Rich and succulent! This baked parmesan crusted fish is topped with parmesan, mayonnaise, and a blend of Italian herbs then baked in olive oil. Definitely, a must-try!
Before serving this dish be sure to squeeze some fresh lemon juice on top. It gives a zing and cuts the creaminess of the parmesan cheese mixture.
I love discovering “hidden” restaurants. Cookbook Kitchen was one of our gem finds in Mandaluyong city way back in 2008. I found out about this restaurant through a blog, and my ever-supportive then boyfriend now husband agreed to give it a try. The place was not easy to find as it is tucked inside a residential area. Hubby was really good with driving directions and rarely gets lost, but I remember we were traversing Shaw Boulevard because we couldn’t find the place. If only we had Waze or Google maps at that time!
Once we found the place, it was literally a house turned into a restaurant. A part of the house was converted to a gym, which I found peculiar. But inside the restaurant, it was very cozy and felt like you were eating inside somebody’s home.
Since then we kept coming back to Cookbook Kitchen and even recommended it to family and friends. The reason? It’s because we got addicted to their Pork Steak with Honey Mustard Sauce and Parmesan Crusted Fish – the best seller of the house. The fish is so tender and for me, the rich and succulent topping is the winner! I have always wondered how they made this topping. I initially thought it was like a bechamel or cream sauce, but I was wrong. I tried recreating this dish at home several times and finally found the secret ingredient – mayonnaise! Mayonnaise, when baked, gives a creamy taste and with the addition of olive oil, parmesan cheese, and lots of rosemary and thyme the outcome is YUMMY!
I was so glad we have “hacked” the recipe as that also meant savings for us. Usually, for 2 people, our bill was between 700 and 800 pesos – not exactly cheap for us young yuppies 10 years ago.
Parmesan Crusted White Fish
Ingredients
- 2 pieces Pangasius cream dory fish fillets or any white, neutral tasting, flaky fish like basa
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ⅔ cup mayonnaise (Note 1)
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese (Note 3)
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary divided
- ½ slice of a lemon cut into wedges
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C).
- Wash the (defrosted) Cream Dory fillets and pat dry with paper towels. Lay the fillets in a small shallow, baking dish – preferably oval shaped. Pour the olive oil and spread it on the fish. Bake it for 15-20 mins or until fish is flaky. Be careful not to overcook the fish.
- While fish is baking, prepare the parmesan mixture. In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, parmesan cheese, thyme, and half of the rosemary. Mix them together.
- When fish is cooked, take out the fish from the oven. If the fish has become watery, scoop out the excess water but try to leave the oil olive. Evenly spread the parmesan mixture on top then sprinkle the remaining half teaspoon of thyme on top. Return to oven and bake for another 10 mins.
- Once the parmesan mixture has set, broil the fish for another 2-3 minutes to brown the top. (Note 2)
- Squeeze a wedge of lemon on top. Serve hot with the remaining lemon wedges on the side.
I’ve been using your recipe for a few months now and it’s a hit each time! I used to love the baked fish from 8 & Company in Mandaluyong, which apparently is the same team behind Cookbook Kitchen. I miss them so much! I found your page because I was looking for them. Thank you for this copycat recipe 😀
Oh you are welcome! So happy we can recreate this in our own kitchen!
Just used this recipe with FRESH lake whitefish caught through the ice yesterday. Awesome!!!
Oh I am jealous – nothing beats fresh fish! Thank you for sharing your feedback, Brian. 🙂
Did this recipe on the grill for everything accept the broiler
It is fantastic
Oooh, that sounds delicious! Thank you so much, Jon, for taking the time to leave your feedback. 🙂
This recipe was better than perfection!
oh yum. this parmesan crusted fish looks amazing, definitely have to make it. perfect for the cool winter weather here in australia right now. Xx
Thanks, Thalia! I hope you’ll like it. 😉
Thank you for this recipe! My husband and I love Cookbook Kitchen as well and we were bummed out when it closed in Pampanga.
I remember ordering this dish or the Mediterranean Fish Casserole back when he and I were still dating 10 years ago. I’m happy I got to recreate this dish and our kiddo loved it as well!
Thank you for letting me know that your family enjoyed this recipe. =) It seems that Cookbook Kitchen is a popular place for date nights, hehe. We loved their Mediterranean Fish too – hopefully I’ll be able to recreate that as well.
Looking forward to that recipe! Best of luck and thanks again!😊