Oven baked dorade with broccoli and cherry tomatoes

When nothing is sure, everything is possible!

No matter how many hard punches life throws at you, the most important thing is to get back on your feet and keep living it to its fullest. Treat each dinner like a celebration of life – or rather each meal. Food is one of the most affordable pleasures in life (unfortunately denied to some…).

The other day we were having breakfast with a couple of our friends – people who love good food as much as we do. And we were discussing all those new and old restaurants in town – ones worth to visit and ones best to avoid. As a friend said – it is quite difficult not to be too picky when you can make delicious food at home and it does not seem like rocket science. Truth be told, it is getting quite difficult to justify going to a restaurant, unless it is really and please allow me to emphasise – really super good!

I will keep repeating myself – cooking delicious food is absolutely no rocket science. Take this dish for a very good example – just a few ingredients, very little hassle and it will be ready in almost no time.

Oven baked dorade with broccoli and cherry tomatoes

2 Dorades (sea breams)
250 g Cherry tomatoes
1 Broccoli
1 Garlic
1 tbsp Butter
Fresh herbs
Salt’n’pepper
Olive oil

Heat the oven to 160-170 degrees.
Sprinkle the pan with a bit of olive oil, lay out the fish and place a few sprigs of fresh herbs inside with a pinch of salt. Our fresh thyme started showing up already, I also threw in a few sprigs of parsley.
Lay out cherry tomatoes next to it. I like leaving the stems on – they do add a bit of flavor. Add unpeeled garlic cloves – they will be super creamy and rich once cooked.
Bake the fish for ~25 minutes, depending on its size. To test if the fish is cooked, try separating it off the back bone with a fork. If it comes off easily, the fish is done.
Don’t overcook it. If the fish is fresh, it’s best to have it slightly under, than overcooked.
In the meantime, cut off the broccoli stems and steam them in a pot with a bit of water and a pinch of salt. Give it 7-10 minutes, drain water and toss in a pan with 1 tablespoon of melted butter. Should you wish to add more flavor – try a teaspoon of soy or a pinch of garlic salt.
And this is it! Serve and enjoy!

So with just a few minutes of prep, you’ll have a delicious meal! No beautiful dorades at the fishmongers? Try trout or cod (cod will cook less).