Broiled Whole Fish Recipes

BROILED FISH

Steps:

• Place fish on a broiler rack that has been coated with cooking spray. Drizzle 3 tablespoons butter over fillets; dust with flour and sprinkle with paprika. , Broil 5-6 in. from the heat for 5 minutes or until fish just begins to brown. Combine lemon juice, parsley, Worcestershire sauce and remaining butter; pour over fish. Broil 5 minutes longer or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

GRILLED WHOLE BRANZINO

Steps:

• For the Salmoriglio sauce: Whisk together the lemon juice and olive oil in a medium bowl. Add garlic, capers, herbs and lemon zest. The sauce should be loose in consistency with high-acid flavor. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• For the fish: Preheat the grill for cooking over high heat (around 450 to 500 degrees F).
• Bring fish to room temperature, 30 minutes, then wrap fish briefly in paper towels to dry out skin, which will help keep the fish from sticking to the grill.
• Stuff the inside cavity of the fish with herbs, garlic and lemon slices, and sprinkle the cavity with salt and pepper. Brush the outside of the fish with olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Brush a fish grill basket with oil or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Place fish in fish grill basket and secure shut. (If you don't have a fish grill basket, place the fish between 2 wire cooling racks and secure the racks together with wire.)
• Place basket on the hottest part of the grill. Cook until the eye turns white and skin is charred, 6 to 8 minutes per side. Let rest 5 minutes.
• Place fish on a platter and dress with the Salmoriglio sauce.

GRILLED WHOLE FISH

Steps:

• Preheat grill for direct-heat grilling over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, drizzle cavity of each fish with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then season generously with coarse salt and freshly ground pepper.
• Aromatics help keep whole fish moist while grilling. Stuff 1 fish cavity with lemon slices and dill and the other with lime slices, basil, and Thai chiles. If using just 1 filling, double amounts called for.
• Fasten each opening with a wooden skewer or toothpicks that have been soaked in water so they don't burn. This keeps the aromatics inside and also makes fish easier to handle on the grill.
• Using a paring knife, make long, 1/4-inch-deep diagonal slashes at 2-inch intervals on both sides of fish so they cook evenly throughout. This also allows any seasonings on skin (see step 5) to penetrate.
• Rub both sides of each fish with remaining olive oil and season with salt and pepper, working all into slashes as well as heads and tails -- both are edible, and the tail becomes delightfully crisp when grilled.
• Brush hot grill with vegetable oil; immediately place fish on grill. Cook, undisturbed and uncovered, until undersides are charred and flesh along gills on undersides turns opaque, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Turn fish with 2 large spatulas. If they stick, wait a few seconds until skin sears enough to release cleanly. Grill on other side until charred and fish are just cooked through and opaque, 5 to 7 minutes more.
• Serve fish with lemon and lime wedges and more herbs. To serve, cut fillet free from top side of fish and remove with a spatula. Remove bones to free other fillet.

BROILED FISH WITH CHERMOULA

Steps:

• Season the fish with salt and pepper. In a large baking dish combine the fish with half the chermoula and toss together until the fish is coated. If the chermoula is thick it may be easier to spread it onto the fish with a spatula. Refrigerate for 15 to 30 minutes while you preheat the broiler or prepare a grill.
• If using a broiler, line a sheet pan with foil and brush the foil with olive oil, or oil a shallow baking dish. Place the fish in the pan in a single layer. If desired drizzle on a little more olive oil or lemon juice. Place under the broiler, close to the heat (about 2 1/2 inches below) and broil 5 minutes. Check the fish; the timing depends on how thick the fillets are; figure on 4 to 5 minutes per 1/2 inch of thickness. It is done when it is opaque and you can pull it apart with a fork. Using a spatula, transfer the fish from the sheet pan or baking dish to a platter or to individual plates. Tip the juices in the pan over the fish fillets. Pass the remaining chermoula and lemon wedges at the table.

BROILED WHOLE FISH AND VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Clean the inside and outside of the fish with lemon; rinse the fish with cold water; pat dry; place the fish on a baking sheet.
• Mix 3 tablespoons of oil with the lemon juice, basil, oregano, garlic, wine or sherry, salt and black pepper.
• Place the fish on a baking pan; brush the fish with the mixture inside and outside; spread the rest of the mixture inside and on top of the fish.
• Heat the oven to 350 degree, bake the fish covered for 20 minutes.
• Transfer and place the fish in a single layer on a greased broiler pan; broil the fish for 15 minutes.
• At the same time, chop the carrots, potatoes, squash, peppers, shallot as desired.
• Mix one tablespoon of oil with rosemary, pinch of salt and marinate the vegetables.
• On a non-stick baking pan, roast the vegetables for 20 minutes.
• Place the broiled fish and the vegetables on a platter and serve it warm.
• * You may use trout or flounder or sea bass or any fish of youir choice.

BROILED WHOLE FISH

Steps:

• Rub the inside with lemon, sprinkle with salt and pepper and arrange on a well greased grill (or use a greased hinged grill). Cook on both sides to brown evenly and baste with melted butter and lemon juice or white wine. Fish cooks quickly. A small whole fish will only take 15 to 20 minutes. Larger ones take a half hour or more. Test with a fork or toothpick. The fish is cooked when the flesh flakes easily.
• Serve with more melted butter and lemon juice or white wine, or with parsley butter. Fried potatoes and a crisp green salad or cucumber salad are excellent with fish dishes. Serve a fine dry white wine, chilled of course.

BROILED FISH

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler to high.
• Sprinkle the fish on both sides with salt and pepper.
• Arrange the fillets on a baking dish measuring about 8 1/2 by 13 by 2 inches. Melt the butter in a small saucepan or small skillet.
• Using a pastry brush, coat the fish liberally with butter.
• Sprinkle the fish neatly and evenly all over with bread crumbs. Dribble the remaining butter over all.
• Place baking dish under the broiler so the fish is about seven inches from the source of heat. Broil five minutes. Serve with lemon wedges.

GRILLED SWORDFISH STEAKS WITH WHOLE-LEMON DRESSING

Steps:

• Pat four 4-6-oz. swordfish steaks (1"-1½" thick) dry with paper towels, then coat with 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil. Season both sides with kosher salt; set aside while you make the dressing.
• Using a sharp chef's knife, trim ends from 1 large lemon; slice into thick rounds and remove seeds. Very finely chop lemon rounds (peel, pith, and flesh) and transfer to a small bowl. (Alternatively, you can pulse in a food processor.) Mix in 5 sprigs oregano, thyme, or marjoram, leaves picked, finely chopped, 2 garlic cloves, finely grated, 1 Tbsp. capers (not drained), 2 tsp. ground coriander, 1 tsp. sugar, and ½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (if using). Stir in 6 Tbsp. plus 1½ tsp. extra-virgin olive oil. Season with freshly ground black pepper and more salt if needed.
• Prepare a grill for medium-high heat; oil grate. Place reserved swordfish steaks on grill; cover and grill fish, turning once, until flesh is opaque and just cooked through (an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part should register 130°F for medium-rare) and steaks release easily from grate, 3-5 minutes per side. Transfer to a platter.
• Spoon some dressing over swordfish and serve with remaining dressing alongside. Do ahead: Dressing can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before using.