Okay, so I was browsing online the other day, looking for something new to cook, and I came across a bunch of recipes for baked crappie. I love fish, and crappie sounded interesting, so I thought, why not give it a shot? I mean, I’ve grilled and fried fish before, but baking? That was new territory for me.
First thing I did was head to the grocery store to grab some crappie fillets. I wanted to start simple, you know? Didn’t find crappie fillets, so bought the whole crappie. While I was there, I also picked up some basic seasonings like salt, pepper, garlic powder – the usual suspects. I figured I’d keep it simple for my first try and not go too crazy with the flavors.
Back home, I preheated my oven to around 375 degrees Fahrenheit. While that was heating up, I rinsed the fish under cold water and patted them dry with paper towels. Gotta get rid of that excess moisture, right? Then, I laid the fish out on a baking sheet that I had lightly greased with some olive oil. No sticking allowed!
Next came the seasoning. I sprinkled both sides of the fish with salt, pepper, and a bit of garlic powder. I’m a big fan of garlic, so I might have gone a little heavy-handed there, but hey, no regrets. You can totally adjust the seasonings to your liking, though. Some people like to add paprika or lemon pepper, but I was feeling the classic vibe this time around.
- Step 1: Get some crappie, clean them up, and pat them dry.
- Step 2: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Step 3: Grease a baking sheet.
- Step 4: Season the fish. Go wild, or keep it chill.
- Step 5: Pop them in the oven for about 15-20 minutes.
Once the fish was seasoned, I popped the baking sheet into the oven and set a timer for 15 minutes. The recipes I saw online said to bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the fish was cooked through and flaky. I kept an eye on them, and after about 18 minutes, they looked perfect.
The Verdict
I pulled the baking sheet out of the oven, and let me tell you, the smell was amazing. The fish was golden brown and looked super juicy. I served it up with a side of roasted veggies, and it was a hit. The crappie was tender, flaky, and full of flavor. Even my picky-eater kiddo loved it! I will definitely be making this again. Maybe next time I’ll try a different seasoning combo, or even a whole baked crappie. The possibilities are endless!
So, if you’re looking for a new way to cook fish, give baked crappie a try. It’s easy, delicious, and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
