Broiled Sand Dabs

Written by
Molly Watson
An award-winning food writer and cookbook author, Molly Watson has created more than 1,000 recipes focused on local, seasonal ingredients.
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Molly Watson
Updated 08/16/19
Sand Dabs. Sharon Hahn Darlin/Flickr
  • Total: 15 mins
  • Prep: 10 mins
  • Cook: 5 mins
  • Serving: 1 serving

Sand dabs are wonderfully delicate fish, a lot like petrale sole or even fresh-water fish like sunnies or walleye. They are commonly pan-fried, but they're tasty (and quicker to prepare) when broiled. See how easy it is to broil them to deliciousness with this recipe. All they need is a little spritz of fresh lemon juice when you serve them.

Ingredients

  • 2 to 3 sand dab filets (per person)
  • 2 to 6 teaspoons butter (1 to 2 teaspoons per sand dab filet)
  • salt to taste (fine sea salt)
  • Garnish: lemon

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Preheat a broiler and set a cooking rack 3 to 4 inches below the broiler.

  3. Rinse the sand dab filets and pat them dry. Place them, skin-side-down, on a baking sheet. Dot the filets with butter and sprinkle them with salt.

  4. Place the baking sheet under the broiler and cook until the fish flakes easily and starts to brown on top, about 4 minutes.

  5. Serve fish hot, with lemon wedges for spritzing.

Glass Bakeware Warning

Do not use glass bakeware when broiling or when a recipe calls to add liquid to a hot pan, as glass may explode. Even if it states oven-safe or heat resistant, tempered glass products can, and do, break occasionally.

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