I worked as a fishing guide at a fishing lodge in Alaska for a few years. One of my favorite things to catch and eat was rockfish. I've had rockfish a lot of different ways, but the grilled rockfish recipe I'm sharing here is one of my absolute favorite grilled rockfish recipes.
I love the firm white flesh of rockfish. If you have easy access to rockfish that's great! But if you don't that's ok too. Other fish you can use in this recipe are Walleye, Catfish, Halibut, and Striped Bass.
How to Prepare for This Grilled Rockfish Recipe
For this grilled rockfish recipe, you need about one pound of rockfish fillets, with the skin removed. If the fish has been previously frozen make sure it has completely defrosted prior to prepping.
One of the reasons I really like this recipe is because of how simple it is. The flavor is complex, but it only takes about 15 minutes to prepare, and another 15 minutes to cook this grilled rockfish recipe.
Before you start prepping the rockfish fillets set up your grill or smoker to cook at 425 degrees. I used pecan wood pellets for this cook.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place each of the fillets on the paper.
In a small bowl combine the following ingredients:
- ¼ cup mayo
- ¼ cup sour cream
- Lemon Zest
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 Tbsp chopped fresh dill
- 2 Tbsp paprika based bbq rub - I used my pork and poultry rub here
- Juice of one lemon
Lather the sauce over each of the fillets in a thin layer. This will keep the fillets from drying out while being cooked, and add some incredible flavor.
In another bowl combine these ingredients:
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 Tbsp chopped fresh dill
- Lemon zest
- ½ Tbsp bbq rub
Sprinkle the dry breadcrumb mixture over the fillets to evenly coat.
Grilling Rockfish Fillets
Place the pan of rockfish fillets in your grill or smoker when it is up to temp, and let the fillets cook for about 15 minutes. They're done when an instant-read thermometer reads 145 degrees.
I love how easy this recipe is to prepare. The dill and lemon pair together really well, and I loved that the sauce kept the fillets from drying out. I hope you give this recipe a try! If you do, leave a message in the comments or give the recipe a rating to let me know what you think.
Lemon Dill Grilled Rockfish
Ingredients
- 2 rockfish fillets - 16 ounces total
Sauce
- ¼ cup mayo
- ¼ cup sour cream
- Lemon Zest
- 1 clove of garlic minced
- 1 Tbsp fresh dill chopped
- 2 Tbsp BBQ Rub
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 Tbsp fresh dill chopped
- Lemon Zest
Instructions
- Set up your smoker or grill to cook at 425 degrees.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place each of the fillets on the paper.
- Combine the sauce ingredients and then apply a thin layer of the sauce to each fillet.
- Combine the breadcrumb mixture and sprinkle over each of the fillets
- Cook the fillets in your grill or smoker for 15 minutes. They're done when an instant-read thermometer hits 145 degrees in the thickest part of the fillet.
Recipe was amazing! I didn't have fresh chives but it didn't affect the flavor. Making fish tacos tomorrow with leftovers.
Great recipe. I used in the sauce paprika and ancho chili powder, served with finely chopped flat leaf parsley.