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Baked Plaice with Herb Butter
Plaice is a delicate fish with tender white flesh and a mild, slightly sweet flavour, making it perfect for simple cooking. In this recipe, fresh plaice fillets are baked with a generous spoonful of herb butter, allowing the butter to melt into the fish as it cooks.
Finished with fresh lemon and herbs, it's an easy seafood dinner that feels special without requiring much preparation.
Baked Plaice with Herb Butter
Serves: 2
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 10–15 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients
For the plaice
- 2 fresh plaice fillets
- 40g unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
- 1 tsp fresh dill, finely chopped
- Zest of ½ lemon
- ½ lemon, cut into wedges
- 1 small garlic clove, finely grated or crushed
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
To serve
- Fresh parsley or dill
- Lemon wedges
- New potatoes, crushed potatoes or chips
- Seasonal greens or a simple salad
Method
1. Make the herb butter
Add the softened butter to a small bowl and mix in the chopped parsley, chives and dill.
Add the lemon zest and garlic, then season with a little salt and black pepper.
Mix everything together until the herbs are evenly distributed through the butter.
2. Prepare the plaice
Preheat your oven to 200°C / 180°C fan / Gas Mark 6.
Pat the plaice fillets dry with kitchen paper and place them in a lightly oiled baking dish.
Season lightly with salt and black pepper.
Divide the herb butter between the fillets, spreading it gently over the top of the fish.
Add a couple of lemon slices or wedges to the dish.
3. Bake the plaice
Place the dish in the oven and bake for around 10–15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets.
The plaice should be opaque and tender, with the flesh separating easily when tested with a fork.
The butter will melt during cooking, creating a light, herby sauce around the fish.
4. Finish and serve
Remove the plaice from the oven and spoon some of the melted herb butter from the dish over the fillets.
Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon and a little extra chopped parsley or dill.
Serve straight away with your choice of potatoes and seasonal vegetables.
What to Serve with Baked Plaice
The herb butter works particularly well with simple sides that let the fish remain the star of the dish.
Try serving it with:
- Buttery new potatoes
- Crispy roast potatoes
- Crushed potatoes
- Chips
- Steamed green beans
- Tenderstem broccoli
- Peas
- A fresh green salad
- Roasted seasonal vegetables
For a lighter dinner, serve the plaice with steamed greens and a fresh salad. For something more substantial, crispy potatoes and seasonal vegetables make a great combination.
Why This Recipe Works
Plaice has a delicate flavour and tender texture, so it doesn't need complicated seasoning. The herb butter adds richness while the lemon brings freshness and helps balance the buttery sauce.
Using a mixture of parsley, chives and dill gives the butter plenty of fresh flavour without overpowering the fish.
It's also a particularly easy way to cook plaice: once the herb butter is made, everything goes into one baking dish and the oven does the rest.
Fishmonger's Tip
Keep an eye on the plaice while it cooks. The fillets are relatively thin and can cook quickly. As soon as the flesh becomes opaque and flakes easily, they're ready to serve. Don't leave them in the oven longer than necessary.
Looking for Fresh Plaice?
Our fresh plaice fillets are prepared by our experienced fishmongers and ready to cook at home. Their delicate texture makes them ideal for simple dishes like this, as well as pan-frying, grilling or breadcrumbing.