Alaska has been on my bucket list for years and I hope I do get to visit soon. I had never heard of Alaskan Rockfish before, but when I saw it in the market I thought I’d give it a try.
After reading up on the Rockfish, I decided marinating and grilling the fish would make a delicious entree.
It has a firm, white and meaty flesh, with a higher oil content that makes it perfect for marinades, wood smoking or the addition of other flavors.
That being said the Rockfish is a blank canvas that you can take in any flavor direction you choose. There’s so much you can do with this beautiful fish, you’ll never have to serve it the same way twice.
I decided on a marinade with an Asian twist for this dish, using what I had on hand to make the marinade. I used a base of tamari sauce and pomegranate molasses for my marinade but you could use a variety of different ingredients.
What ingredients do I need to make Marinated Grilled Alaskan Rockfish and Shrimp?
Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Marinated Grilled Alaskan Rockfish and Shrimp. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.
Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed the up cooking process, but it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.
What fish can I use instead of Rockfish?
Any thick firm white fish will work well with this recipe. If you can’t find rockfish you can substitute these fish.
- Halibut
- Mahi-Mahi
- Grouper
- Snapper
While the texture of the Rockfish is amazing, it is a little on the bland side so don’t be afraid to give it a good soaking in a tasty marinade, add your favorite flavors to the marinade and whether you grill it, pan sear it or oven roast it, I promise it will be a hit with your family.
If you love Rockfish, make sure to try my Pan Seared Rockfish recipe.
How do I make Grilled Alaskan Rockfish?
The first step is making the marinade for the Rockfish and Shrimp.
Mix the tamari sauce, pomegranate molasses, olive oil, lime juice, sugar, garlic, and crushed red pepper until well blended and place it in a small pan or ziplock bag to marinate the rockfish.
Do I have to use tamari sauce to make the marinade?
No, you don’t. A good substitute is soy sauce, low-sodium or regular.
If you can’t have soy sauce, coconut aminos is a good substitution for tamari or soy sauce.
What can I use instead of Pomegranate Molasses to make the marinade?
A good substitute for the pomegranate molasses, is cranberry juice or orange juice.
Add the rockfish to the marinade and let it marinate for at least one hour. Add shrimp into the marinade and let that marinate for 10 minutes.
The Alaskan Rockfish can be left in the marinade for up to two hours, but no longer than that unless you’re making ceviche. As for the Shrimp, they should not be left in the marinade for longer than 20 minutes.
Marinated seafood should be cooked immediately after being removed from the marinade.
Most times I use a gas grill for my seafood. But on days that I don’t feel like going outside to grill, I use a grill pan. Both methods provide great results.
Place Rockfish on a very hot grill (or grill pan) and allow to sear on one side until the Rockfish gets nice grill marks and good color.
Turn over Rockfish and cook for 5-7 minutes, placing the shrimp on the grill at this time. Turn the shrimp at about the 3 minute mark. The shrimp will only take about 5 minutes to fully cook.
This is the grill pan I use -> Le Creuset Grill Pan. If you’d rather not deal with cast iron, this is a good option at about half the price -> Non-Stick Grill Pan.
Serve the marinated grilled rockfish on a bed of wild rice or the grain of your choice with some lime wedges. Garnish with chopped scallions or parsley to add a little more color to the dish. Serve and enjoy!
If you love rockfish try my pan-seared rockfish, it’s OMG delicious!
Ramona
I have never made grilled Alaskan rockfish before and I am drooling just by looking at it! I am definitely going to be making this on Friday as a treat. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Jacqueline Debono
I had to look up Alaskan rockfish as I was curious to see what they looked like. Actually quite similar to the Mediterranean rockfish which in Italy we call ‘scorfano’. This is actually not a fish i’ve cooked before but would love to try this recipe with it. Sounds delicious!
Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer
Iโm a huge seafood lover and this dish looks and sounds phenomenal! Iโm crushing hard on this grilled shrimp big time! Thank you for sharing!
Beth
This marinade sounds like a delicious treat – it would certainly be worth finding the pomegranate molasses to make this rockfish/shrimp dish just right.
Julie @ Running in a Skirt
What a great recipe for rockfish! My family really loved how this came out. SO flavorful and fresh.
Linda
You got me at pomegranate molasses. Never had this before but this sounds awesome with rockfish.
Robin
This is the recipe to make when you want to impress someone. Rock fish on a grill is the epitome of delicious decadence.
Everything Enchanting
I haven’t heard of Alaskan Rockfish before either! But this looks so yummy ๐ I am a fish lover, so would love to try out this recipe โค๏ธ
Leslie
I don’t know if I can find Alaskan Rockfish in my area so I might have to try this with Mahi-mahi. Thanks for including other options bc I don’t want to miss out on these flavors!
Sharon
The marinade on this fish is spectacular! It’s the perfect complement for this seafood combination.
Natalie
Oh yum! Now I’m definitely hungry. This looks so delicious. I love the flavors and combination of rockfish and shrimps. I’m making this for sure!
rika
I love grilled fish and I’ve tried rockfish before. This recipe looks pretty easy to make, perfect for any weeknight dinner.
Mama Maggie's Kitchen
Hmmmm yum! I am starving! Seeing this post makes me want to grab the dish right now. It looks so delicious!
Jen Sim
As soon as I saw “grilled” I was sold. The shrimp and fish look delicious! Thanks for sharing.
Stine Mari
I used halibut instead, but it was a delicious marinade. Will definitely look for Alaskan rockfish too.