Pan Fried Haddock Mediterranean Style
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Pan Fried Haddock, Mediterranean Style, with white wine, cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and tangy capers, is a super easy, but very flavorful dish that can be ready in just 20 minutes.
Pan Fried Haddock – Crispy Fish with Mediterranean Sauce
I’m really obsessed with this recipe for Pan Fried Haddock prepared in Mediterranean Style. The sauce is super tasty! It combines all my favorite flavors, with olives and capers on the top of the list. And fish and wine pair so well together. But the real star is – the CRISPY fish. I know some will question, how can you achieve a crispy fish if it’s in a sauce?
The secret is to fry the fish separately, and just serve it on a bed of the sauce. So, you make the sauce in a different pan and then either top the fish with it on it once it’s ready or serve it on a plate with the sauce on the bottom and the fish on top.
But that’s not all… In order to make this fish super crispy and achieve a wonderfully golden brown color, I employed the magical power of…(wait for it)….WONDRA flour!
I discovered the secret power of Wondra while making this Jacques Pepin Chicken with Garlic & Parsley and I am really obsessed with it. This stuff is amazing! It’s so fine and light. It creates a very gentle coating, but makes the food so crispy! If you haven’t tried it yet then I highly recommend giving it a go. I found mine on Amazon(affiliate link), but most supermarkets have it too.
But wait there’s more. After you coat your filet with Wondra, you’ll submerge the fish in whipped egg and then fry it up in a hot pan with frying oil (I usually use cooking olive oil but you can use whichever cooking oil you have). I know it may sound weird, but it really does the trick. If you don’t have Wondra, don’t worry about it. You can use an all-purpose flour and it’ll still achieve a crispiness. The batter on the fish will be a little thicker but it should still be crispy.
You can also fry the fish without the egg wash – just with either Wondra or your all-purpose flour. It’ll still be delicious. That said, I did like this extra coating from the egg.
What is Needed to Make Pan Fried Haddock Mediterranean Style
To make this Pan Fried Haddock you’ll need the:
- Fresh haddock – OR you can substitute Cod instead;
- Wondra flour; – OR all-purpose flour;
- Egg; &
- Salt & Pepper.
To make the Mediterranean-styled sauce you’ll need:
- Onions;
- Garlic;
- White wine (I recommend checking the freshness of your bottle, frequently!);
- Extra virgin olive oil;
- Chicken stock;
- Cherry tomatoes;
- Kalamata olives;
- Capers;
- Peperoncinis; &
- Fresh herbs (parsley & basil).
Alright, as you can see I threw peperoncini into the mix of ingredients here. Confession: Ever since I participated in this Mezzetta event I cannot stop putting peperoncini into everything. My husband is making fun of me and saying, “The Peperoncini Lady strikes again”. At the event I ate pan seared Bronzino with capers & peperoncini gremolata and it inspired me. This little pepper added a subtle kick of spiciness, but also a nice crunch and tanginess.
So, I decided to add them to this recipe and, lo & behold, the sauce really came out amazing! You can skip the peperoncini, but I highly recommend it.
If you are looking for a quick and easy dinner idea or a simple Mediterranean recipe this one will be a winner. It’s light, it’s fragrant, and it can be ready in just 20 minutes. Serve it with a bite of crusty bread and a glass of chilled white wine (provided you still have some) and simply enjoy! If you are adventurous you may want to start your dinner with a glass of chilled Andalusian Gazpacho.
If you’re looking for more ideas for Mediterranean recipes, check out my compilation of The Best Mediterranean Recipes.
Pan Fried Haddock Mediterranean Style
Ingredients
For the fish
- 3 fillets Haddock
- 2 tbsp flour Wondra
- 1 egg beaten
- 3 tbsp oil cooking
- Salt and Black Pepper
For the sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- 1/2 onion yellow, medium, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup white wine
- 1/4 cup chicken stock
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes cut in half
- 1/4 cup Kalamata olives
- 1 tbsp capers
- 1 tbsp peperoncini chopped
- Salt and Black Pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp parsley fresh, chopped
- 1 tbsp basil fresh, chopped
Instructions
- Season fish filets on both sides with salt and pepper, then cover with Wondra flour;
- Heat up the cooking oil in a frying pan;
- Beat an egg and coat the fish with the egg wash on both sides;
- Add the fish to the frying pan and fry on each side until golden brown, for 3-4 minutes on each side;
- In a separate pan, heat up extra virgin olive oil;
- Add chopped onions and cook for 2-3 minutes until translucent;
- Add chopped garlic and cook for one more minute;
- Add white wine and deglaze the pan;
- Add tomatoes, olives, capers and peperoncini and cook for 2-3 minutes;
- Add chicken stock and let it reduce by half (3-4 minutes);
- Sprinkle with fresh herbs and serve with the fish.
Nutrition
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Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.I only recommend what I like and use. Please only purchase what you need.
If you like this recipe you may also like these quick and easy dinner ideas in a skillet:
Brown Sugar Pork Chops with Garlic & Herbs
Fennel Chicken Mediterranean Style
Spanish Style Garlic Shrimp – Gambas al Ajillo
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These photos look so gorgeous and this dish is so up my alley! Pinned and will def be making asap!
Thank you Sues!
This looks excellent. So fresh and healthy!
Thank you Amy!
You had me at kalamata olives. I love them! What a great combination!
Thank you Juli!
We’re always trying to eat more fish. I’ll have to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Awesome Alison, I hope you’ll like it!
What a gorgeous, colorful dish! I love the idea of crispy fish in a sauce and appreciate your tips to make that happen. Pinning for sure.
Thanks Andrea!
Fixed this for dinner last night and was a huge hit! Love the flavor combos and the presentation. Definitely a keeper for our household
Thank you so much Kim! I’m really happy you like this fish. It’s my favorite. 🙂
Made this for guests last nigh. Made the sauce before they arrived – pan seared the fish – finished in the over and served on a platter with sauce on top. Everyone LOVED it. Thank you!!!!
Wonderful! Thank you 🙂
This was very enjoyable. The sauce is one that I will be using again, on fish and chicken.
This was my first attempt at your wonderful recipe, so that might explain why it took me over double the time to complete it. I think that the next time I try it (there will definitely be a next time!) I’ll be quicker at gathering all the ingredients.
Tips for other first-timers:
1. Put the tomatoes, kalamatas, capers, and pepperoncini together in one bowl.
2. I’ve noticed that haddock filets can be uneven in size. There’s usually a thinner portion attached to the fuller fillet. I cut the thin part off, and then cut the fuller filet in half. This allowed me to ensure all the pieces cooked evenly.
3. Prep time – I would suggest leaving yourself closer to ten minutes. There’s a lot of chopping here, and you’ve got to get the wine and chicken stock ready to go. You also have to prepare the egg and flour bowls. I served this with wild rice and sautéed spinach, so also keep in mind how long it will take to prep and cook your sides.