Whole Roasted Fish

I’ve always loved lobster, crab, and scallops in any form. But I was a little so-so about eating fish of any kind. It just seemed boring, tasteless, and, well, fishy. But that all changed when I saw someone eating a whole fish at a favorite French bistro in San Francisco. It just looked cool. I mean, seriously, it’s a whole damn animal! It still looks like a fish! And I could smell its savory fragrance from two tables away. Ever since, I’ve been going frequently to the butcher or fishmonger to pick up a few red snappers or branzinis to roast for me and a couple friends.

In addition to the being the coolest looking dish, and being deliciously savory, fish is high in lean protein, is  a natural source of Omega-3 fish oils, and it’s paleo-friendly. As well as being easy to prepare, this dish also makes a unique option for date nights, or for having friends over for a good dinner.

Whole Roasted Fish

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Whole Roasted Fish

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine Keto, Paleo

Keyword fish, seafood

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Servings 1

Calories 100 kcal

Ingredients

• 1 whole White fish (red snapper branzini, sea bream or sea bass)
• Sea salt (to taste)
• Crushed black pepper (to taste)
• 2-3 Garlic cloves (halved)
• 1 Garlic clove (thinly sliced)
• olive oil
• 6-8 Thyme stalks
• 3-4 Lemon wedges
• Cookie sheet (or baking pan)

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 450 degrees (F).
2. Make 4 1-inch long slits in each side of the fish. Place a slice of garlic in each slit.
3. Rub the entire fish in olive oil, and sprinkle with sea salt and black pepper, to taste.
4. Add 4-5 stalks of thyme, the lemon wedges, garlic cloves, and a bit of extra sea salt inside the slit made by the butcher in the fish’s belly.
5. Place the fish on a cookie sheet covered in aluminum foil. Garnish with the remaining thyme stalks, and squeeze lemon juice over the fish.
6. Roast the fish for 20-25 minutes. You’ll know the fish is done when it’s very fragrant, and the eyes are cloudy.
7. Remove the fish from the cookie sheet, and squeeze a little extra lemon juice or olive over the top, to taste. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Whole Roasted Fish

Amount Per Serving

Calories 100 Calories from Fat 18

% Daily Value*

Fat 2g3%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Polyunsaturated Fat 0.001g

Monounsaturated Fat 0.001g

Cholesterol 25mg8%

Sodium 108mg5%

Potassium 1mg0%

Carbohydrates 0.1g0%

Protein 21g42%

Calcium 10mg1%

Iron 0.2mg1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.