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Slow-Cooked Fish With Citrus and Herbs 

By Andy Baraghani

Updated March 18, 2025

Slow-Cooked Fish With Citrus and Herbs 
Emma Fishman for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Rebecca Jurkevich. Prop stylist: Sophia Eleni Pappas.
Total Time
45 minutes
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
35 minutes
Rating
5(318)
Comments
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During Nowruz, the Persian New Year, it’s customary to serve fish alongside sabzi polo, buttery herbed saffron rice, as a nod to renewal and prosperity. Traditionally, white fish is smoked or fried, but this dish brings in many of the same key ingredients — fragrant saffron, fresh herbs and citrus — while embracing a more effortless, slow-roasted approach. A flaky white fish like cod or halibut works beautifully here, but salmon also works and tastes especially luxurious when bathed in olive oil, garlic and dill.

Featured in: 5 Herby, Bright and Brilliant Recipes for Nowruz

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Ingredients

Yield:6 servings 
  • 1teaspoon saffron threads 
  • 3medium leeks, trimmed 
  • ¾cup extra-virgin olive oil 
  • 6garlic cloves, thinly sliced 
  • 1lemon (preferably Meyer), very thinly sliced into rounds, seeds picked out 
  • 1clementine or mandarin orange, very thinly sliced, seeds picked out 
  • Salt 
  • 2½pounds boneless, skinless halibut, cod or salmon, preferably one large center-cut piece
  • ½cup coarsely chopped dill or tarragon or a combination 
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

450 calories; 30 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 21 grams monounsaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 9 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 3 grams sugars; 36 grams protein; 658 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Crush the saffron threads into a fine powder in a mortar and pestle. (If you don’t have a mortar and pestle, use a spoon to crush it as finely as you can.) Dump out the ground saffron into a small bowl and pour 3 tablespoons of warm water over it. Set aside.

  2. Step 2

    Cut the leeks in half lengthwise then coarsely chop. Give the leeks a good rinse to get rid of any dirt or sand.

  3. Step 3

    Heat ¼ cup of oil in a large skillet over medium. Add the leeks and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft but not browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and all citrus slices, season with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic and citrus have softened and everything smells very delicious, 2 to 3 minutes. Slide the skillet off the heat and scoop out half the leek mixture into a small bowl.

  4. Step 4

    Generously season the fish with salt on all sides and place in the center of the skillet over the leeks. Pour the saffron water over and around the fish, then top with the remaining leek mixture. Scatter the dill all over and pour in the remaining ½ cup oil. Transfer the skillet to the oven.

  5. Step 5

    Bake until the fish is opaque and easily flakes off with a fork around the thickest part, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve as is in the skillet or use two forks to tear the fish into large pieces and transfer to a platter. Spoon all the leeks, citrus and fat over, taste and season with more salt if needed, and serve.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
318 user ratings
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Comments

Erin in Napa

This is one of my favorite recipes from NYT Cooking and I do not say that lightly. I used a large piece of salmon and followed the instructions exactly. It was so easy to prepare and is completely delicious! I wanted something to soak up the delicious oil and flavors so I prepared skinny egg pasta and tossed the pasta with the oil from the pan and then set the salmon on top. Can’t wait to have this again!!

Elene

Why so much oil? It sounds unbelievably greasy. Could it be done with less?

Michael UWS

Everyone just STOP. This is the best dish I have ever made from NYT cooking. I did reduce the amount of saffron a bit: it felt more like a flirt than persistence. In this very unclear national and global moment, this dish provided my family with a quiet assurance that, with a little effort, joy and gratitude can be found. Fragrant, copious, and nourishing: there is the possibility of a brighter tomorrow. My husband said he’d pay $50 for this dish in a city restaurant. It’s that good.

Harper

I strongly dislike cod but ended up with a couple of fillets. Decided to try this recipe, prepared it as written. You guys. It is seriously amazing. Had me going back for seconds with a fish I usually avoid. And, it’s easy and doesn’t take much time at all. I can see how this would be an excellent recipe to pull out for a dinner party.

Mike A

This came out incredibly bitter. I think it was something with the rinds from the citrus?

Tina

This is such a simple but flavorful dish! Don’t skimp on anything. I added thinly sliced zucchini to the pan to cook in the oven and served over Jasmine rice.

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