Baked Skate with Orange-and-Date Salsa

Skates are flat, ray-like fish whose diamond-shaped, striated filets are easy to spot in the fish market. Its mild flavor and delicate texture make this fish a favorite, even among picky fish eaters. They also make it fast from the pan to the plate—about seven minutes in a 400°F oven.

Here, I topped the skate with a simple, fresh salsa made with sweet, chewy dates and the citrusy flavors of orange and lime. A bed of rice or farro rounds out this easy, light, and inviting dinner for two.

Serves 2

Ingredients

• 2 large dates, pitted and chopped
• 1 small scallion, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp chopped peeled naval orange
• 1 tbsp finely chopped red bell pepper
• 2 tsp fresh orange juice
• 1 tsp fresh lime juice
• sea salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 2 6-oz skate filets
• olive oil, for rubbing
• cooked farro or rice, for serving

Preparation

1. Combine the dates and next 5 ingredients (through lime juice) in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.

Orange-and-Date Salsa

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a shallow baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Rub the fish on both sides with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake until tender and flakes easily with a fork, 7-8 minutes.

Ready to Bake

Divide the farro or rice between 2 plates and top each with a skate filet. Spoon salsa on top and pass any remaining salsa at the table.

Baked Skate Fish with Orange-and-Date Salsa