Almond-Citrus Crusted Hake with Cranberry Sauce

Хек у мигдально-цитрусовій скоринці з журавлинним соусом

Christmas Hake — A Modern Main Dish for Holiday Eve

Christmas Eve is a special evening, filled with traditions, symbols, and meaningful dishes. On this night, the table is set with festive yet simple dishes, and one of the best main courses is fish. Fish symbolizes purity, abundance, and calm, making it a perfect addition to a traditional holiday menu. Modern Christmas hake offers a fresh, contemporary take on this classic tradition.

Hake is prized for its tender white flesh, delicate flavor, and versatility in cooking. Unlike fried fish, baked hake looks more elegant and festive, while preserving its juiciness and nutritional benefits. Adding an almond-citrus crust provides a pleasant contrast in texture, while citrus zest brings a fresh, aromatic note reminiscent of winter holidays.

The cranberry sauce in this dish plays a key role. Its gentle tartness enhances the fish’s delicate flavor and adds depth and complexity. Beyond taste, the cranberries add vibrant color, making the dish visually appealing for holiday presentation. This hake looks impressive even without elaborate garnishes.

This dish is perfect as a main course for Christmas Eve. It is light, not overly heavy, yet filling and nutritious. Baked hake pairs wonderfully with roasted vegetables, potatoes, or grains like bulgur or couscous, making it easy to adapt the menu to the tastes of the whole family.

Almond-citrus crusted Christmas hake is a great example of how a traditional holiday fish can be given a modern twist. It respects the essence of Christmas culinary traditions while meeting contemporary standards for flavor, presentation, and nutrition. This dish will be a highlight of any festive table, showing that holiday meals can be both simple and sophisticated.

Preparation time 15 mins
Cooking time 20 mins
Total time 35 mins
Kitchen:
Courses:
Difficulty of preparation: Intermediate
Температура приготування: 180  C
Servings: 4
Description

Tender Christmas hake baked with an almond-citrus crust and served with a festive cranberry sauce. A modern, healthy, and flavorful main course perfect for Christmas Eve dinner.

Ingredients
    For the Fish:
  • 600 g hake fillets
  • 50 g sliced almonds (or chopped almonds)
  • 2 tbsp breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 zest of orange
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • salt and white pepper, to taste
    • For the Cranberry Sauce:
  • 120 g cranberries (fresh or frozen)
  • 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
  • 50 ml orange juice
  • а pinch of cinnamon
Instructions
  1. 1

    Rinse the hake fillets, pat dry with paper towels, and lightly season with salt and white pepper.

  2. 2

    Mix almonds, breadcrumbs, orange zest, and olive oil.

  3. 3

    Place the hake in a baking dish and evenly spread the almond mixture on top.

  4. 4

    Bake at 180 °C (350 °F) for 18–20 minutes, until the crust is golden.

  5. 5

    In a small saucepan, combine cranberries, honey (or maple syrup), orange juice, and cinnamon.

  6. 6

    Simmer for 7–10 minutes until slightly thickened, then remove from heat.

  7. 7

    Serve the hake whole, drizzled with cranberry sauce.
    Garnish with:

    • Orange zest

    • A few cranberries

    • A sprig of rosemary

Read this online: https://culinary-compass.blog/en/recipe/almond-citrus-crusted-hake-with-cranberry-sauce-festive-holiday-dish/

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