While the high heat of a grill is typically associated with cooking meats like chicken, beef, and pork, grills are also a wonderful tool for cooking fish. In fact, grilled fish is one of our favorite ways to enjoy seafood in the summer. If you want to go big, opt for a whole fish. The skin protects the interior, getting beautifully crisp while the meat cooks gently. Try grilling trout and serving it with homemade spatzle and a carrot puree. A delicate fish may fall apart on the grill—to remedy this, our grilled snapper with habanero and scallions is cooked on a plancha or cast-iron griddle set on top of the grill. When selecting a fish for grilling, you want to pick something that can withstand the intense heat. Meaty swordfish fillets are a good choice, especially when paired with a summery mango salsa. Find these dishes and more in our collection of our favorite grilled fish recipes.
During Western China’s desert summers, freshwater fish from the Tarim River are barbecued, butterflied, and splayed across long, thin salt-cedar branches. The skewers are then stuck, stake-like, into the ground around a burning fire, which roasts them slowly and evenly. In this version, a hot oven or a traditional western grill will work similarly, roasting the cumin-, garlic-, and pepper-rubbed fish to a fragrant burnish. Get the recipe for Grilled Fish with Cumin and Jalapeños (Xīnjiāng kăoyú) »
Ssäm, which is Korean for “wrapped,” refers to the lettuce wraps that enclose spicy grilled fish in this recipe from Matthew Rudofker, executive chef at New York City’s Momofuku Ssäm Bar. Get the recipe for Fish Ssäm with Spicy Chile Sauce »
There are two types used for cooking: Ama-koji and Shio-koji. Ama-koji, called for here, has no salt, so you can control the seasoning yourself. In this simple recipe, it’s added to salmon fillets before they hit the grill, which lightly cures them and adds an umami kick. Get the recipe for Koji-Cured Grilled Salmon »
Chef Chris Fischer fell in love with the simple, robust marinades common to many Japanese dishes after traveling to Japan for work. Here he marinates fluke steaks—have your butcher cut them for you, or substitute flounder or sea bass steaks—in a sticky mixture of soy sauce, mirin, and honey. Get the recipe for Soy-and-Honey-Glazed Fluke Steaks »
This rockfish is lightly cured before being grilled and bathed in a rich mussel stock. Get the recipe for Grilled Rockfish »
A bright salsa made from ripe mangoes, cilantro, red onion, and lime is the perfect foil for thick swordfish steaks.
Seka Salamun, a home cook in Tisno, Croatia, uses olive wood to impart a mild smokiness to this grilled fish. Though delicious with just a squeeze of lemon, it also pairs beautifully with classic French fish sauces. Get the recipe for Whole Grilled Fish with Lemon (Riba na Rostilju) »
Fish stuffed with loads of herbs and rubbed with a simple garlic butter are grilled whole, which leaves them with a smoky, charred flavor and tender meat.
In the Japanese kitchen, “teriyaki” means a dish that’s glazed and grilled or broiled. Jarred versions of sweet-salty teriyaki sauce are available, but it’s so easy to make from scratch, and so versatile, that we make our own and slather it onto salmon before cooking, which allows the sugars in the sauce to caramelize, for a deep, rich flavor. Get the recipe for Salmon Teriyaki »
These salmon skewers are basted with a sweet sauce, then grilled over charcoal to caramelize the sauce and add a smoky flavor. Get the recipe for Salmon Yakitori »
