Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 8 ounces pancetta, diced into 1/4-inch pieces
- Vegetable oil cooking spray
- 2 (1 1/2-pound) whole branzino (or striped bass or red snapper), cleaned, heads removed and filleted
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 lemons, zested
- 1/4 cup roughly chopped fennel fronds
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
- 2 lemons, thinly sliced
- 1 medium bulb fennel, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Directions
Put an oven rack in the lower 1/3 of the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
In a small skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and cook, stirring occasionally, until brown and crispy, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Set aside.
Lay a piece of heavy-duty foil on a baking sheet. Spray the foil with vegetable oil cooking spray. Lay the fish fillets, skin side down on the foil in a single layer and season with salt and pepper, to taste. In a small bowl, mix together the lemon zest, fennel fronds and thyme. Spoon the mixture over the fish. Arrange the lemon and fennel slices on top of the fish and sprinkle with the cooked pancetta. Pour the wine on top. Lay another piece of foil on top and crimp the edges of both pieces to form a packet. Roast until the flesh is flaky and cooked through, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes. Carefully remove the top piece of foil. Put the cooked lemon slices and fennel on a platter. Carefully transfer the fish to the platter on top of the fennel and lemon slices. Garnish with parsley and serve.
1 Video | Photo: Roasted Branzino with Lemons Recipe

















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By bjb210
on February 22, 2013
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Great and easy receipt for Bronzino! One of our favorite fish and Giada has come through again. It made us think we were back in Italy in Positano on the beach having a romantic dinner.
By palmcityjoy_129...
on July 24, 2012
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if you live in south florida you can buy this fish,bronzino at cods and capers on pga in north palm beach it is so good it,s worth the money!!!!!joy
By dianajleep
Niles, MI
on March 01, 2012
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This recipe is a 10! I could not find the Branzino so I made it with Tilapia. That was the only thing I changed and it was delicious! I am usually not a fan of fennel, but mixed with lemon and pancetta it was superb! I paired it with lemon grilled asparagus and it was a healthy dinner my husband raved over! Thanks again for an amazing, easy go-to recipe Giada!
Read all 26 reviews