Best Whole Roasted Fish Recipes

WHOLE ROASTED FISH WITH HERBS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Make 3 diagonal slices about 1/2-inch deep on each side of the fish. Salt and olive oil the fish generously.
• Season the inside of the fish with salt and olive oil. Place 4 lemon slices, the bay leaves, a bundle of the mixed herbs and 2 of the garlic cloves inside the body cavity.
• Line a sheet tray with aluminum foil and arrange the remaining assorted herbs, lemon slices and garlic in the center of the tray and lay the fish on top.
• Fold the aluminum foil up around the sides of the fish to create a sort of baking dish. Add the white wine and place in the preheated oven and roast until the fish is just cooked through, about 30 to 35 minutes.
• Remove from oven, present and collect your kudos then fillet to serve.

ROASTED OR GRILLED WHOLE FISH WITH TOMATO VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Rinse fish with cool water and pat dry. Season generously on both sides with salt and pepper. Season the cavity with salt and pepper. Tuck thyme, rosemary and parsley sprigs in cavity of each fish. Add fennel fronds, basil leaves and lemon slices. Drizzle olive oil on both sides of fish, then place on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Leave at room temperature. (May season and refrigerate fish up to 2 hours in advance. Bring to room temperature before cooking.) Heat oven to 450 degrees.
• Make the vinaigrette: Put shallot in a small serving bowl. Add vinegar and a good pinch of salt. Leave to steep 5 minutes, then whisk in olive oil. Season tomatoes with salt and pepper and spoon them into the olive oil mixture. Add basil and stir gently. Leave at room temperature.
• Place fish on top shelf of oven and roast, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes, until fish is firm when probed and flakes at the thickest part. Take from oven and let rest 5 minutes. To serve, use a small knife, soup spoon and spatula to remove top fillets. Pull spine away to reveal bottom fillets. Transfer fillets to a platter or individual plates. Spoon a little tomato vinaigrette over each portion and pass the rest at the table.
• Alternatively, if you are grilling the fish, prepare a bed of hot coals. Make sure the grill is cleaned with a wire brush and lightly oiled. Lay the fish directly on the grill and cook for 7 to 8 minutes. Do not attempt to turn fish until the skin has browned and crisped or it will stick. Carefully turn fish and cook for another 7 to 8 minutes, until fish is firm when probed and flakes at the thickest part. To serve, proceed as in Step 3.

GRILL-ROASTED WHOLE FISH STUFFED WITH FRESH HERBS AND WRAPPED IN PANCETTA

Steps:

• Grilling Method: Indirect/Medium Heat
• Rinse fish and pat dry. Season with salt and pepper inside and out. Place fresh herbs inside cavity of fish. Lightly oil both sides of fish. Wrap seasoned, oiled fish with pancetta or bacon that is thinly sliced and unrolled. Wrap fish loosely, mummy-style, with the pancetta, leaving head and tail exposed.
• Place fish in center of cooking grate. Cook until opaque, but still moist in thickest part (10 to 15 minutes). Remove from grill.
• Place fish onto platter and serve immediately.

GRILLED WHOLE FISH WITH ROASTED TOMATO-CHILE SAUCE

Steps:

• For sauce:
• Line heavy large skillet with foil. Place tomatoes and chiles in skillet; cook over medium-high heat until skins begin to blister and blacken in spots, turning occasionally, about 20 minutes for tomatoes and 10 minutes for chiles. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Peel tomatoes; transfer to processor. Add chiles, onion, and garlic. Blend until coarse puree forms. Transfer sauce to bowl. Stir in cilantro, parsley, and salt. (Can be prepared 4 hours ahead. Cover and chill.)
• For fish:
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat) or preheat broiler. Rinse fish inside and out with cold water; pat dry. Open fish flat, like a book. Rub fish inside and out with oil; sprinkle inside with oregano, salt, and pepper. If grilling, place fish, opened flat, in grill basket. If broiling, place fish, opened flat, on oiled rimmed baking sheet. Grill or broil fish just until opaque in center, about 6 minutes per side.
• Using spatula, transfer fish to platter. Sprinkle with lime juice; serve with tomato sauce and warm corn tortillas.

WHOLE ROASTED FISH WITH WILD MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Coat fish with oil and season it generously inside and out with salt and pepper. Stuff cavity with lemon slices and herbs. Transfer to a baking sheet or large roasting pan and bake until the flesh is opaque and separates easily from the backbone, 35 to 45 minutes for a 4-pound fish, 45 to 60 minutes for a 6-pound fish.
• While fish cooks, toss mushrooms with 3 tablespoons oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Spread mushrooms out in one layer on 1 or 2 baking sheets, taking care not to crowd them. When fish is done, remove from oven and turn on broiler. Broil mushrooms until they are crisp and golden, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Let fish rest in roasting pan for 5 minutes. Using back of a fork, scrape away fish skin and divide top fillet among plates. Lift away backbone and discard; scoop bottom fillet away from its skin (which should stick to the pan) and divide among plates. Drizzle fillets with good olive oil, season with flaky sea salt and serve with lemon wedges and crispy mushrooms on the side.

ROASTED WHOLE FISH AND FENNEL WITH CRUSHED POTATOES, PERSERVED LEMON, AND CHARMOULA

Steps:

• Mix yogurt, chopped cilantro, and lime juice in small bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and chill.
• Cut 2-inch-long, 1/2-inch-deep slits into outside of both sides of fish, spacing 2 inches apart. Sprinkle fish inside and out with salt and pepper. Place parsley sprigs, thyme sprigs, fennel fronds, and lemon slices in fish cavity. Sprinkle top side of fish with chopped parsley and 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped thyme. Cover and chill at least 1 hour. Do ahead Lime yogurt and fish can be made 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Stir fennel seeds in small dry skillet over medium heat until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Mix fennel wedges, 2 tablespoons olive oil, toasted fennel seeds, and 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped thyme on rimmed baking sheet; toss. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast until fennel is tender and beginning to brown, stirring often, about 30 minutes. Do ahead Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Rewarm in 400°F oven until heated through, about 10 minutes.
• Place potatoes in large saucepan; fill with enough cold salted water to cover. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer just until potatoes are tender, about 12 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Transfer potatoes to baking sheet and cool slightly. Using heel of hand, smash potatoes coarsely. Return potatoes to same saucepan. Add 3 tablespoons olive oil and preserved lemon. Do ahead Can be made 1 hour ahead. Let stand at room temperature.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Drizzle 2 tablespoons olive oil over fish. Roast fish just until opaque in center, about 30 minutes. Let fish rest 5 minutes.
• Add 1/4 cup reserved potato cooking liquid to potato mixture; stir gently over medium heat until heated through, adding more cooking liquid by tablespoonfuls if mixture is dry, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Using 2 large metal spatulas, transfer fish to platter. Arrange fennel and potato mixture around. Spoon some Charmoula , then some lime yogurt atop fish. Garnish with cilantro sprigs. Serve with remaining Charmoula and lime yogurt.

WHOLE ROASTED FISH WITH SLICED POTATOES, OLIVES AND HERBS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, toss the potatoes, chopped garlic, chopped oregano, olives and red pepper; drizzle generously with olive oil and season with salt. Arrange the potatoes and friends in the bottom of a baking dish large enough to accommodate the fish. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove and reserve.
• Make 3 diagonal slices about 1/2 inch deep on each side of the fish. Season the outside and inside with olive oil and salt. Place the lemon slices, bay leaves, whole oregano sprigs, parsley and the remaining smashed garlic inside the body cavity of the fish.
• Pour the wine over the potatoes, lay the fish on top and toss the whole thing in the oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the eyeballs pop out.
• Remove the skin and bones and serve the fish over the potatoes.

WHOLE ROASTED FISH WITH FENNEL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees with rack in center. Heat olive oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat; add julienned fennel, shallots, and half the garlic. Cook, covered, until just tender, about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer fennel mixture to a bowl, reserving oil in pan; season with salt and pepper. Stir in parsley; set aside.
• Place fish in an oiled shallow baking dish large enough to hold fish. Spread fish open, and transfer fennel mixture to center of fish. Sprinkle with lime juice, and close fish. Tie together crosswise in 2 or 3 places using kitchen twine.
• Season fish with salt and pepper; rub with remaining garlic. Pour reserved oil over fish; cover with fennel stalks and fronds. Pour in white wine.
• Bake fish, basting often with juices from pan, until flesh is opaque and flakes slightly, about 10 minutes per inch of thickness. Remove strings. Transfer to a large serving platter; garnish with watercress. Serve immediately.

WHOLE ROASTED FISH WITH SLICED POTATOES, OLIVES & HERBS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• In a large bowl, toss the potatoes, chopped garlic, chopped oregano, olives, and red pepper; drizzle generously with olive oil and season with salt. Arrange the potatoes and friends in the bottom of a baking dish large enough to accommodate the fish. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove and reserve.
• Make 3 diagonal slices about 1/2 inch deep on each side of the fish. Season the outside and inside of the fish with olive oil and salt. Place the lemon slices, bay leaves, whole oregano sprigs, parsley, and remaining garlic inside the body cavity of the fish.
• Pour the wine over the potatoes, lay the fish on top, and toss the whole thing in the oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until the eyeball pops out.
• Remove the skin and bones and serve the fish over the potatoes.
• note
• When you buy a whole fish, tell your fishmonger you want to have it scaled, gutted, and gills removed-you really don't want to do this at home.

SALT AND HERB ROASTED WHOLE FISH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• In a food processor, combine the lemon zest and juice, the picked thyme, bay leaves and garlic and pulse until it becomes a coarse paste. Add the egg whites and puree until very frothy and foamy.
• In a large bowl combine the herb-egg white mixture with the salt and mix until it becomes a moist paste.
• Place half of the lemon slices and whole thyme in the cavity of each of the fish. On a baking sheet, place a little less than half of the salt mixture in two rows. Lay the fish on top of each row. Pack the remaining salt mixture around the fish to completely encase them, pressing the mixture firmly on the fish to create a crust.
• Roast the fish for 25 minutes. Remove and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Crack open the salt crust and brush the excess salt from the fish. Remove the top fillet, pull the spine out and remove the bottom fillet. Drizzle with olive oil and serve.

CRISPY WHOLE FISH WITH FIRE ROASTED CHIPOTLE PEPPER SAUCE WITH BLACK RICE

Steps:

• Fire Roasted Chipotle Pepper Sauce: Place the peppers, chipotle, vinegar and honey in a blender and blend until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add the oil until emulsified and season with salt and pepper, to taste.;
• Deep Fried Fish: Combine the oils in a deep fryer and heat to 365 degrees F.
• Season the fish with salt and pepper on both sides. Place the flour on a plate and season with salt and pepper. Dredge the fish on both sides with the flour. Fry 2 fish at a time until golden brown, about 6 to 8 minutes. Drain on a plate lined with paper towels.
• Black Rice: Place beans in cold water and bring to a simmer. Cook until soft, about 1 hour. Drain the beans, over a bowl. Place the cooking liquid in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook until soft. Add the rice and toss to coat with the oil. Add the hot cooking liquid to the rice and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover the pan and cook for 10 to 12 minutes. Turn off heat and let rice sit for 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Fluff with a fork. Fold in the beans and cilantro.

WHOLE ROASTED FISH WITH SLICED POTATOES, OLIVES AND HERBS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl, toss the potatoes, chopped garlic, chopped oregano, olives and red pepper; drizzle generously with olive oil and season with salt. Arrange the potatoes and friends in the bottom of a baking dish large enough to accommodate the fish. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove and reserve. Make 3 diagonal slices about 1/2 inch deep on each side of the fish. Season the outside and inside with olive oil and salt. Place the lemon slices, bay leaves, whole oregano sprigs, parsley and the remaining smashed garlic inside the body cavity of the fish. Pour the wine over the potatoes, lay the fish on top and toss the whole thing in the oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the eyeballs pop out. Remove the skin and bones and serve the fish over the potatoes.

WHOLE ROASTED FISH IN A SALT COFFIN

Steps:

• Technique: • preheat oven to 475 degrees Fº • rinse and pat dry your fish • insert thyme and slices of lemon into the cavity of the fish (season cavity only) • in a large mixing bowl, mix salt and egg whites until well incorporated • on a large sheet pan, spread half of the salt mixture and lay the fish across ensuring the salt will encompass the entire fish • pour the remaining salt on top of the fish and pack down • put the fish in the oven: turn down the temperature to 400 degrees Fº • the general rule is to cook the fish for 10 minutes for every inch of thickness the fish is at it's thickest point Presentation: Let the fish cool for 2 minutes and then crack the coffin with a wooden spoon. Peel away the salt and remove the fish from the coffin. Place on a serving dish and dress with a flavorful E.V.O.O.

COASTAL-STYLE ROASTED SEA BASS OR OTHER LARGE WHOLE FISH

Steps:

• Cut 3 or 4 gashes on each side of the fish, from top to bottom. Salt the gashes and salt the fish's cavity as well. Let it sit while you prepare the other ingredients. Preheat the oven to 450°F.
• Push half of the garlic slivers into the gashes. Rub the fish with a little of the olive oil and pour the rest into the bottom of a large baking pan. Spread the lemon slices over the bottom of the pan and top it with most of the oregano. Lay the fish over all, then spread the onions and remaining garlic around the fish. Pour the wine over all and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top with the remaining oregano.
• Cover with aluminum foil and bake, undisturbed, until the onions are nearly tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Uncover and continue to bake, shaking the pan occasionally, until the fish is cooked through, another 5 to 10 minutes (look at one of the gashes in the thickest part of the fish; the meat will appear opaque clear down to the central bone). If the pan is drying out, add a little more liquid.
• To serve, scoop the flesh from the fish with a spoon and top with some sauce.
• If the weather's good, and you have access to fennel branches, this is easier: Start by preheating a charcoal or gas grill; the fire should be quite hot and the grill rack about 4 inches from the heat source. Make a bed of fennel stalks directly on the grill bed. Sprinkle 1 1/2 to 2 pounds of sturdy fish fillets, like halibut (these may be steaks), striped bass, monkfish, or cod, with salt and cayenne. Grill right on the branches. While the fish is cooking, grind a teaspoon or more of fennel or dill seeds; juice 1 lemon and thinly slice another. When the fish is done, remove it from the grill, leaving as much of the stalks behind as possible (some of the burned fronds will adhere to the fish; this is fine). Sprinkle the fish with the fennel or dill seeds, then decorate it with the lemon slices. Drizzle with the lemon juice and a bit of olive oil and serve.

WHOLE ROASTED FISH

Steps:

• The fish should be cleaned and gutted but left whole. For flavor and dramatic presentation, the head should be left on the fish but you may have to remove it if the fish will not fit in your oven with the head. You will need an oven at least 20 inches wide to accommodate a whole fish larger than 6 pounds. You will also need a very large pan to hold the fish. You can improvise one using a standard 17-inch baking sheet, wrapping it in several thicknesses of heavy-duty foil and extending the foil beyond the ends of the baking sheet to create a surface that will fit the fish. Turn up the edges of the foil to catch pan juices.
• Preheat oven to 500 degrees.
• Rub the fish inside and out with the olive oil. Season the cavity of the fish with salt and pepper and stuff it with the rosemary.
• Place the fish on the prepared pan, place it in the oven and roast it 5 minutes per pound. Remove the fish from the oven and turn off the oven. Cover the fish loosely with a tent of foil and allow it to rest at least 15 minutes. It can rest for up to one hour and then be served at room temperature. Alternatively, after the resting period, the fish can be returned to the oven set at the lowest possible temperature (140 to 150 degrees) and kept warm without overcooking for up to 1 hour.
• At serving time, transfer the fish to a platter and garnish with the fresh coriander.
• To serve, peel off the top layer of the skin of the fish, then, using a large fork and a spatula, carefully lift sections of the fish off the bone. When all the exposed flesh has been removed from the bone, lift off the skeleton in one piece to expose the flesh underneath. Serve portions of it, lifting it off the skin, with sauce on the side.

WHOLE ROASTED FISH WITH WILD MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• 1, Heat oven to 400 degrees. Coat fish with oil and season it generously inside and out with salt and pepper. Stuff cavity with lemon slices and herbs. Transfer to a baking sheet or large roasting pan and bake until the flesh is opaque and separates easily from the backbone, 35 to 45 minutes for a 4-pound fish, 45 to 60 minutes for a 6-pound fish. 2. While fish cooks, toss mushrooms with 3 tablespoons oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Spread mushrooms out in one layer on 1 or 2 baking sheets, taking care not to crowd them. When fish is done, remove from oven and turn on broiler. Broil mushrooms until they are crisp and golden, 5 to 10 minutes. 3. Let fish rest in roasting pan for 5 minutes. Using back of a fork, scrape away fish skin and divide top fillet among plates. Lift away backbone and discard; scoop bottom fillet away from its skin (which should stick to the pan) and divide among plates. Drizzle fillets with good olive oil, season with flaky sea salt and serve with lemon wedges and crispy mushrooms on the side.

WHOLE ROASTED FISH WITH ORANGE, CINNAMON, AND SUMAC

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Rinse the fish under cold water and pat dry. Rub inside and out with 1 tablespoon salt. Lay the fish on an oiled baking dish.
• 2. Lay the orange slices over the fish and brush lightly with oil. In a small bowl, whisk together 5 tablespoons olive oil, the garlic, orange juice, sumac, and cinnamon. Pour half over the fish. Bake until the fish is opaque inside, 30 to 40 minutes, drizzling a tablespoon of the remaining marinade over the fish a few times during cooking.
• 3. Serve the fish on a large platter and pour the pan juices over the top. Sprinkle more sumac over the fish and the platter and serve with saffron rice.

WHOLE ROASTED FISH IN A SALT COFFIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).
• Insert lemon and lemon thyme into the cavity of the fish.
• Mix salt and egg whites together in a large bowl.
• Spread 1/2 the salt mixture on a large baking sheet. Lay fish on top. Pour remaining salt mixture on top. Pack down tightly so fish is sealed in salt.
• Reduce oven temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Bake fish in the preheated oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted through the salt and into the fish reads 120 degrees F (49 degrees C), 15 to 20 minutes.
• Cool fish for 2 minutes. Crack the salt coffin with a wooden spoon. Peel away the salt and discard. Transfer fish to a serving dish using 2 spatulas.

WHOLE ROASTED FISH

Steps:

• wash fish inside and out and dry thoroughly with paper towel salt and pepper inside of fish stuff fish cavity with half of the dill, rosemary, sliced lemons. tie fish closed with twine. salt and pepper outside of fish anbddrizzle with olive oil put the rest of the dill on the bottom of a roasting tray / baking pan and some lemon slices on top and put the whole fish on top. cook at 400 for 30 min, flipping the fish halfway through. adjust time depending on the size of the fish