35 quick and easy fish recipes

The beauty of fish is that it cooks quickly, meaning dinner lands on the table fast. Quickly fry or roast a few fillets of red mullet, swordfish or ocean trout; braise some snapper in a yellow curry; or, don’t cook it at all. Sashimi, poke bowls and raw fish salads make fast fish dinners a breeze.

Three portions of ocean trout topped with strips of crisp fish and dill, with a bowl of yoghurt, on a white oval platter. A bowl of shredded kohlrabi is position at the top-right. — Photo: John Paul Urizar

Pan-fried ocean trout with kohlrabi salad

Pan-fried ocean trout with kohlrabi salad

Chiu chow raw fish salad

Chiu chow raw fish salad

Snapper curry with green beans and coriander

Snapper curry with green beans and coriander

Tuna with caponata

Tuna with caponata

Coconut dhal with barramundi

Coconut dhal with barramundi

King trout and Lebanese zucchini

King trout and Lebanese zucchini

Ochazuke

Ochazuke

Gemfish cooked in vermouth — Photo: Anson Smart

Gemfish in vermouth sauce

Gemfish in vermouth sauce

Two sides of white fish, skin side up, surrounded by black olives, in a metal fry pan, on a grey tea towel. — Photo: Con Poulos

Pan-fried snapper with black-olive vinaigrette

Pan-fried snapper with black-olive vinaigrette

Over-the-top image of round metal frying pan, with pink ocean trout coated in a red chilli paste and drizzled with yoghurt. — Photo: James Moffatt

Roast ocean trout with chilli-turmeric paste

Roast ocean trout with chilli-turmeric paste

Salmon and blackbean sauce stir-fry — Photo: Chris Chen

Baked salmon with black bean sauce

Baked salmon with black bean sauce

Giovanni Pilu’s trout with white wine and rosemary

Giovanni Pilu’s trout with white wine and rosemary

Sardine toasts with agrodolce

Sardine toasts with agrodolce

Pan-fried ocean trout with cauliflower, almonds and brown butter

Pan-fried ocean trout with cauliflower, almonds and brown butter

Tuna salad with grapefruit, avocado and fennel

Tuna salad with grapefruit, avocado and fennel

Ocean trout with watermelon, jalapeno and lime — Photo: Ben Dearnley

Ocean trout with watermelon, jalapeño and lime

Ocean trout with watermelon, jalapeño and lime

Mike McEnearney’s grilled red mullet with Moroccan spices

Mike McEnearney’s grilled red mullet with Moroccan spices

Fish burgers

Fish burgers

White fish crudo with avocado, herbs and cucumber-lime dressing

White fish crudo with avocado, herbs and cucumber-lime dressing

Sashimi with nori salt, avocado and ginger

Sashimi with nori salt, avocado and ginger

Kingfish poke with pickled ginger ponzu

Kingfish poke with pickled ginger ponzu

Pan-fried swordfish with lemon-caper butter and salted potatoes

Pan-fried swordfish with lemon-caper butter and salted potatoes

Snapper with broccolini and nori-miso butter

Snapper with broccolini and nori-miso butter

Trout and daikon rice bowl

Trout and daikon rice bowl

Sashimi of mulloway with a sesame-citrus dressing, edamame and seaweed

Sashimi of mulloway with a sesame-citrus dressing, edamame and seaweed

Smoked trout, carrot and quinoa salad with harissa dressing

Smoked trout, carrot and quinoa salad with harissa dressing

Anchovies, tomatoes and bread — Photo: Chris Chen

Anchovies and tomatoes on sourdough

Anchovies and tomatoes on sourdough

Kingfish skewers with borloui bean and celery heart salad — Photo: Ben Dearnley

Kingfish skewers with borlotti bean and celery heart salad

Kingfish skewers with borlotti bean and celery heart salad

Roasted mullet with olive salsa

Roasted mullet with olive salsa

Farro, broccoli and smoked trout salad

Farro, broccoli and smoked trout salad

Barramundi with braised green beans, dill and mint

Barramundi with braised green beans, dill and mint

John Dory with shiitake mushrooms and ginger

John Dory with shiitake mushrooms and ginger

Ocean trout with harissa and yoghurt

Ocean trout with harissa and yoghurt

A fillet of white fish on a plate with white sauce and potatoes. There is a mint green background. — Photo: Chris Court

Hellenika’s Corfu Bianco with John Dory, potato, onions and lemon

Swordfish steaks with honey and citrus kosho dressing

Swordfish steaks with honey and citrus kosho dressing

The Gourmet Traveller Team

Gourmet Traveller is Australia’s trusted authority on food, travel and luxury lifestyle, bringing the latest news and trends to life through quality journalism, enticing recipes and evocative photography. For more than 55 years, it has been inspiring and informing Australians with the best in cooking, dining, travelling and shopping. Our critics bring the expertise of years of critical eating, drinking and writing to the table. Plus, as the country’s leading title in the luxury sector, Gourmet Traveller works closely with Australia’s leaders in the travel and hospitality industries to give our readers exclusive access. The Gourmet Traveller legacy is one of trust, prestige and relevance.