Fresh, Flavorful, and Simple: Try This Perfect Seaside Snapper Recipe Tonight

Photo byangie bright

If you're searching for a recipe that brings a taste of the ocean to your table, this Seaside Snapper recipe is a must-try. Packed with vibrant Mediterranean flavors and a few surprising ingredients, this dish is more than just your average fish dinner. The combination of olives, capers, and fire-roasted tomatoes creates a sauce that's tangy, salty, and rich—perfect for complementing the mild, tender snapper.

What sets this snapper dish apart is the unique blend of ingredients like raisins and Spanish olives, which add a surprising sweetness and briny depth. Plus, with the fresh squeeze of lime juice and a sprinkle of fresh parsley, this snapper recipe gives you a burst of bright, fresh flavor in every bite. The best part? It’s simple enough for a weeknight meal but impressive enough for a weekend dinner party.

A Dish Full of Flavor and Ease

The Seaside Snapper brings together elements of Mediterranean and coastal cuisine in a way that’s light yet incredibly satisfying. With minimal prep and a quick bake time of just 15 minutes, you can enjoy restaurant-quality fish at home without much fuss. Whether you're an experienced cook or someone looking to add more fish into your diet, this dish is perfect. The snapper bakes to tender perfection in the tomato-based sauce, absorbing all the rich flavors. When served over a bed of hot rice, it turns into a complete meal that hits all the right notes.

Recipe: Seaside Snapper

Ingredients:

• 2 T extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced, white and green part
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ cup dry white wine
• 1 14 oz. can crushed tomatoes, drained, juice reserved
• 1 14 oz. can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, drained, juice reserved
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 T fresh parsley, chopped, divided
• 1 t dried oregano
• ⅓ cup sliced Spanish olives with pimentos
• 2 T raisins (preferably white)
• 2 T capers
• ½ t dried pepper flakes, or more to taste
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Juice of one lime
• 4 6 oz snapper filets (or other mild white fish)
• Hot rice for serving

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté the sliced scallions until they soften, then add minced garlic and cook for just one minute to avoid burning. Stir in the white wine and let it cook for another minute.
3. Add the crushed and diced tomatoes (reserving the juice), along with the bay leaves, 2 tablespoons of parsley, and oregano. Allow this mixture to simmer for about 5 minutes, letting the flavors meld together.
4. Toss in the Spanish olives, raisins, and capers, letting the sauce simmer for a few more minutes until the raisins begin to soften. Stir in the pepper flakes and season with salt and pepper to taste. If the sauce becomes too thick, add some of the reserved tomato juice to keep it moist.
5. In a baking dish, spread ⅓ to ½ cup of the sauce as a base. Place the snapper filets on top of the sauce. Drizzle the fish with a bit of olive oil, then squeeze the juice of one lime over the top. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
6. Bake the snapper in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
7. Serve the snapper with hot rice, topping it with the remaining sauce. Garnish with the remaining chopped parsley for a fresh finish.

Why You'll Love This Dish

The beauty of this Seaside Snapper is how it pairs a medley of Mediterranean-inspired flavors with a simple cooking process. The tomatoes, olives, and capers provide a zesty, briny base, while the raisins give a hint of sweetness that balances out the acidity of the tomatoes and lime juice. And the best part? It’s versatile—if you don't have snapper, you can easily substitute another mild white fish like tilapia, cod, or even halibut.

Serve this dish at your next dinner gathering, and you'll impress your guests with the combination of fresh ingredients and bold flavors. Plus, with its vibrant red sauce and flaky fish, it looks just as good as it tastes!

Here are a few sources for Mediterranean-style fish recipes and other baked seafood dishes that might be helpful:

1. Saveur offers a variety of Mediterranean fish dishes, including Sicilian Seafood Stew, which combines fresh fish with a flavorful tomato and seafood broth. The use of fresh ingredients like parsley, saffron, and almonds adds depth to the dish​(Saveur).
2. Baked Fish in Tahini Sauce, featured on Saveur, is a great option if you are looking for baked fish with a creamy, flavorful twist. It uses tahini and lemon to bring out a rich, nutty flavor​(Saveur).
3. Another interesting dish is Chreime, a spicy fish stew from Tunisia that braises fish in a tangy, chili-spiced tomato sauce. This dish adds a kick of heat and a bold flavor profile​(Saveur).
4. For something simpler, Parchment-Baked Fish with North African Chermoula Sauce is a baked fish recipe that brings in North African flavors with ingredients like paprika, cumin, and preserved lemon​(Saveur).

These sources can give you a variety of ways to prepare your Seaside Snapper, all while bringing in vibrant Mediterranean flavors. You can check out these recipes directly on Saveur's website for more detailed instructions and ingredient lists.