Macadamia Free Mediterranean Whole Roasted Fish with Herbs and Lemon
Whole roasted fish is one of those showstopper meals that looks far more impressive than the effort it actually takes. Two beautiful fish — branzino, sea bass, or red snapper all work wonderfully — get scored, seasoned generously, and stuffed with lemon rounds, fresh thyme, rosemary, garlic, and parsley before hitting a screaming-hot oven. Underneath them, sliced zucchini and fennel roast in olive oil and dried oregano, soaking up all those herby, citrusy drippings as everything cooks together on a single baking sheet. The result is crisp-skinned, flaky, deeply fragrant fish with a built-in side dish that tastes like it came from a coastal Mediterranean restaurant. Because this recipe is built entirely around fresh fish, vegetables, olive oil, and herbs, there's no need to scan labels or worry about hidden nut ingredients sneaking in — everything on the list is clean and straightforward. A final squeeze of lemon and a scatter of fresh parsley over the platter is all the finishing touch this dish needs.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 2 whole fish (about 1.5 lb each), such as branzino, sea bass, or red snapper, scaled and gutted
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced into rounds
- 6 sprigs fresh thyme
- 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
- ¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1 medium zucchini, sliced into ¼-inch rounds
- 1 medium fennel bulb, cored and thinly sliced
- ½ tsp dried oregano
For serving
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges, for serving
- 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Toss the zucchini and fennel with 1 tbsp of the olive oil, the dried oregano, and a pinch of salt and pepper on a large rimmed baking sheet, then spread them into an even layer.
- 2
Pat the fish completely dry inside and out with paper towels. Using a sharp knife, cut 3 diagonal slashes about 1/2 inch deep through the thickest part of each fish on both sides — this helps the fish cook evenly and allows the seasoning to penetrate.
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