Tasty Flounder Recipes for Spring Anglers

Spring means flounder fishing along the Carolina coast. Here are some great recipes to try with those tasty flatfish you bring in the boat or up on the pier. Remember flounder is one fish that can quickly dry up if overcooked.

Cooking times should be accurate but the best thing to do is keep a check. Flounder is done when it flakes with a fork.

Carolina Whole Flounder Poached in Clam Broth

Leaving the head on contributes a great deal of flavor to the dish.

1 fresh flounder (3 or 4 lbs), whole dressed with head left on
1 ¼ cups clam juice
1 small onion, diced
½ teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon butter, melted
Dash salt
Dash pepper
Olive oil

Place whole flounder in a large well-oiled pan (with a lid). Combine the other ingredients and pour over flounder. Cover and poach on medium high heat for 15 minutes or until flounder is done. Do not overcook or fish will be dry. Serves 3-4.

Baked Flounder and Vegetables in Foil

1 ½ lbs flounder fillets
4 carrots, sliced
8 green onions, sliced
4 zucchini, sliced
1 green bell pepper, sliced
¼ cup teriyaki sauce

Preheat oven to 425° degrees. Divide flounder among sheets of aluminum foil large enough to completely wrap fish and vegetables. Divide carrots, green onions, zucchini and bell pepper and layer on top of fish. Pour teriyaki sauce over vegetables. Bring edges of foil together, fold, and crimp together to close completely. Place foil packets on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes or until fish is done. Serves 4.

Stuffed Baked Flounder

1 whole flounder, dressed, around 4 lbs
½ lb blue crab meat
½ package stuffing mix
4 strips bacon
lemon juice from ½ lemon
1 tablespoon paprika
olive oil

Cut a pocket on each side of the flounder. Mix together the stuffing, crab, and lemon juice. Stuff the pockets and lay the bacon across them. Sprinkle paprika over flounder. Bake in a well-oiled pan for 45-50 minutes at 400 degrees. Serves 5.

Flounder in Ginger Sauce

2 lb flounder fillets
1 large onion, chopped
½ tablespoon fresh ginger
5 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon paprika
olive oil
cheddar cheese, shredded

Grease a large baking dish with olive oil. Add flounder fillets. Mix other ingredients and coat flounder with them. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Sprinkle fillets with cheddar cheese to taste and bake 3 to 5 minutes more. Serves 6-7.

Brunswick Baked Flounder

1 lb flounder fillets
½ onion, chopped
½ cup fresh mushrooms, chopped
½ teaspoon curry powder
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ cup white wine
dash salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange flounder in a greased baking dish. Mix wine, onion, mushrooms, and seasonings together and pour over flounder. Bake for 16-18 minutes or until fish is done. Serves 4. Great served over wild rice.

For more fishing recipes and tips see my blog A Dash of Salty and my website Surf and Salt