Whole Roasted Branzini Recipes

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.

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.

ROASTED WHOLE BRANZINO

Steps:

• 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.
• Remove and discard the thyme sprigs. Sprinkle with the parsley and serve.

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 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.