Description
Whole Roasted Branzino with Lemon: The Perfect Dish — perfect for an elegant breakfast and easy meal prep. Makes 2 servings in 35 minutes with 7 simple ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 whole branzino (about 1–1.5 lbs), cleaned and scaled
- 2 lemons, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Rinse the branzino and pat it dry with paper towels.
- Make 3-4 diagonal cuts on each side of the fish.
- Rub the fish inside and out with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Stuff the cavity with lemon slices, thyme, and minced garlic.
- Place the fish on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Roast for 20-25 minutes, until the flesh is opaque and flakes easily.
- Serve immediately with extra lemon slices.
Notes
- Fridge: Store leftover roasted branzino in a shallow airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. The fish keeps well for up to 2 days at or below 40°F. Keep lemon slices with the fish to maintain moisture and flavor.
- Freezer: Wrap cooled branzino tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and place in a freezer-safe bag. Frozen fish stays good for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator for approximately 10 hours before reheating.
- Oven Reheat: Preheat oven to 300°F. Place fish on a baking sheet, cover loosely with foil, and warm for 12 minutes. The low temperature prevents the delicate flesh from drying out. Add a splash of water under the foil to create gentle steam.
- Microwave Reheat: Place a portion on a microwave-safe plate, cover with a damp paper towel, and heat at 50% power for 90 seconds. Check and continue in 30-second bursts. Lower power prevents rubbery texture in reheated seafood.
- Air Fryer Reheat: Set air fryer to 325°F and place the fish inside for 4 minutes. This method re-crisps the skin remarkably well. Lightly brush with olive oil before reheating to restore surface moisture and achieve a golden finish.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 servings
- Calories: 285 calories
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 78mg