Fishing is one of my husband's favorite pastimes at our lake house in the Northwest Territories. We love fish, and when he reeled in a gorgeous walleye, I just knew I had to try this idea for a baked walleye recipe with lemon and almonds. Read on for this easy and quick recipe.
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Walleye fillets are one of our favorite white fish fillets because of their flaky texture and flavor. This recipe highlights the natural qualities of walleye with just a few simple ingredients that really bring out the taste.
Walleye is a prized freshwater fish with a flaky texture and a delicate taste. You can fish for it around the Great Lakes area, including Lake Michigan and Lake Erie. And if you're really adventurous, you could even catch one while ice fishing!
When you add lemon wedges and almonds, you get a meal that's not easy to prepare but also healthy.
How to Make Baked Walleye with Lemon and Almonds
⬇️Want the printable recipe card? It's at the bottom of this post.⬇️
This recipe is the easiest way to bake fish fast. While I used walleye, it could work with any flaky white fish.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need to make this recipe. It makes four servings.
- 4 - 4 oz walleye filets or another type of white fish
- ¼ cup flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ cup sliced almonds, roughly chopped
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- Olive oil for greasing
- Fresh lemon juice and lemon slices for garnish
- Parmesan cheese (optional) for added flavor
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Directions
When teaching kids how to cook, choose this recipe. It's a great introduction to fish recipes because it's simple and uses few ingredients.
1. Prep Your Baking Dish: Grease a shallow baking pan with olive oil. Preheating your oven to 350ºF ensures it's ready to perfectly cook the walleye fillets.
2. Mix Dry Ingredients: Combine flour, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
3. Make The Egg Wash: Whisk the egg and milk in another bowl. This mixture will help the almond-breadcrumb coating stick to the walleye.
4. Almond-Breadcrumb Coating: Mix the almonds and breadcrumbs in a third bowl. This crunchy coating is the key to the dish's textural contrast.
5. Coat the Walleye Fillets: First, pat the walleye fillets dry with paper towels. Then, coat each filet in the flour mixture, dip it in the egg wash, and cover it with the almond-breadcrumb mix. The dry-wet-dry method is crucial for achieving that perfect breading.
6. Bake: Place fish fillets in the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork. The cooking time may vary slightly based on the thickness of your fish fillets.
Serving Suggestions
Another reason I love this baked walleye with lemon recipe is its versatility. There are so many ways to serve it.
Lemon Butter Sauce
- Prepare a simple lemon butter sauce while the walleye bakes.
- Just heat fresh lemon juice in a pan, add a knob of butter, and whisk until emulsified.
- Sprinkle fish with the melted butter mixture before serving for an extra burst of lemony flavor.
Garnishes
Lemon slices or lemon zest and fresh parsley, basil, dill or other fresh herbs add a pop of color. These herbs also enhance the dish's fresh, citrusy aroma.
Side Dishes for White Fish
A side of green beans sautéed in olive oil or sprinkled with parmesan cheese beautifully complements the walleye's nutty and citrus notes.
In the summer, I serve this with Watermelon Rind Salad. Sometimes, I also serve Pickled Red Onions.
In cooler weather, I'll bake a whole grain artisan loaf or sourdough discard biscuits as well.
Baked Walleye with Lemon Recipe FAQs
You have questions, we have answers!
What makes walleye such a great fish for baking?
Walleye is lean with a flaky texture and a mild, sweet flavor. It absorbs other flavors well. So it's perfect for lemon and almonds. And, by the way, you can use lemon pepper seasoning or just black pepper and butter for this white fish recipe.
Can I make this dish ahead of time?
You know, you could prepare the walleye up to the point of baking and refrigerate it for 2-3 hours before you're ready to cook. But I really believe you should bake it fresh for the best texture and flavor.
How do I ensure my walleye doesn't dry out in the oven?
Ensure your oven is preheated correctly and avoid overcooking to keep walleye moist and tender. The fish is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 140ºF and flakes easily. The olive oil in the baking dish also helps to lock in moisture.
Baked Walleye Recipe with Lemon for the Win
This baked walleye with lemon and almonds recipe proves you don't need a long list of ingredients or fancy kitchen equipment to cook great food.
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Easy Baked Walleye Recipe with Lemon and Almonds
Discover an easy-baked walleye recipe with lemon, perfect for a healthy, flavorful meal. It uses simple ingredients and is full of taste.
Ingredients
- 4 - 4 oz walleye filets
- ¼ cup flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ cup sliced almonds, roughly chopped
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- In one shallow bowl, combine flour, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- In another shallow bowl, whisk egg and milk together.
- In a third bowl, combine almonds and breadcrumbs.
- Coat each walleye filet in the flour mixture. Then dredge it in the egg mixture. Next, cover it in the almond breadcrumb combination.
- Place breaded filets in a greased baking dish.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until internal temperature of filets reach 140ºF.
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Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 382Total Fat 15gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 10gCholesterol 193mgSodium 791mgCarbohydrates 20gFiber 3gSugar 2gProtein 41g
This recipe appeared first on Recipes From Leftovers.