top.
2. Let the water boil before placing the fish in the basket.
3. Steam it over high heat for at least ten minutes but remove it from the pot after two more minutes. 

Recommended Tools

• Oven: Grill the croaker in the oven. 
• Baking tray: Arrange the fish bed and the croaker on the baking tray. 
• Parchment paper: Line the tray with parchment paper to avoid burning. 
• Wooden spatula: Stir the ingredients with a wooden spatula. 
• Glass bowl: Prepare the ingredients, rubs, and marinades in glass bowls. 

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How to Serve Grilled Croaker Fish

Give your guests something to talk about with a unique, delicious, and interesting fish recipe like the Grilled Croaker Fish!

You can serve it with rice, salads, sauces, beans, and roasted vegetables! In fact, with the soft flesh of the fish and the vegetables, eating the fish alone can already be an awesome dining experience.

I love serving it while it’s hot because the fish is still soft and fork-tender inside. Once you slice into it, you’ll smell how fragrant it is on the inside. You can also try dips and spices to go with the croaker.

Check out these dishes to make your Grilled Croaker Fish worthwhile:

• Jollof Rice
• Couscous
• Bulgur Wheat
• Mashed Potatoes

Croaker is best eaten when you have lots of time on your plate because it tends to have lots of fish bones. Hence, it will take a while to finish. Moreover, this might even be best eaten using your hands – for a fun experience!

Meanwhile, the following drinks also make great refreshments for this recipe:

• Iced Tea
• Watermelon Juice
• Zobo Drink
• Orange Juice
• Cherry Juice

Storage Tips

• At room temperature: Smarter Homemaker suggests eating cooked fish within two hours. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is croaker fish good for grilling?

Croaker fish is great for grilling because it releases a juicy quality and delicious flavor once grilled to perfection. It only takes a short time to cook too. Once you try this dish, you will surely be grilling croaker more often.

What does croaker fish taste like?

Unlike other fish, the croaker has a mild flavor that tastes briny, slightly sweet, and savory. With the help of the right herbs and spices, you can make it so much more flavorful than it already is.

What’s the best fish for grilling?

When you’re grilling in a griller, it is best to go for fish with thick and firm skin like salmon, sea bass, halibut, and red snapper. On the other hand, you can grill almost any kind of fish in the oven.

What is another name for a croaker fish?

In some countries, the croaker fish is also called “hardhead” or “pinhead” for croaker fish in smaller sizes.