Grilled Whole Fish With Lemon And Thyme Food

GRILLED WHOLE FISH WITH LEMON AND THYME

Steps:

• Preheat grill for direct-heat cooking, or build a fire and burn down wood until only red coals and gray ash remain.
• Rub a thin film of oil over cavities and skins of fish. Generously season all over (including cavities) with salt and pepper. Divide half of lemon rounds and thyme sprigs evenly between cavities. Secure cavities with skewers.
• Place fish in a grill basket; scatter remaining lemon rounds, halved lemons, and thyme around them. Place basket on grill grate and cook, turning once, until fish are charred in places and just cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes, depending on size. Fillet fish and cut into portions. Serve with grilled lemon halves and dressing.

GRILLED WHOLE FISH

Steps:

• Preheat grill for direct-heat grilling over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, drizzle cavity of each fish with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then season generously with coarse salt and freshly ground pepper.
• Aromatics help keep whole fish moist while grilling. Stuff 1 fish cavity with lemon slices and dill and the other with lime slices, basil, and Thai chiles. If using just 1 filling, double amounts called for.
• Fasten each opening with a wooden skewer or toothpicks that have been soaked in water so they don't burn. This keeps the aromatics inside and also makes fish easier to handle on the grill.
• Using a paring knife, make long, 1/4-inch-deep diagonal slashes at 2-inch intervals on both sides of fish so they cook evenly throughout. This also allows any seasonings on skin (see step 5) to penetrate.
• Rub both sides of each fish with remaining olive oil and season with salt and pepper, working all into slashes as well as heads and tails -- both are edible, and the tail becomes delightfully crisp when grilled.
• Brush hot grill with vegetable oil; immediately place fish on grill. Cook, undisturbed and uncovered, until undersides are charred and flesh along gills on undersides turns opaque, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Turn fish with 2 large spatulas. If they stick, wait a few seconds until skin sears enough to release cleanly. Grill on other side until charred and fish are just cooked through and opaque, 5 to 7 minutes more.
• Serve fish with lemon and lime wedges and more herbs. To serve, cut fillet free from top side of fish and remove with a spatula. Remove bones to free other fillet.

GRILLED SALMON WITH THYME AND LEMON

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• If the salmon is frozen, allow it to defrost in the refrigerator.
• Combine the lemon juice , lemon zest, oil, thyme, garlic, and salt in a large resealable bag. Add the salmon and turn the fillets or steaks to coat them evenly.
• Seal the bag and refrigerate it for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Do not allow it to marinate any longer as the salmon can become mushy.
• Preheat the grill for medium-high heat. Right before placing salmon on the grill, oil the grill grates well using large tongs, folded paper towels, and oil. Make several passes across the grates. This will help the fish from sticking and breaking apart.
• Remove the salmon from the bag and place on the hot grill. Brush salmon with marinade from the ziptop bag only once, at the start. Grill the salmon for about 4 to 6 minutes per side.
• Remove the salmon from the heat once the internal temperature of the fish reaches 145 F. The salmon should be light in color and flake easily through the thickest part.
• Optionally, squeeze fresh lemon over each fillet right before you take it off the grill.
• Serve and enjoy!

GRILLED SWORDFISH STEAKS WITH WHOLE-LEMON DRESSING

Steps:

• Pat four 4-6-oz. swordfish steaks (1"-1½" thick) dry with paper towels, then coat with 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil. Season both sides with kosher salt; set aside while you make the dressing.
• Using a sharp chef's knife, trim ends from 1 large lemon; slice into thick rounds and remove seeds. Very finely chop lemon rounds (peel, pith, and flesh) and transfer to a small bowl. (Alternatively, you can pulse in a food processor.) Mix in 5 sprigs oregano, thyme, or marjoram, leaves picked, finely chopped, 2 garlic cloves, finely grated, 1 Tbsp. capers (not drained), 2 tsp. ground coriander, 1 tsp. sugar, and ½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (if using). Stir in 6 Tbsp. plus 1½ tsp. extra-virgin olive oil. Season with freshly ground black pepper and more salt if needed.
• Prepare a grill for medium-high heat; oil grate. Place reserved swordfish steaks on grill; cover and grill fish, turning once, until flesh is opaque and just cooked through (an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part should register 130°F for medium-rare) and steaks release easily from grate, 3-5 minutes per side. Transfer to a platter.
• Spoon some dressing over swordfish and serve with remaining dressing alongside. Do ahead: Dressing can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before using.

ROASTED OR GRILLED WHOLE FISH WITH TOMATO VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Rinse fish with cool water and pat dry. Season generously on both sides with salt and pepper. Season the cavity with salt and pepper. Tuck thyme, rosemary and parsley sprigs in cavity of each fish. Add fennel fronds, basil leaves and lemon slices. Drizzle olive oil on both sides of fish, then place on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Leave at room temperature. (May season and refrigerate fish up to 2 hours in advance. Bring to room temperature before cooking.) Heat oven to 450 degrees.
• Make the vinaigrette: Put shallot in a small serving bowl. Add vinegar and a good pinch of salt. Leave to steep 5 minutes, then whisk in olive oil. Season tomatoes with salt and pepper and spoon them into the olive oil mixture. Add basil and stir gently. Leave at room temperature.
• Place fish on top shelf of oven and roast, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes, until fish is firm when probed and flakes at the thickest part. Take from oven and let rest 5 minutes. To serve, use a small knife, soup spoon and spatula to remove top fillets. Pull spine away to reveal bottom fillets. Transfer fillets to a platter or individual plates. Spoon a little tomato vinaigrette over each portion and pass the rest at the table.
• Alternatively, if you are grilling the fish, prepare a bed of hot coals. Make sure the grill is cleaned with a wire brush and lightly oiled. Lay the fish directly on the grill and cook for 7 to 8 minutes. Do not attempt to turn fish until the skin has browned and crisped or it will stick. Carefully turn fish and cook for another 7 to 8 minutes, until fish is firm when probed and flakes at the thickest part. To serve, proceed as in Step 3.

RICK BAYLESS' GRILLED SALMON VERA CRUZ WITH LEMON-AND-THYME-SCENTED SALSA

Steps:

• 1. Prepare the sauce: Place oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until just beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more. Raise the heat to medium-high and add the tomatoes, chopped thyme, lemon zest, and half of the olives, capers, and peppers. Simmer briskly, stirring, for about 5 minutes to evaporate some of the liquid. Reduce the heat to medium-low, stir in 1 cup water and simmer for 15 minutes. Taste and season with salt. Cool.
• 2. Preheat a gas grill to medium-high or light a charcoal fire and let it burn just until the coals are covered with gray ash and very hot. Reduce the heat on one side of the gas grill to medium-low or set up the charcoal grill for indirect cooking by banking all of the coals to one side, leaving the other half of the grill empty. Set the cooking grate in place, cover the grill and let the grate heat for 5 minutes.
• 3. Oil the grill and both sides of each salmon steak; sprinkle fish with salt. Cook the salmon over the hottest part of the grill for about 4 minutes, until nicely browned underneath. Carefully flip over the fish onto the cooler side of the grill; cook 2 to 4 minutes more for medium-rare.
• 4. Spoon the sauce into a deep platter and nestle the fish in it. Let stand at room temperature for about an hour to bring together the flavors of the fish and the sauce.
• 5. To serve, sprinkle the fish with remaining olives, capers, and peppers; garnish with the thyme sprigs. Serve immediately.

LEMON THYME SWORDFISH

Steps:

• Place the swordfish in a shallow bowl.
• Whisk the lemon juice, shallots, garlic, mustard, oil and thyme in a small bowl; season with the pepper.
• Pour over the swordfish.
• Marinate, covered, at room temperature for 30 minutes, or in the fridge for several hours.
• Set up your gas or charcoal grill and brush the grill rack with oil.
• Arrange the swordfish on the rack; grill for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until seared on the outside and cooked through.

GRILLED PORGY WITH LEMONS AND SCALLIONS

Steps:

• Prepare a charcoal grill until coals are ashed over and hot, or heat a charcoal grill to high. Or heat a broiler (see Tips).
• Cut 3 lemons into ½-inch-thick slices and discard any pits. Pat fish dry inside and out and season inside with salt. Place the lemon slices inside the fish, then place the thyme and oregano on top of the lemon. If the fish don't close around the stuffing, tie fish closed in two places with kitchen twine. Brush fish on both sides with 4 tablespoons olive oil.
• Toss scallions with a pinch of salt and remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Cut the 2 remaining lemons in half, removing any seeds.
• Scrub the grill grate clean, then rub with an oiled kitchen towel or wad of paper towels. If your grill can fit everything, place everything on at once. Otherwise, start with the scallions and lemons, cut sides down. Season one side of each fish with salt and place salt side down on the grates next to the scallions and lemons. Grill (covered if using a gas grill), turning once, until the lemons and scallions are softened and lightly charred, 3 to 4 minutes for the scallions and 5 minutes for the lemons. Grill the fish until the skin releases naturally from the grate, about 6 minutes, then salt the other side, cover and grill until cooked through, about 6 minutes longer. Test for doneness by slipping a paring knife into the center of the fish; it should feel hot when carefully touched to your lower lip or the inside of your wrist.
• Spread scallions on a serving platter and set lemon halves around the sides. Transfer the fish to the platter, remove the string and serve.

LEMON AND THYME GRILLED TUNA

Steps:

• Put the tuna steaks into a large heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag.
• In a small bowl, add the olive oil, thyme, salt, lemon peel, pepper, and lemon juice; stir to combine.
• Pour mixture into the bag with the tuna.
• Seal bag; turn bag to coat tuna.
• Marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• On a well greased grill rack, over medium heat, grill tuna steaks 6-7 minutes or until fish is firm but still pink on the inside and flakes easily; turn once during grilling.