21 Sauces to Serve With Fish

Basic Beurre Blanc

This is a rich, butter-based sauce, flavored with white wine, vinegar, and shallots. For best results, use chilled butter—adding one piece at a time—whisking constantly until smooth and glossy. Serve this sauce straight away, or transfer into a thermos to keep warm while you cook the fish.

Panko-Crusted Halibut with White Serrano and Cilantro Sauce

Crispy halibut fillets are topped with a smooth, creamy sauce that's flavored with fresh cilantro, shallot, lime juice, and minced serrano chili pepper. You can use other white fish fillets that are reasonably thick, such as cod or hake.

Lemon Dill Salmon with Garlic, White Wine, and Butter Sauce

A whole salmon fillet is cooked on a bed of dill with an all-in-one butter, garlic, white wine, and lemon sauce. Sprinkle generously with toasted almonds before serving with rice for an impressive fish dish to share with good company.

Fish Taco Sauce

Made with sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic, lime juice, and hot sauce—this highly-rated sauce recipe adds a flavor kick to fish or shrimp tacos. "Absolutely delicious and easy to throw together," says reviewer Gely. "I doubled the sriracha for an extra kick. Will definitely whip this up again."

Cajun Ponchartrain Sauce

This creamy mushroom and shrimp sauce flavored with Madeira wine can be ladled over any grilled, blackened, steamed, or pan-fried fish for an easy—yet elegant—dish for two.

Dill Sauce

This sour cream and fresh dill sauce comes together in a flash. Add more lemon and Dijon mustard if you like. It tastes best chilled and can be made a day or two ahead. It's great on all kinds of fish but recipe contributor Lisa loves it on grilled salmon. Garnish the final fish dish with fresh dill and lemon wedges.

Matthew's Béarnaise Sauce

It may be more traditional to serve French béarnaise sauce with steak, but it's simply delicious served over fish. This sauce requires a bit of effort but a review by Chef Angie offers some advice: "Follow the recipe exactly and you'll have no problem recognizing the various cooking points of this sauce. It's a super easy recipe with an incredibly beautiful result."

Fish Fillet in Thai Coconut Curry Sauce

These white fish fillets are cooked in a creamy Thai red curry sauce. Finish the sauce with freshly chopped cilantro, green onions, and lime juice; serve over hot rice for a deliciously easy dish that's ready in just 30 minutes.

• 10 Thai Red Curry Recipes

Sandefjordsmor (Norwegian Butter Sauce)

You'll love this creamy lemon butter sauce that's flavored with cayenne pepper and fresh parsley. Add chopped dill or tarragon at the very end if you like. It's served on all types of fish in Norway but recipe contributor Chef John loves this sauce with shrimp and lobster.

• Watch the video.

Crispy Chipotle Lime Tilapia with Cool Avocado Sauce

A smooth avocado, sour cream, and lime sauce is perfect for cooling down spicy tilapia fillets. Reviewer Bito comments, "I was skeptical about the avocado sauce after blending it and taking a taste but with the fish it's really good!" Use any leftover fish and sauce in fish tacos.

Tarragon Champagne Sauce

This rich and elegant sauce made with chilled butter, Champagne (or Chardonnay), lemon, capers, and a generous helping of fresh tarragon is pure luxury. Serve over poached salmon, plaice, or halibut for a memorable meal.

Blender Sauce Noisette (Hollandaise with Hazelnut Butter)

Hollandaise sauce is a cinch to make in a blender with ingredients you probably already have at hand. It's silky, smooth texture is wonderful served with all kinds of fish, but the hazelnut butter in this version pairs particularly well with trout or salmon.

Whiting Meuniere

Meunière is a classic French brown butter, caper, and lemon sauce that's easier to make than you might think. You can even use the same skillet that you have used to cook the fish. It is traditionally served with sole, but you can try it with other types of flatfish, such as whiting, flounder, or tilapia.

Quick Tartar Sauce

Tartar sauce is pretty much a necessity for deep-fried fish, and it's super easy to make. Simply combine mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, prepared mustard, and lemon juice for a homemade version that will rival anything you can buy at the store.

• Watch the video.

Lemon Sauce for Salmon Patties

Reviewer MATENNIS gave this bechamel-style lemon sauce recipe five stars: "This is a great topping for salmon or tuna patties. I've also used it on my salmon loaf. If I have any fresh dill on hand I'll add it in as well."

Seared Salmon with Indian-Inspired Cream Sauce

A creamy mushroom, garlic, and fennel sauce is subtly flavored with saffron and curry powder in this unique sauce for fish. "This was amazing!" said Lyka. "I served over shrimp instead of salmon. It was like something I would imagine I could only get at a restaurant!"

Fish in a Red Sauce

Cod fish fillets are served in a flavorsome, slightly peppery vegetable sauce in this traditional Sephardic dish. Serve hot with rice in the colder months, or serve cold in the summer with plenty of bread for soaking up the sauce.

Scallops with Pesto Cream Sauce

This super quick, silky pesto and caper sauce will elevate any type of pan-fried fish or seafood. Try it with shrimp or chunks of cod for an impressive meal with friends.

• Watch the video.

Cod in Tomatoes with Wine

This is a deliciously light seafood dish made with cod loins and shrimp in a tomato, white wine, chile, and basil sauce. A glowing review from naples34102 says, "The fish and shrimp were tender, sweet and mild, and the fresh tomato sauce was perfect with it."

Salsa Rosa

The method for making this pink seafood sauce could not be simpler. Simply spoon mayonnaise, ketchup, tomato sauce, and whiskey into a bowl and stir! It's not just for shrimp salads—serve it as a sauce over hot fish cakes or as a dip with crispy fried cod.

Roasted Salmon with White Wine Sauce

Chunks of roasted salmon are topped with a warm buttery white wine sauce that's flavored with fresh chives. Stir in chopped dill and/or capers for a little extra zing if you'd like. Serve with sautéed spinach on a bed of couscous for a beautiful meal.

Related:

• 14 Delicious Fish Dinners Ready in 15 Minutes
• 50 Baked Fish Recipes to Make In Your Oven
• Browse our entire collection of Fish Recipes