Roasted Whole Branzino Recipes

WHOLE BRANZINO ROASTED IN SALT

Steps:

• For fish:
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Stir salt and 5 egg whites in large bowl, adding more egg whites as needed to form grainy paste. Press 1/4-inch layer of salt mixture (large enough to hold both fish) onto large rimmed baking sheet. Stuff cavity of each whole fish with half of herb sprigs and lemon slices. Place fish atop salt mixture on baking sheet. Pack remaining salt mixture over fish to enclose completely. Roast until thermometer inserted into thickest part of fish registers 135°F, about 20 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare salsa verde:
• Using small sharp knife, remove peel and white pith from lemon. Working over bowl, cut between membranes to release segments. Cut each segment into 3 pieces. Add lemon pieces and next 6 ingredients to bowl.
• Using back of large spoon, gently crack open salt crust on fish. Lift and discard salt layer. Pull skin from top of 1 fish. Carefully lift top fillet from bones and transfer to plate. Lift and discard bones. Gently lift second fillet from skin and transfer to second plate. Repeat with second fish for a total of 4 plates.
• Spoon salsa verde over fish, leaving juices in bowl. Add arugula to bowl; toss to coat. Divide among plates.

WHOLE ROASTED BRANZINO

Steps:

• Rinse fish, pat dry, and place on a lightly oiled baking pan or wood plank. (increase baking time by 50% for wood) Brush fish inside and out with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Stuff cavity of each fish with 2 or 3 lemon slices. spread garlic inside and over both sides of fish. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 5 minutes. Turn fish over; cook 5 more minutes. Turn oven to broil, and cook fish 3 to 5 minutes or until skin blisters and fish flakes easily with a fork. Remove fish from oven, and transfer to serving plates. Drizzle with olive oil, and serve with Salsa Verde, Lemon Aïoli, and Romesco.

WHOLE ROASTED BRANZINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Oil a large rimmed baking sheet.
• Rinse fish well, pat dry with paper towels, and place on baking sheet. In the cavity of each fish, place 2 lemon slices, 1 sprig dill, 1/2 of the fennel, 2 sprigs parsley, and 1/2 of the reserved fennel fronds. Season the cavity and exterior of each fish with salt and pepper. Lay 3 slices lemon over the top of each fish. Drizzle oil lightly over fish and roast until cooked through, about 15 minutes.
• Transfer fish to serving plates and serve with lemon wedges.

ROASTED WHOLE BRANZINO WITH ESCAROLE SALAD

Steps:

• For the branzino: Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Set a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet.
• Cut slits into the branzino skin 1 inch apart, being careful not to cut through the spine. Stuff each slit with the garlic then drizzle the fish with oil. Season heavily with salt and pepper. Stuff the fish cavity with the lemon slices and the thyme sprigs. Transfer the fish to the wire rack and roast in the oven until the flesh is flaky and cooked through, about 14 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the salad: Drain the beans and combine them in a bowl with the 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, salt, a dash black pepper, and the rosemary. Set the mixture aside to marinate.
• Remove and discard the green leaves from the outside of the heads of escarole. Chop the hearts into 1/4-inch pieces.
• In a large bowl, combine the escarole, the 1/3 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, parsley, the 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, and the vinegar. Toss it all together. Escarole is a hearty green and it will absorb the oil without turning into a wilted mess.
• Sprinkle the beans on top and around the sides of the bowl. Garnish the salad with several shreds of Parmigiano-Reggiano and top with the anchovies.
• Remove and discard the thyme sprigs from the branzino. Sprinkle with the parsley and serve with the salad.

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.