Baked Fish With Tahini Sauce

By
Jen Hoy
Jen Hoy
Jenny Hoy is an author, chef, and holistic nutritionist, with more than two decades of experience in the fields of food and healing.
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Updated on 01/12/22
Baked fish with tahini sauce
Fish dinner, Ziva_K/Getty Images
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 14 mins
Total: 19 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
439 Calories
28g Fat
11g Carbs
39g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 439
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 28g 35%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 133mg 44%
Sodium 336mg 15%
Total Carbohydrate 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 39g
Vitamin C 5mg 26%
Calcium 89mg 7%
Iron 4mg 21%
Potassium 967mg 21%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This quick, easy, and delicious recipe for baked fish with tahini sauce is a favorite in my family. It is a variation on a classic Middle Eastern-North African recipe, with a few touches. Choose a white fish like snapper, tilapia, or halibut. We’ve also made this with wild salmon. The tahini sauce will easily keep for a week, so save any leftovers for salads, sandwiches, topping steamed rice or dip for veggies.

Ingredients

  • 1 onion, sliced very thinly

  • 4 (4- to 5-ounce) fish fillets

  • 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence, or thyme

  • Kosher salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice, or white wine, optional

For the Sauce:

  • 1/2 cup sesame tahini

  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup hot water

  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped finely

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley

  • 1 pinch cayenne

  • Kosher salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Preheat oven to 400 F. Lightly oil a baking pan and scatter sliced onion across it. Lay fillets side by side on pan, on top of onions, and sprinkle with herbs and seasoning. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon.

  3. Bake fish for 10 minutes or until it flakes easily with a fork.

  4. While fish is baking, whisk together tahini and 1/4 cup of hot water. If mixture is too thick, add additional water 1 tablespoon at a time until it is thick but creamy.

  5. Add garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice and whisk thoroughly. If necessary, add warm water until sauce reaches desired consistency. Add parsley and seasonings to taste.

  6. When fish is cooked, top with sauce.