Cooking Whole Sea Bream Food

BAKED WHOLE SEA BREAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven at 200 degrees Celsius / 392 degrees Fahrenheit / Gas mark 5.
• Add half of the olive oil to a large baking tin (or enough to cover the surface).
• Layer on the fish together in the tin along with all of the vegetables and lemons. Sprinkle across the coarse sea salt and drizzle the remaining olive oil evenly over the fish.
• Sprinkle over all of the parsley and dill across the top of the dish and place in the oven for 25-30 minutes maximum. You'll know when the fish is done because the eyes of the will be opaque. If they're still translucent, the fish needs to be cooked for longer. If they're opaque and have completely sunken in, you've overcooked it. Remember that tip!

ROASTED SEA BREAM WITH HERBS

Steps:

• Prepare and clean fish. Wash and pat dry. Remove pectoral and ventral fins.
• Brush fish from all sides with olive oil. You may need about 3 tablespoons oil, but it can be more depending on size of fish. Put fish in a suited oven proofed dish (it should not be too large).
• Chop parsley (set about 1/2 tablespoon aside for topping), thyme and majoran. Pick sage leaves to pieces. Sprinkle herbs over the fish. Add bay leaf, black pepper seeds and cloves.
• Cover and marinade in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. I suggest to marinate for at least 2 hours, so that this can be done in advance. Turn fish once during this time.
• Preheat oven (390 F, 200 C).
• Take fish fish from marinade and remove as much of the herbs as possible. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
• Turn fish over in flour. It should only be slightly covered with flour.
• In a large skillet heat a little olive oil. Roast fish from both sides on medium to medium high heat until golden brown.
• Put fish and remaining oil in the oven proofed dish with herbs. Add about 1/8 to 1/4 cup wine. The ground of the dish should just be covered. Distribute butter in small pieces over the fish.
• Bake in oven for about 20 minutes. Fish is done when the dorsal fin can easily be removed. During baking sprinkle fish from time to time with sauce.
• Remove fish carefully from dish and place it on a serving plate.
• Remove as much herbs as possible from sauce. Add Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice to taste.
• Sprinkle some sauce and remaining parsley over the fish and serve the remaining sauce separetly.
• NOTE: If you like you can increase the amount of herbs in the recipe. The more wine you use the less lemon juice is required.
• NOTE: Use a dry white wine and serve the wine with the fish.

BAKED SEA BREAM WITH TOMATOES & CORIANDER

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Slice the potatoes thinly, put in a large saucepan and cover with cold salted water. Bring to the boil and drain, then lay onto the base of a lightly oiled large baking tray. Scatter over the garlic, chilli, saffron and a little of the coriander.
• Slash the fish through the flesh down to the bone - this allows it to cook evenly and quicker than normal. Season and rub with the olive oil. Lay the fish on the potatoes and top with the lime juice, wine, tomatoes and pine nuts. Lay the pancetta slices over the fish and bake for 20-25 mins or until the fish is cooked through. Check by pulling out one of the fins on the back, it should come away easily. Serve the fish scattered with the remaining coriander.

ROAST WHOLE FISH WITH SALSA ROMESCO

Steps:

• Heat the grill to high. Put the peppers, skin-side up, onto a baking tray and grill for about 20 mins until the skins blacken all over. Put them into a food bag, seal, then leave for 10 mins. Once cool, peel away the skins. Tear the flesh into strips. Mix with the tomatoes, garlic and chilli in a bowl. Roughly chop most of the parsley leaves and add to the bowl with the hazelnuts, vinegar and oil, then stir well. This salad 'matures' well, and tastes even better if you can make it a few hours ahead.
• When ready to cook, heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Rinse and dry the fish, score the flesh on each side, then put the parsley stalks and a few lemon slices into the cavities. Put a few more lemon slices in an oiled baking dish and lay the fish on top. Season the fish well, drizzle with more olive oil, scatter with remaining parsley, then roast for 20 mins, until the flesh flakes easily.
• Serve the fish from the dish, set the bowl of salad and the potatoes alongside, then dig in.

BARBECUED BREAM WITH SPRING ONIONS, LEMON & CHILLI

Steps:

• Light the barbecue. Season the inside of the bream and stuff with the onion and lemon slices.
• When the coals are ashen, carefully spread them out in a circle about 30cm in diameter. For the topping, put the spring onions, garlic, whole chillies and lemon halves, cut-side down, onto the grill. Cook for 10-12 mins, turning halfway through, until the veg starts to colour and soften.
• Rub a little of the olive oil over the outside of the fish and lay on the grill. Do this carefully, as the oil on the fish skin may start to catch and burn.
• Remove the veg and lemons from the grill. Finely chop the spring onions and chillies (remove the seeds if you don't want it to be too hot), tip into a bowl and squeeze the garlic from its skin. Squeeze over the barbecued lemon and drizzle with the rest of the oil.
• After 8-10 mins, carefully turn the fish using tongs and a fish slice, if needed to prevent it breaking apart. Cook for another 8 mins, then check the fish is cooked through by pulling a piece of skin away - the flesh should be opaque.
• When the fish is ready, remove to a serving plate and pour over the veg topping. Season and serve with the new potatoes. For children, flake the fish onto plates, checking for bones as you do.

WHOLE ROAST BREAM WITH POTATOES & OLIVES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Cook the potatoes in boiling water for about 10 mins, cut into thick slices, then cool. In a bowl, toss the potatoes with the olives, garlic, half the chopped parsley, half the olive oil, the lemon zest and salt and pepper. Tip this mix over the bottom of a medium gratin dish.
• Season the fish and place the parsley stalks in the cavity. Lay the fish on top of the potatoes and drizzle with the rest of the olive oil. Bake for 15 mins until the potatoes start to crisp up around the edges. Pour the wine over, then return to the oven for 10 mins more until the potatoes have browned and the fish is cooked.
• Remove the dish from the oven, scatter over the rest of the parsley and bring the dish to the table. When you serve up, don't forget the lovely white wine juices in the bottom of the dish. Delicious with a simple bowl of spinach.