Grilled Branzino With Roasted Pepper Relish Fennel Food

GRILLED BRANZINO WITH ROASTED PEPPER RELISH & FENNEL

Steps:

• Preheat grill to medium-high. Grill bell peppers, turning occasionally with tongs, until blackened all over, about 15 minutes. Immediately transfer peppers to large bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap, or place peppers in paper bag and roll top to close. Let peppers steam until cool enough to handle, 10 to 15 minutes. Rub off charred skins with your hands. Halve peppers and scrape out seeds, then coarsely chop.
• In large bowl, mix chopped peppers, celery, lemon juice, garlic, 3 tbsp oil, and 3⁄4 tsp salt. Let pepper relish marinate at room temperature, stirring occasionally, while fish cooks.
• Coat fish with remaining 1 tbsp oil and sprinkle with black pepper and remaining 1 tsp salt. Spray 2 large pieces of heavy-duty foil with nonstick spray. Using skewer, poke a few holes in foil to allow smoke to flavor fish. Place 2 whole fish or 4 fillets on each piece of foil, skin-side up. Place fish on foil onto hot grill and cook until fish are golden brown on bottom, about 5 minutes for whole fish and 3 to 4 minutes for fillets. Flip fish and grill, skin-side down, until opaque and browned, about 5 minutes for whole fish and 2 to 3 minutes for fillets. Transfer fish to platter. Stir basil into pepper relish. Spoon relish over fish and scatter fennel over top.
• Spray 2 large pieces of foil with nonstick spray; place 4 fillets on each piece of foil, skin side up, and poke a few holes in foil using skewer. Slide foil onto hot grill; cook fillets until golden brown on bottom, 3−4 minutes. Flip fillets; cook, skin side down, until opaque and browned, 2−3 minutes. Arrange fish on platter. Stir basil into pepper relish and spoon over fish. Sprinkle with fennel. Remove skin before eating.
• Serving size: 1 fillet and 1⁄3 cup relish and fennel

ROASTED BRANZINO WITH LEMONS

Steps:

• 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.

GRILLED WHOLE BRANZINO

Steps:

• 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.
• For the fish: Preheat the grill for cooking over high heat (around 450 to 500 degrees F).
• 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.
• 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.)
• 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.
• Place fish on a platter and dress with the Salmoriglio sauce.

GRILLED BRANZINO WITH CILANTRO-MINT RELISH

Steps:

• Prepare grill for medium-high heat. Mix onion, cilantro, lime juice, ginger, sugar, chopped mint, half of chiles, and 1/3 cup oil in a medium bowl; season with salt. Set relish aside.
• Season inside of fish with salt. Stuff with mint sprigs, lime slices, and remaining chiles; tie with kitchen twine. Drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon oil; season with salt. Grill fish until skin is crisp and flesh is flaky and opaque down to the bone, about 5 minutes per side. (If a small knife slides easily through the thickest part of flesh, the fish is done.) Serve with relish.
• DO AHEAD: Fish can be stuffed and tied and relish can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover separately and chill.