Quick and Easy Black Drum Recipes

Black drum are an underappreciated species of southern saltwater fish which feed on the bottom and are mainly caught near shore on shellfish baits like cut shrimp. They are not very glamorous but they are a hardy, hard-fighting fish that is very good to eat in sizes between about 1 and 4 pounds.

For more information on Carolina fishing and seafood cooking check out my book Surf and Saltwater Fishing in the Carolinas

Black drum get much larger but the bigger ones are not as good to eat. Black drum are a meaty fish that taste great in many different recipes.

Easy Baked Black Drum

2 pounds black drum fillets
1 teaspoon paprika
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup melted butter
1 teaspoon salt
dash pepper

Place black drum in a lightly buttered shallow baking dish. In a cup combine remaining ingredients. Pour over black drum fillets and bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes. The baked drum should flake easily with a fork when done. Serves 4 to 6.

Black Drum Parmesan

1 lb black drum fillets
1 lemon
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup white wine
3 pats butter
1/3 cup bread crumbs

Place black drum in broiling pan. Add wine. Sprinkle bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese over fish and top with pats of margarine if desired. Broil for 10-15 minutes until fish turns opaque. Serve with lemon slices. Serves 2.

Oven Fried Black Drum

2 lbs black drum fillets
1 cup milk
I cup dry bread crumbs
1⁄4 cup butter or margarine
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1⁄2 tablespoon salt
shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Add oregano, garlic powder and salt to crumbs and mix well. Dip black drum fillets in milk and roll in crumb mixture. Place in a well-greased pan, pad butter on top of each fillet. Bake for 10 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Top black drum fillets with shredded cheese (enough to cover each fillet) 1 minute before the fish is done so it melts over fillets. Serves 4-5.

Creole Black Drum

2 lbs black drum fillets
3 tomatoes, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1⁄2 green pepper, chopped
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Cayenne pepper to taste
3 tablespoons butter
olive oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Melt the butter in a small sauce pan. Coat a large baking dish with olive oil and lay black drum fillets inside it. Top black drum with remaining ingredients and pour butter over dish. Bake 15-20 minutes until fish is done. Great with wild rice. Serves 4-5.

For more fish or seafood recipes see my blog A Dash of Salty