Haddock Gratin With Mushroom Cream Sauce

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 05/19/22
Baked Haddock With Mushroom Cream Sauce
Diana Rattray
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 45 mins
Servings: 4 servings

This easy fish meal makes a wonderful weeknight dinner for busy households. If you struggle to find nutritious dishes that won't take hours of your time to make, gratins like this one are great alternatives. Haddock fillets with a creamy mushroom sauce are topped with buttery breadcrumbs and optional cheese to make a delightful casserole full of flavor. A few minutes of preparation and then straight to the oven for 30 minutes are all that you need to serve this wonderful recipe. Serve with garlic pasta, baked potatoes, or rice. A simple green salad will add a touch of freshness to your dish. but any other vegetable of your choice will pair well with this mildly sweet fish. For a beautiful presentation and an extra layer of tangy flavor, sprinkle the fish with Parmesan cheese and bake for an additional 4 minutes.

Haddock might not be the first option you think of when fish shopping, but it is an incredibly tasty fish. Its flesh is firm but flakes beautifully after it's been cooked, and it doesn't carry that fishy flavor that prevents many from trying new types of fish. This is a great alternative if you're not fond of strong-tasting varieties of fish. It's also rich in protein and selenium, a mineral that is key for metabolic and thyroid function. A 6-ounce serving, like the one you'll be serving per person with this recipe, has 126 calories, almost 27 grams of protein—an outstanding amount considering you just need 0.8 grams of protein a day per kilogram of weight—less than 1 gram of fat, and 44 micrograms of selenium, or 80 percent of the recommended daily intake for adults.

When choosing fresh fish fillets, look for a bright and glossy color, with a firm texture that bounces back when you press down. The fillets should smell briny but not fishy, and any greyish discoloration or slimy texture should be avoided. If you're buying frozen fish, that can be a budget-friendly option as frozen seafood tends to be cheaper than fresh, and it's also nutritionally perfect because it's frozen at the peak of freshness so there is no loss of nutrients or flavor. Simply thaw the frozen fillets, still in their plastic wrap, in cold water for 20 to 30 minutes.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds haddock fillets, cut into large chunks

  • Herb seasoning blend, to taste, optional

  • Kosher salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 4 tablespoons (2 ounces) unsalted butter, divided

  • 1 small clove garlic, finely minced

  • 1/2 cup mushrooms, thinly sliced

  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 2 tablespoons sherry

  • 1 1/2 cups half-and-half, or light cream

  • 1 dash paprika

  • 1/4 cup breadcrumbs, plain or garlic-flavored

  • Grated or shredded cheese, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Heat the oven to  375 F / 190 C / Gas 5. Sprinkle fish pieces lightly with salt, pepper, and dried herb blend. Arrange the fillets in a shallow baking dish or individual au gratin dishes or ramekins.

  3. In a saucepan, melt 3 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat. Add garlic and mushrooms; slowly saute until mushrooms are tender and golden. Stir in flour until smooth and dissolved into the butter. Continue cooking, stirring, for 2 minutes.

  4. Gradually stir the cream into the flour mixture. Stir in sherry. Continue cooking and stirring until thickened. Add salt, pepper, and paprika, to taste. Spoon over the haddock

  5. Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter over low heat; add bread crumbs and stir to combine thoroughly. Sprinkle bread crumbs over haddock and sauce. Bake in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

  6. If desired, sprinkle with a little shredded or grated cheese and continue baking for 2 to 4 minutes longer to melt cheese.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
487 Calories
30g Fat
14g Carbs
39g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 487
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 30g 39%
Saturated Fat 17g 83%
Cholesterol 196mg 65%
Sodium 685mg 30%
Total Carbohydrate 14g 5%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 39g
Vitamin C 2mg 9%
Calcium 129mg 10%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 831mg 18%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)
Article Sources
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  1. Haddock, Raw. FoodData Central. United States Department of Agriculture.