Baked Lemon Fish with Garlic Butter

Instructions

1. Getting Things Ready
   01

   Whip up the garlic butter

   Start by getting your oven preheated to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (220 Celsius). Set a small frying pan over medium heat and let the butter melt down. Toss in your minced garlic and let it cook for exactly 1 minute - just long enough to mellow out that raw bite without letting it brown. Take the pan off the burner, grate the lemon zest right into the butter, and give it a stir to wake up all those fragrant citrus oils.

   01:00

   1/4 cup butter3 clove garlic1 lemonSmall frying panMicroplane or zester
2. 02

   Lay down your lemon slices

   Take that zested lemon and slice it into nice, thin rounds. Spread most of those slices across the bottom of your baking dish in an even single layer. This gives your fish a fragrant citrus bed to rest on so it won't stick to the bottom of the pan while it cooks. Just hang onto a couple of extra slices to lay over the top later.

   1 lemonBaking dishKnife
3. Putting It Together
   03

   Season and dress the fillets

   Grab some paper towels and make sure you pat your white fish fillets completely dry; this helps the butter stick and guarantees the fish roasts cleanly instead of steaming. Sprinkle both sides nicely with sea salt and black pepper. Settle the fillets on top of your lemon bed in the baking dish, then use a pastry brush or spoon to douse the tops generously with that warm garlic lemon butter. Finish by placing your reserved lemon slices right on top.

   1 1/2 lb mild white fish fillets1/2 tsp salt1/2 tsp black pepper1/4 cup butter3 clove garlic1 lemonPaper towelsPastry brush
4. In the Oven
   04

   Roast until it easily flakes

   Slide the baking dish into your preheated oven and let it do its thing for about 10 to 12 minutes. You'll know it's ready when the fish turns completely opaque and separates easily into tender flakes when you give it a gentle nudge with a fork. Pull it straight out of the oven, scatter some minced fresh parsley over everything, and dig in right away.

   12:00

   1 1/2 lb mild white fish fillets1 tbsp fresh parsleyOvenFork