How to Make Baked Fish Piccata

I love the combination of lemon, capers and butter. Therefore, I love all things piccata.

I have created an easy and healthy way to prepare it at home in the oven using fish fillets instead of the traditional breaded veal or chicken cutlet. No pan-frying, minimal amounts of butter and oil and very little work required! This baked recipe serves 4 people, but you can double or halve it if necessary.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 lb. fish fillets (I usually use swai, tilapia, cod or other mild fillets)
• 1/4 c. white wine, broth or water
• 1 Tbl. butter
• 1 Tbl. olive oil
• 3 tsp. jarred capers
• 3 tsp. caper liquid
• the juice and zest of 1/2 a lemon
• fresh salt and pepper
• fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
• large Pyrex or other baking dish
• oven
• vegetable spray
• aluminum foil
• spatula

1. 
    
   fish fillets are easy to work with

   Preheat your oven to 450. Spray Pyrex or baking pan with non-stick spray. Rinse fish fillets and pat dry with paper towels and place in baking pan.

2. 
    
   fresh lemon is used for it's juice and zest in this recipe

   Drizzle fish with lemon juice and olive oil. Spoon on capers and caper juice. Sprinkle with lemon zest and salt and pepper. Cut butter into little pieces and dot on fish fillets. Pour wine, broth or water into baking pan around fish.

3. Cover pan with aluminum foil and place into preheated oven. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove foil and bake until fish flakes easily, about another 5 to 15 minutes depending on the thickness of your fillets. Remember the rule of thumb for cooking fish is 10 minutes cooking time for every 1" of thickness.

4. 
    
   parsley adds color and flavor

   Remove from oven. Using a spatula, remove fillets from baking dish and transfer to individual plates or a large serving platter. Pour all the piccata pan juices over fish. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve.

Tips & Warnings

• I love this dish served with a rice pilaf and green veggie like asparagus or broccoli
• You can easily add additional ingredients like sliced mushrooms and chopped green onions to the pan before baking. You may need to adjust the baking time accordingly.
• Be careful to not let all the liquid evaporate. If it does, or it gets very low, you can add extra wine, water or broth.
• If you do add extra liquid, be careful that you don't put cold liquid into a hot, glass pan. It'll crack!

Resources

• Wikipedia's definition of piccata

[BeingArtsy]

on 7/13/2009 This recipe for Baked Fish Piccata sounds delicious. Can't wait to try it! 5*

[athome]

on 3/18/2009 Yummy recipe for lent. thnaks 5*

[cherold598]

on 3/16/2009 What an easy recipe for making baked fish piccata, Sounds yummy! 5*