Say hello to your new favorite summer fish dish — Spiced Fish with Fennel and Orange Salad.
In this perfectly bright dish, halibut is simply spiced with just a few ingredients and paired with orange and fennel salad I cannot get enough of. If you haven’t cooked much with fennel, you’re in for a treat. It has a slight anise or licorice flavor and paired with the bright citrus of the orange and the buttery, salty castelvetrano olives this salad is such a winner. Just be sure to slice your fennel bulbs very thinly for best results. I use a mandolin for this, but a good sharp knife and a steady hand will do the trick!
Overall, this Spiced Fish with Fennel and Orange Salad is simple enough for a weeknight dinner, but so elevated for a date night dinner or when hosting this summer. What more could you ask for?
And if you’ve fallen in love with fennel after this recipe, you have to try these two recipes:
Shaved Celery and Fennel Salad
Spiced Fish with Fennel and Orange Salad

Ingredients
For the Fennel and Orange Slaw:
- 1 large fennel bulb quartered and very thinly sliced about 3 cups
- 2 tablespoons fennel fronds
- ½ cup pitted and torn castelvetrano olives
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons champagne vinegar
- 1/4 cup loosely chopped fresh mint leaves
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 medium navel oranges peeled and cut into suprêmes (see note)
For the Fish:
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- Four 6-ounce filets skinless halibut cod, or other white flaky fish fillets
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Make the Slaw:
- In a large bowl, add the fennel slices and fronds, olive oil, champagne vinegar, olives, mint, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine. Add the orange and gently toss once more. Set aside.
- Prepare the Fish:
- In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, paprika, red pepper flakes, and oregano Pat the halibut filets dry and season both sides of each fish filet with the spice blend.
- In a large non-stick skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the fish and sear until deep brown crust is formed on both sides and fish is cooked through and flakes easily with fork, about 3 minutes per side
- Serve alongside the slaw and enjoy!
Notes
Photography by Eat Love Eats.
12 Comments
Kitchenhutt Spices
June 2, 2023 at 11:52 amYour blog is impressive, thanks to the quality of your recipes & other content…
Ashley Nichols
September 22, 2022 at 12:16 amThis was my first time trying raw fennel, and I was hesitant…but it was delicious! The whole meal was so well balanced – with the spicy fish and refreshing crunchy slaw! So good! Perfect weeknight dinner. Thanks Alex!
Alex
September 22, 2022 at 6:01 pmYay! glad you enjoyed it!
Magda
August 17, 2022 at 9:48 amDelicious! My whole family loved this.
Alex
September 16, 2022 at 3:00 pm🙂 So happy to hear that, Magda!
Taylor A.
August 15, 2022 at 11:50 pmAmazing and easy to make! The salad has so many surprising and delicious flavors. I used cod instead of halibut and it was still super light and delicious.
Alex
September 16, 2022 at 2:59 pmFantastic!! Thanks so much, Taylor!
Kendall
August 14, 2022 at 5:15 pmIt was so delicious and easy! Definitely takes less than 30 minutes. I would make again and again 🙂
Alex
September 16, 2022 at 2:59 pmSo glad you loved it!
Cameron
August 13, 2022 at 1:30 amHow far in advance can you make the fennel slaw for it to still stay fresh?
Jessica
August 10, 2022 at 7:32 pmThis recipe is perfect for summer and so quick to make. We added a jalapeño to the salad for a little heat. My husband loved it!
Alex
August 11, 2022 at 3:27 pmGreat addition, yum!