Roasted Branzino With Green Olive Couscous Recipes

WHOLE ROASTED BRANZINO WITH COUSCOUS SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400˚ F. Rub a rimmed baking sheet with olive oil and set aside. Cook the couscous as the label directs.
• Meanwhile, season the cavity of the fish with salt and pepper. Stuff the lemon slices and parsley sprigs into the cavities, reserving about 8 lemon slices for serving. Arrange the fish on the baking sheet in an even layer and roast until the flesh flakes easily with a fork, 16 to 18 minutes. Remove from the oven and let stand 5 minutes.
• Whisk the olive oil, lemon juice, mustard and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the couscous, chopped parsley, red onion, pomegranate seeds and pecans; toss well to coat. Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer each whole fish to a plate, or remove the fillets and transfer to plates (see page 55). Serve with the couscous salad and reserved lemon slices.

ROASTED GARLIC AND OLIVE OIL COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil.
• Add couscous, butter and salt.
• Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes.
• Topping: In a shallow pan, heat oil.
• Cook garlic until it begins to brown.
• Add rest of spices, cook for 30 second and remove from heat.
• (Alternately, you could use ready made"roasted garlic olive oil", and add the thyme and pepper).
• Mix topping with couscous, serve immediately.

ROASTED BRANZINO WITH LEMON AND THYME

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Pat fish dry; rub cavity and skin with oil, then season generously with salt and pepper. Stuff cavity with lemon slices and a few sprigs of thyme. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet, standing fish upright (cavity-side down); anchor in place with 3 lemon wedges along each side. Scatter remaining thyme sprigs around fish.
• Roast until fish is just cooked through, 17 to 22 minutes, depending on size. Fillet fish and serve with roasted lemon wedges or one of the fish sauces.

BRANZINO AND ROASTED BABY VEGETABLES WITH TARRAGON-CHIVE OIL

Steps:

• For tarragon-chive oil:
• Puree herbs and 4 tablespoons oil in blender until smooth. Transfer to small bowl; whisk in remaining 5 tablespoons oil. Season herb oil to taste with coarse salt and pepper.
• For branzino:
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Pat fillets dry. Sprinkle on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 3 fillets, skin side down. Sauté until brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer fillets, skin side down, to baking sheet. Repeat with remaining fillets. Drizzle each with 1/2 tablespoon herb oil.
• Roast fillets until just opaque in center, about 10 minutes. Transfer fillets to platter. Surround with vegetables. Drizzle some herb oil over vegetables. Serve, passing remaining herb oil.
• What to drink:
• With the fish, try a dry white wine, like the kosher Hagafen 2008 Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley Chardonnay (California, $24).