Kingfish is a firm, flavorful fish that grills, fries, bakes and air fries beautifully. Often called king mackerel, this oily fish has a rich taste similar to salmon. In this article, I will instruct you how to cook delicious kingfish steaks in 4 different ways.

1. How To Cook Kingfish in Pan

Ingredients

  • 3 kingfish steaks (about 1-inch thick)
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons calamansi or lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt (preferably Pink Himalayan salt)
  • 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, divided
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1/2 head garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon calamansi or lemon juice

Instructions

Step 1: Marinate the Kingfish Steaks

In a bowl, mix the soy sauce, 3 tablespoons of calamansi or lemon juice, water, garlic powder, black pepper, salt, and brown sugar.

Place the kingfish steaks in the marinade and coat them well. Let them marinate for 15–30 minutes at room temperature.

Step 2: Sear the Kingfish Steaks

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Remove the fish from the marinade (reserve the marinade) and pat them dry with paper towels.

Sear the steaks for 3–4 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.

3. Make the Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce

In the same skillet, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter.

Sauté the minced garlic until fragrant, about 1–2 minutes.

Stir in the reserved marinade, bring to a simmer, and cook for 2–3 minutes until slightly reduced.

Add the remaining butter and 1 tablespoon of calamansi or lemon juice. Stir until the butter melts and the sauce is smooth.

Step 4: Combine and Serve

Return the seared kingfish steaks to the skillet, spoon the sauce over the fish, and cook for an additional minute to coat them in the sauce.

Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley or lemon slices if desired.

2. How To Cook Kingfish in Oven

Ingredients

  • 2 kingfish steaks
  • 1/2 head garlic, minced
  • 1/2 head garlic, thinly sliced
  • 4 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 lemon, sliced into rounds
  • 1 tsp thyme (fresh or dried)
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 4 tbsp olive oil, divided
  • 4 tbsp butter

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

Step 2: Prepare the Marinade

In a small bowl, mix:

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • Minced garlic
  • Thyme, black pepper, and salt.

Rub the marinade evenly over the kingfish steaks and let them rest for 10–15 minutes.

Step 3: Assemble in Baking Dish

Drizzle 1 tbsp olive oil in a baking dish and place the marinated kingfish steaks inside.

Scatter the sliced garlic around the dish. Next, add lemon slices on top of and around the fish for extra flavor. Then dot each steak with 1 tbsp of butter (2 tbsp total for both steaks).

Step 4: Bake the Kingfish Steaks

Cover the baking dish with foil to retain moisture. Bake in the preheated oven for 15–20 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork.

Remove the foil, add the remaining butter and olive oil over the steaks, and broil for an additional 2–3 minutes to get a golden, slightly crisp top.

Step 5: Serve

Drizzle the remaining 2 tbsp of lemon juice over the fish before serving. You can garnish with fresh thyme or parsley for a vibrant touch.

3. How To Cook Kingfish in Air Fryer

Ingredients

  • 2 kingfish steaks
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp cumin powder
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic

Instructions

Step 1. Prepare the Marinade

In a small bowl, combine:

  • Olive oil
  • Lemon juice
  • Salt
  • Ground black pepper
  • Paprika
  • Cumin powder
  • Minced garlic.

Mix well to form a flavorful marinade.

Step 2: Marinate the Kingfish Steaks

Pat the kingfish steaks dry with a paper towel. Next, rub the marinade evenly over both sides of the steaks. Then let them marinate for 10–15 minutes at room temperature.

Step 3: Preheat the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for about 3 minutes.

Step 4: Air Fry the Kingfish Steaks

Lightly grease the air fryer basket with a bit of olive oil to prevent sticking.

Place the marinated kingfish steaks in the basket in a single layer. Avoid overcrowding.

Air fry for 10–12 minutes, flipping the steaks halfway through, until they are golden brown and cooked through.

The fish should flake easily with a fork when done.

Step 5: Serve

Transfer the kingfish steaks to a plate. Drizzle with a little extra lemon juice if desired and garnish with fresh parsley or a lemon wedge.

4. How To Cook Kingfish on Grill

Ingredients

  • 2 kingfish steaks
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons red chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
  • Salt, to taste

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Marinade

In a bowl, mix together the olive oil, chile powder, ground black pepper, lemon juice, and salt until the mixture forms a smooth paste.

Step 2: Marinate the Kingfish Steaks

Pat the kingfish steaks dry with paper towels. Next, rub the marinade evenly on both sides of the steaks. Then let the fish marinate for 15–20 minutes to absorb the flavors.

Step 3: Preheat the Grill

Preheat your grill or stovetop grill pan to medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grates to prevent sticking.

Step 4: Grill the Kingfish Steaks

Place the marinated steaks on the grill. Cook for 3–4 minutes per side, depending on the thickness, until the fish is cooked through and has a slight char.

The fish should be opaque and flake easily with a fork.

Step 5: Serve

Transfer the grilled kingfish steaks to a plate. You can garnish with fresh lemon wedges or chopped herbs, if desired.

With its versatile flavor and meaty texture, kingfish steaks are delicious prepared by pan frying, baking, air frying or grilling. Cook them using one of these simple methods and enjoy this flavorful fish.

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Julia Jane is a home cook inspired by her mother's cooking. With the desire to share my cooking experiences with everyone, she created this website

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