Seabass Baked in a Bag

Ingredients

• Tin foil
• 2 pound whole sea bass
• Sea salt
• Black pepper
• Fennel tops
• Handful basil
• 1/2 red onion thinly sliced
• Bay leaves
• Olive oil
• 2/3 lemon, juiced
• 2 ounces butter

Directions

Ask your fishmonger to gut and scale your fish. Lay out a piece of tin foil and fold in half. Place the sea bass on top of the foil and score the flesh about 2 inches apart on both sides. Rub plenty of salt and pepper into the scores. Lay out the fennel on the foil and place fish on top of the fennel and push to one side of the foil. Cover liberally with the basil, red onion and bay leaves, making sure you tuck some into the belly. Drizzle over plenty of olive oil, lemon juice and knobs of butter. Fold over the left hand half of the foil and seal the 3 sides to gently hug the fish. Place on tray and bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for approximately 16 minutes (8 minutes per pound). Remove from the oven and allow to stand for 3 to 4 minutes without opening the bag.