Flounder are one of the most sought-after food fish by anglers wherever they are found. Flounder are a white, mild fish that fits great into many quick and easy recipes. Although they are terrific fried, the taste of flounder lends itself to sauces containing butter and/or cheese.
In the northern part of their range on the Atlantic Coast flounder are known as fluke. Summer flounder range down to the Carolinas, where they are replaced by southern flounder which can be found in the south Atlantic and along the Gulf Coast.
In North Carolina we catch both summer and southern flounder and the species overlap.
Flounder Parmesan
2 lbs flounder fillets
1 egg
3⁄4 cup bread crumbs
1⁄2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
small or 1⁄2 onion, chopped
olive oil
garlic powder, salt and pepper
Place the onion in a frying pan with enough olive oil to sauté it. Whisk the egg in a bowl. Combine the bread crumbs, cheese, and a dash each of the seasonings. Coat fish with egg and roll through crumb mixture. Increase the temperature in the frying pan to med high and fry the fish quickly with the sautéd onions, adding a little more olive oil if necessary. Don’t overcook; fish is done when it flakes with a fork. Serve with cocktail sauce on the side. Serves 4.
Beachfront Baked Flounder
2 lbs flounder fillets
1 small onion, chopped
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon thyme
dash parsley and salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter and pour into shallow baking dish. Put fillets in butter, add lemon juice and thyme, and put onions around the side. Bake 20 minutes, add a dash of parsley and salt over top with 4 minutes left. Pour juices over fillets before serving. Serves 4-5.
Oven Baked Flounder
2 lbs thick flounder fillets
1 cup bread crumbs
1 cup milk
1/3 cup butter, melted
1⁄2 teaspoon garlic powder
1⁄2 teaspoon oregano
dash salt and pepper
Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Add garlic, oregano, salt and pepper to bread crumbs. Dip fillets in milk and roll in crumb mixture. Place on greased baking sheet and drizzle with butter. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Serves 4 to 5.
Southern Fried Flounder
1 1⁄2 lb flounder fillets
1 cup whole milk
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup pancake mix
veggie oil
lemon wedges
parsley sprigs
In a mixing bowl combine cornmeal and pancake mix and cornmeal, stir. Heat about 2 inches of oil in a heavy skillet (to around 350 degrees). Place flounder fillets in milk until drenched, then dredge through cornmeal/pancake mix coating well. Deep-fry fillet sin oil, turning once, until golden brown (about 4 1⁄2 minutes). Dry on paper towels, serve garnished with lemon wedges and parsley springs. Serves 4-5.
For more fish and seafood recipes, as well as information on catching flounder, see my blog A Dash Of Salty.
