As a home cook who's relied on family recipes for years, I know fish is packed with nutrition but can strain the budget and feel tricky to prepare. That's why my oven-baked hake fillets with lemon sauce are a game-changer: affordable, straightforward, and bursting with flavor. Grilled simply, they shine, but this zesty sauce takes them to the next level.
For 4 people
- 600 g hake fillets (frozen works great—they retain full nutrition, are often easier to find, and cost less!)
- 1 lemon
- 20 cl semi-thick cream
- 40 g butter
- 1 tsp old-fashioned mustard
- 1 sprig parsley
- 1 onion
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Preheat oven to 180°C.
- Drizzle olive oil in an ovenproof dish and arrange the hake fillets.
- Top each fillet with a thin lemon slice, chopped parsley, and onion.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan, deglaze with lemon juice, then stir in cream and mustard. Simmer a few minutes.
- Plate the fillets and drizzle with sauce.
Serve with wild rice for a meal the whole family loves!
If using frozen hake, thaw quickly: Place fillets in a deep container, cover with cold water, add a handful of coarse salt and lemon juice. Ready in under 10 minutes—like fresh!
- 600 g frozen hake fillets (6 pieces): €8.05/kg = €4.83
- 2 lemons (~200 g): €3.60/kg = €0.72
- 20 cl fresh cream: €3.70/L = €0.74
- 1 tsp old-fashioned mustard (5 g): €1.84/380 g jar = €0.02
Total for 1 person: €1.58 or €6.31 for 4 people.
