In this article, we will tell you which herbs to include when cooking fish to further improve its delicious flavor.
You can find the best and healthiest flavors of the sea in well-prepared fish. There’s so much to choose from that whether you want fried or baked fish, you’ll surely be able to find something to your liking!
This delectable seafood is pretty easy to cook and does not take long to prepare, making it the perfect option for quick meals. Plus, nature has supplied us with many herbs and spices to blend with the fish if you want to give this mouth-watering savory meal a subtle but delectable punch.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the best herbs and spices for fish to make your meal taste fantastic.
Amazing Herbs and Spices for Fish
Whether you decide to use these herbs and spices together or separately, they will complement and enhance the natural flavor of fish.
1. Black Pepper
Black pepper is an excellent fish seasoning. It adds a nice touch to your dish whether you bake it or pan-fry it.
Its woody and crisp aroma entice you to visit the woods and marvel at nature’s beauty.
The ideal way to cook fish with this robust spice is to place it in your frying pan or baking tray. Put some splashes of olive oil on it and season it with black pepper. Then, cook and enjoy!
2. Bay Leaves
Bay leaves come from the same family as laurel. This herb has a unique yet simple scent that perfectly complements succulent fish.
Additionally, it also blends in with fish soups and other stews amazingly. Therefore, choosing bay leaves to add some extra flavor to your food will yield good results.
3. Tarragon
Tarragon adds a subtle and unique taste to your fish.
This herb comes in three different categories, which include French, Mexican, and Russian. Among these, French and Russian tarragon is widely used in cooking.
French tarragon comes in light, delicate, and slightly sweet flavors, whereas Russian tarragon is enriched with relatively intense and spicy flavors. To get the delicious experience, add some tarragon to your chowders, fish pies, or baked fish fillets.
4. Smoked Paprika
Smoked paprika flavors your fish with a touch of spicy, woody, and earthy flavor.
Compared to regular paprika, these peppers are smoke-dried and give excellent seasoning for fish. This earthy spice works well with grilled fish, making your dish smoky and supreme with exciting flavors.
A tiny amount of smoked paprika seasons your fish perfectly. So, whether you are sautéing or baking, sprinkle some smoked paprika and enjoy your meal to the fullest.
5. Curry Powder
Curry powder is yet another unique spice mixture that is widely used in South Asian cuisine.
It is a perfect blend of sweet and savory spices. When paired with fish, it provides bright, earthy, and zesty flavors.
To give a boost to your fish, either marinate or make fish curry with some sprinkled curry powder to get the taste of some incredible flavors.
6. Parsley
Well, who doesn’t love parsley? It is the most popular and commonly used herb compared to other herbs and spices for fish.
It is a unique and healthy herb that adds perfection to your fish, giving it earthy and fresh flavors.
In addition, it is an excellent garnish for seafood. You can add parsley leaves to several dishes such as pasta, stews, chowders, and baked fish.
7. Celery Salt
Celery salt is a spice mixture of ground celery seeds with some salt.
It tastes quite simple, and still makes your fish the star of the show. It enhances the savory flavors of your feast and makes you crave more.
Therefore, if you love eating fish with minimal spices, you should go for it.
8. Oregano
Oregano is a popular staple used in Italian and Greek cuisine.
It adds incredible flavors and aromas to your meals and works best with other herbs and spices for fish.
You can mix it with pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to enhance the taste of your fish. Moreover, its earthy flavor adds more spice to your dish when dried.
9. Chives
Chives are another great herb that goes well with fish. This herb works pretty well with butter and lemon sauce.
It tastes very similar to onions and gives off a hint of garlic too.
On the other hand, you can use chives in marinades and for garnishing purposes. It gives a fantastic color to your dish.
10. Mustard
Mustard is a herb that boasts impressive flavors and is the perfect companion for baked fish.
It adds sweetness and robust flavors to the fish. An ideal method to prepare fish with mustard and other herbs and spices is to brush the fish with mustard seed crust.
For this, place your fish on a baking tray, brush it with some olive oil and coat it with a considerable amount of mustard grains. Then, simply bake the fish and enjoy!
11. Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is the perfect ingredient for spice lovers.
If you prefer to have hot, spicy, and fiery flavors, you should go for Cayenne pepper.
This super ingredient works wonders when added to fish, leaving you with sharp, tingly, and hot flavors.
12. Dill
Dill is also a great option to enhance the flavors of fish. This herb is commonly used as a perfect garnish.
It contains a light, herbal and fresh taste. Therefore, if you desire to give a good punch to your fish, considering dill won’t be a bad idea.
You can sprinkle some dill leaves over fish fillets with butter sauce, grill fish, shrimp salad, or simply pair them with lemon sauce.
13. Ginger
Ginger is quite aromatic and has an intense, tart, and slightly spicy flavor.
It complements well with both savory and sweet flavors and is an excellent choice to give a boost to your taste.
Well, to enjoy this perfect spice, marinade fish along with other herbs and spices. Then, either bake or fry according to your preference and enjoy the mouth-watering flavors. Besides, you can add ginger and some tomatoes to the fish stew for a warm and healthy taste.
14. Cilantro
Cilantro is a fresh and tangy flavored herb that perfectly pairs with fish.
It puts you in an unforgettable exotic mood. Just add some fresh cilantro in honey or teriyaki sauce and enjoy with baked fish. Moreover, it is also perfect for garnishing.
15. Turmeric
Turmeric is the most commonly used spice in Asian cuisine.
It tastes similar to ginger and has rich, warm, and earthy flavors. You can add this spice to fish curries, sauces, stews, or to the marinade with other herbs and spices for fish.
In addition to this, turmeric also contains various health benefits, which makes it ideal for mixing up with different recipes.
16. Cumin
Cumin is a warm, earthy spice widely used in Asian, Mexican, and Middle Eastern recipes. It is quite intense.
Therefore, a small amount of this spice goes a long way. To enjoy fish with this spice, pair cumin with paprika, thyme, lemon, and other spices and rub it over fish fillets before frying.
Furthermore, mix cumin into marinades, curries, and stews to enhance the taste of your dish. Combining garlic, coriander, and chili powder with cumin also works well.
17. Marjoram
Marjoram is the lighter and milder form of oregano.
This herb grows in great abundance in Mediterranean countries such as Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus. It belongs to the mint family.
Therefore, it attains sweet, savory, and cooling flavors. However, taste experiences differ among people. Many people also say that marjoram has a mild taste of sweet pine and citrus.
18. Cinnamon
It may sound odd to add cinnamon to fish, but it is not.
Cinnamon works pretty well with savory dishes and offers fantastic flavors to even seafood. Whether you use whole or ground, cinnamons are an ideal ingredient to consider when cooking fish.
You can add this spice to warm braised fish or even fish cutlets.
19. Onion Powder
Onion powder is another excellent option to consider when looking to add some flavor to your fish.
This spice is the perfect seasoning for fried or baked fish. Moreover, it is made of ground and dehydrated onions, so there is no chance for you to tear it up either.
20. Rosemary
Rosemary is a unique and delightful herb, perfect for fish.
This herb holds aromatic flavors such as minty, peppery, and woody. Moreover, it works best with garlic, and this spice mixture makes the fish taste incredibly tasty. Marinade the fish in this mixture and cook the fish in your desired way.
Conclusion
The most impressive and delicious way to enhance the flavors of your fish is to consider experimenting with different herbs and spices. The herbs mentioned above and spices for fish work pretty well with almost all seafood recipes.
Therefore, opt for your spice blends, rub them over the fish before baking, grilling, or pan-frying, and experience the fantastic flavors.
