Grilled Fish Sandwiches With Salsa Verde (2024)

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By Ellie Krieger

The flavor of these grilled fish sandwiches is driven by a bright and herbaceous Spanish-style parsley salsa verde. Generously added to the sandwiches, the sauce gets its punchy flavor from garlic, lemon, anchovies and crushed red pepper flakes. The ample juices and salsa are bound to escape the sandwiches as you eat, so be sure to have napkins on hand.

You’ll probably have a little leftover salsa verde. It’s great to spread on a sandwich; to drizzle on avocado toast, grilled or sauteed vegetables; or to toss with white beans, cooked shrimp, chicken and/or potatoes.

Storage: Refrigerate the leftover fish for up to 2 days and the salsa verde for up to 4 days.

From cookbook author and registered dietitian nutritionist Ellie Krieger.

Featured in:

Grilled fish sandwiches with salsa verde are a delicious mess

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Ingredients

measuring cup

Servings: 4(makes 4 sandwiches)

For the salsa verde

  • 2 cups packed flat-leaf parsley leaves and tender stems (from 1 medium bunch)
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 oil-packed anchovies, coarsely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced or finely grated
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest (from 1/2 lemon)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (from the same 1/2 lemon)
  • 1/8 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, plus more to taste

For the sandwiches

  • 1 tablespoon neutral oil, such as olive, avocado or canola, plus more for the grill/pan (see Notes)
  • 1 medium red onion (8 ounces), peeled and cut into 1/4-inch-thick rounds
  • Four (4- to 5-ounce) firm white fish fillets, such as halibut, mahi mahi, grouper or tilapia, patted dry
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 hamburger buns
  • 4 leaves red or green leaf lettuce

Directions

Time Icon Total: 30 mins

  1. Step 1

    Make the salsa verde: In a food processor, combine the parsley, oil, anchovies, garlic, water, lemon zest and juice, salt and crushed red pepper flakes, and process until smooth, stopping as needed to scrape down the sides with a flexible spatula. You should have about 2/3 cup.

  2. Step 2

    Make the sandwiches: Prepare the grill for direct heat (if using a grill pan, see Notes). If using a gas grill, set it to 450 degrees. If using a charcoal grill, fill a chimney starter with charcoal, light it, and when the coals are white-gray with ash, pour them onto charcoal grate, adding more charcoal, if necessary. Put the lid on the grill, making sure the vents are open all the way. When all of the coals are gray and hot, about 15 minutes, your grill should be medium-hot. (Use a grill thermometer, or test the heat by holding your hand, palm-down, about 4 inches from the grate, making sure that nothing flammable, such as clothing, is near the heat. If you can hold it there for about 4 seconds, the heat should be at medium, or about 450 degrees.) Pull your hand away from the heat before it gets painful.

  3. Step 3

    Lightly brush both sides of the fish and onion rounds with the oil and season one side with the salt and pepper.

  4. Step 4

    Place the fish and onion on the grill, and cook until grill marks form on the bottom, the onion softens and the fish is no longer translucent and flakes easily under the tines of a fork, 2 to 3 minutes per side for the onion and 3 to 4 minutes per side for the fish. Try not to move the fish too much, as it may fall apart.

  5. Step 5

    Toast the buns either on the grill or grill pan, or in a toaster.

  6. Step 6

    To assemble the sandwiches, spread about 1 tablespoon of the salsa verde onto the bottom side of each bun. Top each with a piece of fish. (If you prefer, trim the fish as needed to fit nicely in the bun.) Top with another 1 tablespoon of the salsa verde, then pile with the grilled onions, lettuce – gently crack on the ribs so the leaves lay flat – and the tops of the buns.

Substitutions

Gluten-free? >> Use gluten-free hamburger buns in place of regular buns.
Parsley >> cilantro.
Lemon >> lime.
Don’t care for anchovies? >> Skip them or add capers to taste.
Red onion >> an onion of your choosing.

Variations

To make this on a grill pan: Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush both sides of the fish and the grill pan with oil. Working in batches, if necessary, place the fish and onion on the pan, and cook until grill marks form on the bottom, the onion softens and the fish is no longer translucent and flakes easily under the tines of a fork, 2 to 3 minutes per side for the onion and 3 to 4 minutes per side for the fish. Try not to move the fish too much, as it may fall apart.

Notes

When choosing the oil for grilling, opt for one that’s suitable for high-heat cooking (with a high smoking point) such as avocado or canola.

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Nutritional Facts

Per serving (1 sandwich, using 4-ounce fillets, plus 2 tablespoons salsa verde)

  • Calories

    402

  • Fat

    31 g

  • Saturated Fat

    5 g

  • Carbohydrates

    14 g

  • Sodium

    420 mg

  • Cholesterol

    53 mg

  • Protein

    22 g

  • Fiber

    1 g

  • Sugar

    4 g

This analysis is an estimate based on available ingredients and this preparation. It should not substitute for a dietitian’s or nutritionist’s advice.

From cookbook author and registered dietitian nutritionist Ellie Krieger.

Tested by Olga Massov.

Published June 5, 2024

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