Grilled Whole Branzino

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Total: 1 hr 15 min (includes resting time)
  • Active: 25 min
Advertisement

Ingredients

Salmoriglio Sauce:

Zest and juice of 1 lemon

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 

2 cloves garlic, minced 

2 teaspoons chopped capers 

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 

2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill 

1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon 

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Fish:

One 2- to 2 1/2-pound branzino or whole brook trout, fins trimmed, gutted and scaled

2 sprigs fresh rosemary

4 sprigs fresh thyme

4 cloves garlic, crushed 

1 lemon, sliced 

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

Special equipment:
a fish grill basket
  1. For the Salmoriglio sauce: Whisk together the lemon juice and olive oil in a medium bowl. Add garlic, capers, herbs and lemon zest. The sauce should be loose in consistency with high-acid flavor. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  2. For the fish: Preheat the grill for cooking over high heat (around 450 to 500 degrees F).
  3. Bring fish to room temperature, 30 minutes, then wrap fish briefly in paper towels to dry out skin, which will help keep the fish from sticking to the grill.
  4. Stuff the inside cavity of the fish with herbs, garlic and lemon slices, and sprinkle the cavity with salt and pepper. Brush the outside of the fish with olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Brush a fish grill basket with oil or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Place fish in fish grill basket and secure shut. (If you don't have a fish grill basket, place the fish between 2 wire cooling racks and secure the racks together with wire.)
  5. Place basket on the hottest part of the grill. Cook until the eye turns white and skin is charred, 6 to 8 minutes per side. Let rest 5 minutes.
  6. Place fish on a platter and dress with the Salmoriglio sauce.

Let's Get Cooking!

Sign up for the Recipe of the Day newsletter to receive editor-picked recipes,tips and videos delivered to your inbox daily. Privacy Policy

Thanks for subscribing to the Recipe of the Day newsletter. Check out all our other great newsletters from Easy Recipes, Healthy Eating Ideas and Chef Recipe Videos.

We're sorry, there was an error signing you up. Please try again later.

Advertisement

Diana W.

I give this a three star rating because of the fish itself. It's the first time I've had it in my 65 years, and it had no flavor at all. If not for the sauce, I would give it a rating of one star. I can see that a non fish lover would like this fish because there is no flavor, but I love white fish, so it was very disappointing, especially since it was $18.99 per pound. The sauce was the only savior, 5 stars for that.

See All Reviews