Food & Drinks

14 phenomenal fish recipes to cook up for Good Friday – or whenever you’re craving a taste of the ocean

Whoever said meat-free had to be restrictive?!
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Good Friday is just around the corner, which means we have the perfect excuse to start planning what delicious fish recipes we can serve up while we kick back and enjoy a rare Friday off work!

The tradition of forgoing meat and sticking to fish on Good Friday dates back centuries.

Christians believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins on a Friday – and so Fridays were seen by many as a day of penance – but they wanted to honour that sacrifice through food.

Because meat was seen as a delicacy that was saved for special occasions, it was also seen as inappropriate to eat on Good Friday.

Fish dishes are a big deal on Easter Friday.

(Image: Pexels)

According to the Bible, it’s technically the flesh of warm-blooded animals that are off-limits on this day. But as fish are cold-blooded, they’re considered fair game.

Of course, it’s not just strict Christians who love a little seafood ahead of Easter, and plenty of families opt to eat fish on Good Friday even if they’re not religious.

That’s why you’ll see massive queues at the fish markets and at your local supermarket on the Thursday evening before the Easter long weekend, as Aussies stock up on seafood to honour this tradition.

It’s the perfect excuse to eat a delicious – and healthy – holiday meal, so here are 14 mouth-watering fish recipes from The Australian Women’s Weekly that are guaranteed crowd-pleasers, no matter what you’re doing this Easter.

Crumbed fish burgers with cabbage slaw and chilli mayo

Crumbed fish burgers with cabbage slaw and chilli mayo

Impress your family with these delicious homemade fish burgers, complete with a crunchy panko coating and rich and creamy cabbage slaw and mayonnaise sauce.

See the full Australian Women’s Weekly recipe here.

Grilled fish with mango salsa and coconut rice

Grilled fish with mango salsa and coconut rice

Looking for fresh, flavoursome dinner ideas? Then don’t go past this tender, succulent grilled fish with a fresh fruity mango salsa and creamy coconut rice!

See the full Australian Women’s Weekly recipe here.

Tuna tartare

Tuna tartare

These adorable little morsels make a great canape for when your guests start to arrive.

See the full Australian Women’s Weekly recipe here.

Teriyaki salmon

Teriyaki salmon

Sticky and deeply savoury teriyaki sauce makes the perfect dressing for plump, rare-grilled salmon fillets.

See the full Australian Women’s Weekly recipe here.

Tuna dip

Tuna dip

Don’t be fooled by the list of simple ingredients. This tuna dip never fails to be a winner. Serve with a crusty, sliced baguette, or crispy corn chips and watch it disappear.

See the full Australian Women’s Weekly recipe here.

Salmon Wellington

Salmon Wellington

An impressive dish with attractive layers of golden pastry, greens and vibrant salmon.

See the full Australian Women’s Weekly recipe here.

Salmon quichettes

Salmon quichettes

If you’re looking for a simple and tasty finger food to that will please a crowd, look no further than these salmon quichettes. They are delicious hot or cold and a also make a perfect after school snack.

See the full Australian Women’s Weekly recipe here.

Salmon pinwheels

Salmon pinwheels

There is no better match than cream cheese and soft smoked salmon. With dill, mint, capers and lemon juice you’ll find you just can’t stop eating these refreshing pinwheels.

See the full Australian Women’s Weekly recipe here.

Salmon pies

Salmon pies

These are so cute! And perfect for a Good Friday lunch or dinner as the weather cools down.

See the full Australian Women’s Weekly recipe here.

Salmon ceviche

Salmon ceviche

We used a baguette for the garlic toast. If making this dish a few hours ahead, combine ingredients, except for cucumber, in large bowl; toss cucumber through just before serving. The longer the salmon marinates with the lime, the more ‘cooked’ it will be.

See the full Australian Women’s Weekly recipe here.

Fish Provençale

Fish Provençale

Deeply savoury and rich with tomato and Mediterranean vegetables, this simple baked fish dish makes and excellent shared lunch or dinner.

See the full Australian Women’s Weekly recipe here.

Poached salmon

Poached salmon

This three kilogram fillet of salmon will be the hero of the table. It sounds intimidating, but it’s actually super simple. And then your main is sorted!

See the full Australian Women’s Weekly recipe here.

Julie Goodwin’s fish tacos

Julie Goodwin’s fish tacos

Escape to summer with Julie Goodwin’s fresh and delicious fish tacos – quick and easy, and simply divine!

See the full Australian Women’s Weekly recipe here.

Cajun fish

Cajun fish

Beans, tomato and red onion make the perfect bed for these tender, flaky fish fillets dressed with a cajun spice rub.

See the full Australian Women’s Weekly recipe here.

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