This simple lemon and parsley sauce for fish is a great recipe to serve over white fish or even with chicken. It's easy to make and despite the double cream, it feels like a light dish.
I have to say, I don't often make creamy sauces but I do have a weakness for them! There's something very comforting about a creamy sauce. I rarely lick the plate but a creamy sauce is one of the things that really can tempt me!
Just like this recipe for chicken in mushroom and parsley cream sauce, which by the way is also a great sauce for fish!
Aren't creamy sauces heavy?
Another cream and parsley sauce? Yes I know, it's been a week of cream and parsley sauces, but these were completely different dishes and this cream and parsley sauce was most definitely not over-reduced. I erred on the side of caution and if anything, it would have been fine left to cook for just a bit longer, although that would have made it seem a little heavier.
In fact, the dish is not heavy at all and I would actually say it seems fairly light. Yes, I did say light. Although the dish has cream and butter in it, it also has lemon, which I always think makes a savoury dish taste lighter.
I love the lemon in this parsley fish sauce
The lemon in the sauce is not too strong and it's definitely not an overwhelmingly lemony dish. However, I know some people really love strong citrus flavours and you could certainly squeeze an extra quarter of lemon in if that's how you like it. In fact I like a little extra too!
Ingredients for this lemon and parsley sauce
To make this recipe you'll need:
- Butter - Salted or unsalted. You can season with a little extra salt to taste at the end.
- Spring onion
- Garlic - I love to use fresh garlic but garlic puree also works
- Fresh parsley - It has to be fresh for this recipe. Dried parsley just wouldn't be the same!
- Vegetable stock - If you are serving this with fish you could use fish stock or if it's with chicken then chicken stock could work.
- Double cream
- Lemon juice - I start with a quarter of a lemon but often add more to taste.
- Black pepper
How to adapt the parsley sauce recipe
If you prefer a slightly thicker sauce, dissolve a heaped teaspoonful of cornflower in a tablespoonful of cold water. Then stir a little into the sauce. It should thicken very quickly.
If you want a stronger lemon flavour then add extra lemon juice or grate some of the lemon zest before squeezing the lemon. Just add this to the sauce.
If you run out of spring onions then just use finely diced normal onions.
Can you reheat the leftovers?
This creamy sauce is best when it is first made. However, if you do have leftovers then store the leftover sauce in a covered container in the fridge.
When you want to serve it then reheat it either in the microwave or in a small saucepan. You may need to add a dash of water so it is not too thick and stir it well to get rid of any lumps.
More Fish Recipes
I love fish recipes and if you'd like to see some more of my easy everyday recipes then do check out the links below! And let me know if you make the recipes too.
I'm sure you'll also love this Alaska pollock stir fry! Or how about my spicy fish pakoras?
Recipe
Lemon and parsley sauce for fish
Ingredients
- 20 g butter
- 1 spring onion finely sliced
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- 15 g parsley chopped
- 150 ml vegetable stock
- 100 ml double cream
- ¼ lemon juice only. Add more to taste
- Pinch black pepper
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Add the chopped spring onion. Soften then add the garlic.
- Add the parsley and vegetable stock. Let it reduce a little.
- Add the cream, black pepper and lemon juice. Bring up to the boil and then reduce a little.
- Serve the sauce over white fish.
Notes
Nutrition
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Lubaunk
Really easy and really tasty. When i taste tested it in the pan i thought the lemon flavour was going to be too much, too sharp, but actually on the plate it wasnt at all, just a lovely smooth lemony flavour.
The portions are very very generous!
Corina Blum
Hi, I'm so pleased you liked this! I do love really lemony flavours so am often generous with the lemon but I'm pleased it wasn't too much for you.
Corina
Sam Roberts-Lea
Thanks so much for this recipe Corina. Parsley and lemon are two of my fave ingredients to cook with and I love fish on a Friday! So easy yet so flavourful. Legendary!
Corina Blum
Hi Sam, Thank you so much for leaving a comment. I'm really happy you liked the recipe. Corina
Nikki
Our new favourite over fish ! Quick & easy too
Corina Blum
Thanks Nikki! I'm so pleased you liked this recipe.
Sheila Russell
I have commented on this sauce before, I really love it and wonder if it would work on gammon?
Corina Blum
Hi Sheila
I'm so pleased you like this sauce. I don't very often eat gammon but if you love the sauce then why not try it on gammon. I always believe in experimenting and that there are no strict rules about what can and can't be eaten together so try it!
Corina
Tim
Gonna try it today, can I use it over salmon?
Corina Blum
Hi Tim, yes of course. It's great with salmon as well as white fish. I also use this sauce on vegetables and chicken - It's really versatile!
Jo
Would this sauce work in a fish pie? Would the cream curdle?
Corina Blum
Hi Jo, I think this would work in a fish pie too. I haven't tried it but I think it should be fine. Corina
Anna | Serving Dumplings
Such a delicious and flavorful sauce! I bet it's tasty with veggies or chicken too
Corina Blum
Oh yes, it's delicious on veggies and chicken too - it's a really versatile sauce!
Sheila Russell
We really enjoyed this parsley sauce. My favourite to make from now in!
Corina Blum
Thanks for letting me know sheila. I'm so pleased you like it!
Kristina
Wow this looks good! I wonder if dill would also be a good herb to use for this sauce?
Corina Blum
I think dill would work really well too! It's a herb I don't use very often but it goes so well with fish so I think it would be great. Let me know if you try it with dill.
NancyC
This sounds like a delicious sauce–I bet it would be great with veggies too!
Corina Blum
Oh yes, it does go well with veggies! I often have fish and veggies together and it goes well with everything.
Esha
That sauce looks so delicious. I love lemony flavor. It must be so good with the fish.
Corina Blum
Thank you! We love lemon with fish too.
Jacqueline Meldrum
That sounds delicious. It would be great poured over vegetables too.
Corina Blum
Thanks! It would definitely be great with veggies too!
Balvinder
Love the sauce! So easy and flavorful!
Corina Blum
Thanks Balvinder! I'm really pleased you like it.
Julia Frey
Such a lovely sauce recipe for any fish. I am sure it will add so much flavour to the dish!
Corina Blum
Thanks! I do think lemon and parsley go really well with fish - probably as my mum used to always make a parsley sauce with fish so it's something I've grown up with.
Jenni
Nice Recipes. I am impressed!
Very helpful info particularly the last Recipe .
Corina Blum
Thank you Jenni! I'm so pleased you like the recipes.
Cat | Curly's Cooking
This looks so light and delicious. My family also like parsley sauce over ham but maybe that's just us haha.
Corina Blum
I can imagine it would go really well with ham! That's something for us to try next now.
Jeannette (Jay Joy)
s I love how this simple lemon and parsley sauce sounds. I will try it next week. I don't eat fish but my family loves it. I can put it over my chicken and they can use it for their fish, YAY!
Corina Blum
This sauce would be just as good with chicken! I'm so glad you can all enjoy it.
Sheeba
Love this simple and delicious sauce!
Corina Blum
I'm so pleased you like it Sheeba - Thanks for commenting!
Karen
A truly delicious entry for Cooking with herbs and such a lovely photo too - thanks so much! Karen
Louise at Cake and Calico
This sounds (and looks) like a perfect fish sauce. I can't wait to give it a try!