Tandoori Fish Recipe - Oven Baked or Pan Seared | The Curry Mommy (2024)

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This is an easy Indian tandoori fish masala recipe that's low carb and quick to make!

Whitefish is marinated with a homemade fish masala and then cooked until tender. It pairs well with rice, slaw, or vegetables for a complete meal.

Tandoori Fish Recipe - Oven Baked or Pan Seared | The Curry Mommy (1)

My favorite types of fish to use for this Indian recipe are catfish, tilapia, halibut, or cod. If those are hard to find, then know that any whitefish will work well.

Want to try another tasty meal? Give my Lamb Chops a try!

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Equipment
  • Substitutions
  • Variations
  • Storage and Reheating
  • Fish Types
  • Pair it with...
  • Top Tips
  • 📖 Recipe
  • FAQ
  • 💬 Community

Ingredients

  • whitefish (catfish, tilapia, cod, halibut, etc)
  • garlic
  • ginger
  • turmeric powder or fresh
  • coriander powder
  • tandoori masala (I like Raja Brand)
  • black pepper
  • red chili powder
  • oil
  • salt
  • cilantro for garnishment

Instructions

Combine the fish masala ingredients.

Add the patted dry fish filets one at a time to lightly coat them each.

Marinate by setting it aside until you are ready to cook (I don't recommend marinating longer than 24 hours).

Place the fish in a crisper pan and cook at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes.

Garnish with cilantro and enjoy!

Equipment

  1. Crisper Pan for oven method
  2. Wide flat pan for stove top method
  3. Large bowl for marinating and making the tandoori fish masala
  4. Spatula

Substitutions

  • Tandoori Masala- Use any brand of tandoori masala available. A little goes a long way in this recipe.
  • Kashmiri Chili Powder- substitute with paprika

Variations

  • Less Spice- Add very little spices (ginger, garlic, tandoori masala, Kashmiri chili, and red chili powder)
  • More Spice- Garnish with fresh green chili peppers.

Storage and Reheating

Marinating- The fish can be marinated for about 24 hours but I do not recommend anything more than that since the fish masala has salt.

Reheating- Use a toaster or oven to reheat the cooked fish in a pan with a cover until heated through at 350 degrees. Feel free to use foil as a cover.

Fish Types

You can use any white fish that is readily available to you. In my experience, I have used the following and all have worked well...

  1. Catfish (Indian Catfish is my favorite)
  2. Halibut
  3. Cod
  4. Dover Sol
  5. Tilapia
  6. Grouper

Pair it with...

  1. Roti
  2. Slaw, Avocado, and an Onion Salad for Fish Tacos
  3. Onion Salad and lemon wedge
  4. White Rice
  5. Masala Rice
  6. Quinoa
  7. Chutney!

Top Tips

  • I do not recommend marinating the fish for more than 24 hours.
  • Let the fish sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes before cooking.
  • Oven baked results in a delicious soft flaky texture.
  • When cooking the fish in a pan, I only like to flip it once. Cook the second side for half the time the first time was cooked. Hence, cook for 4 minutes, flip, and cook for 2 minutes.

📖 Recipe

Tandoori Fish Recipe - Oven Baked or Pan Seared | The Curry Mommy (10)

Tandoori Fish Recipe- Oven Baked or Pan Seared

The Curry Mommy

In this Indian Fish recipe a homemade fish masala is marinated with whitefish and then cooked in the oven or in a pan. It pairs well with roti, white rice, slaw, or roasted vegetables.

4.97 from 28 votes

Pin Recipe Print Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Servings 3

Ingredients

Fish Masala Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon fresh grated garlic
  • ½ teaspoon ginger
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric (fresh preferred)
  • 2 tablespoon dry coriander powder
  • 1 teaspoon tandoori masala (I like Raja Brand)
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Kashmiri chili powder
  • 3 tablespoon water
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • ¾ teaspoon salt (I use Mortons iodized salt)
  • red chili powder

Fish Ingredients

  • lb white fish (catfish, tilapia, cod, halibut, etc)
  • lemon wedge for garnishment.
  • cilantro for garnishment

Instructions

Making the Fish Masala and Marinating the Fish

  • Combine the fish masala ingredients and set the bowl aside.

  • Add the patted dry fish filets to the bowl and try to cover them all with masala the best you can.

  • Set it aside until you are ready to cook.

  • Before cooking, keep the fish at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes.

Stove Top Cooking Instructions

  • Heat a pan on high heat. After it is heated through, spray a little oil on the pan and then lay the filets flat to cook making sure not to over crowd the pan.

  • Let it cook for about 3-5 minutes on medium-high heat (depending on thickness). If you are unsure when to flip:My tip here is wait until the fish begins to change to a slight white color on the sides and towards the top edges. I only flip the fish one time.

  • Flip each filet over and cook for an additional 2 minutes. SIDE NOTE:Cook the second side of the fish only half the time you cooked the first side.

  • Remove filets from the pan, garnish with cilantro, and serve with a fresh lemon wedge.

Oven Cooking Method

  • Heat oven to 400 degrees and place the oven rack at least two settings down from the top.

  • Line the bottom of the crisper pan with parchment paper then place the crisper rack over it.

  • One filet at time lay it on top trying not to overcrowd the pan.

  • Cook the fish in the oven for about 15 minutes. Time will vary based on thickness of the fish. There is no flipping needed when using this method.

  • Remove from the oven, garnish with cilantro, and serve warm.

Tried this recipe?Share your photo and tag @TheCurryMommy or #thecurrymommy!

FAQ

What is Tandoori Fish?

A tender white flaky fish marinated with herbs and spices that is traditionally made in a Tandoori Oven. Spices like garlic, ginger, red chili powder, and a combination of masala make up the tandoori flavored base.

Is Indian Fish Healthy?

You bet! When using the right fish this recipe is perfect for Whole30, paleo, and keto diets.

What is a Tandoor Oven?

An oven is made in many shapes and sizes, but normally a cylinder imitating the shape of a beehive.

How to make Tandoori Fish Masala?

A mixture of coriander powder, Kashmiri chili, garam masala, cumin powder, turmeric powder, and a few other spices make up the majority of the seasoning.

How to marinate Tandoori Fish?

Using the spices listed marinate the fish and set it aside until ready to cook.

Can I make fish in a microwave?

With the right kitchen, yes you can cook fish in a microwave. Look into buying a steamer that is made specifically to steam foods such as this Microwave Fish Gadget.

How to make Tandoori Fish in the oven?

When you are ready to cook, lay the fish on an oven rack pan and spray some oil on top of the fish. Then bake for 15 minutes at 400.

What kind of fish is best for Indian Fish?

I highly recommend a white flaky fish such as catfish, tilapia, halibut, or cod.

How to clean fish?

Wash with water and pat it dry before cooking.

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Tandoori Fish Recipe - Oven Baked or Pan Seared | The Curry Mommy (2024)

FAQs

Should fish be covered when baking in the oven? ›

Bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes at 400 degrees. Fish is done when fish flakes easily with a fork.

Which fish is best for tandoor? ›

You can even use whole fish, in which case go for sea bream, bass or red snapper. But anything fresh will work beautifully. Just remember to score the sides of the fish first to help the marinade penetrate into the flesh, then simply bake and enjoy.

What is tandoori fish made of? ›

Tandoori fish is nothing but whole fish marinated in yogurt and spice lemon marinate which is then grilled to smoky and charred. The charred texture add so much flavour into the fish. I used simple marination like chilli powder, cumin, turmeric, chaat masala, tandoori masala, lemon and yogurt. It was super delicious.

Is fish better in pan or oven? ›

Baking fish is a great way to keep the important nutrients intact without upping the fat content to unhealthy levels. The key to baking fish in a healthy way is to use minimal oil and if you do add oil to the cooking process, make sure it is a heart-healthy one such as olive oil.

How long should a fish be in the oven? ›

How To Roast Fish In The Oven: So for everyone who has asked just exactly how to cook fish in the oven, good news — this part is also incredibly easy. Roast on high heat: Cook your fish for 18-20 minutes at 450°F, or until it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F and flakes easily with a fork.

Which fish is good for curry Indian? ›

Fish - Firm white fish work best in this dish - some suggestions: Spanish mackerel – (this is what I used, excellent value), tilapia, snapper, barramundi, cod (all types), mahi-mahi, halibut, basa, ling. Salmon and trout are also mild enough to use here.

Which fish taste best in curry? ›

Some of the most popular fish for curries include salmon, tuna, tilapia, cod, haddock, and snapper.

How do you get crispy skin on pan seared fish? ›

Warm up the butter until it is sizzling then grab your salmon and place it skin down on the heated, buttered-up skillet. Press the fish into the warm skillet for just about 10-15 seconds and let the butter work its magic on the fish. It will also help you with even cooking of the skin.

Which fish is best pan seared? ›

But for tender, meaty skinless fillets or steaks of white fish like halibut, cod, striped bass, or swordfish, pan-searing is the everyday way to go, and it comes with its own set of problems, namely, sticking. Fish is notorious for falling apart in the skillet.

Is fish tandoori healthy? ›

Tandoori fish has quickly become my new go-to fish recipe on busy weeknights! These tender and aromatic fillets are so simple to throw together and pack a big punch of flavor that your whole family will enjoy. This healthy recipe's versatile, keto, Whole30-friendly, and delicious!

Is tandoori fish good for health? ›

You may get addicted to this healthy fish recipe!

Oily fish is regarded as one of the healthiest food items one can have thanks to the omega 3 fatty acids in it.

What kind of fish is tandoor? ›

Tandoori Fish Ingredients

Basa fish fillets – you can substitute these with any white fleshed fish you prefer (i.e. cod, halibut, sea bass). Lemon juice – from half a lemon. Olive oil – substitute with neutral oil, if desired. Spices – cumin, turmeric, garlic powder, onion powder salt, pepper.

How do you keep fish moist in the oven? ›

Using moist-heat cooking methods -- poaching, steaming, braising or baking in parchment paper or foil -- and avoiding overcooking help keep lean fish succulent and flavorful.

Should you cook fish covered? ›

The fish cooks well in a humid environment. This cooking, in fact, uses the cover of a sheet of tin foil or baking paper that hermetically closes the baking pan or wraps the fish completely so as to retain moisture. The sheet must then be removed halfway through cooking to facilitate browning.

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