Roasted Branzino With Green Olive Couscous Food

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.

WHOLE ROASTED BRANZINO WITH COUSCOUS SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400˚ F. Rub a rimmed baking sheet with olive oil and set aside. Cook the couscous as the label directs.
• Meanwhile, season the cavity of the fish with salt and pepper. Stuff the lemon slices and parsley sprigs into the cavities, reserving about 8 lemon slices for serving. Arrange the fish on the baking sheet in an even layer and roast until the flesh flakes easily with a fork, 16 to 18 minutes. Remove from the oven and let stand 5 minutes.
• Whisk the olive oil, lemon juice, mustard and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the couscous, chopped parsley, red onion, pomegranate seeds and pecans; toss well to coat. Season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer each whole fish to a plate, or remove the fillets and transfer to plates (see page 55). Serve with the couscous salad and reserved lemon slices.

GREEK-STYLE ROASTED BRANZINO RECIPE

Steps:

• Adjust a rack in the center of your oven. Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Pat the fish. With a sharp knife, make two slits on both sides of the fish. Rub the fish with kosher salt and black pepper on both sides, inserting the seasoning through the slits and in the fish cavity.
• Stuff the fish cavity with the sliced onion and lemon.
• Roast in the center rack of your heated oven for 5 minutes on one side, then turn over and cook for another 5 to 7 minutes or until the fish is cooked and flakes easily. Turn the broiler on and place the fish about 6 inches from the heat source for 3 to 4 minutes or until the skin chars.
• While the fish is cooking, prepare the Greek ladolemono sauce.
• As soon as the fish is finished, remove it from the oven. Transfer the fish to a serving platter and drizzle immediately with as much of the ladolemono sauce as you like, making sure to add some of the sauce all over the cavity part as well. Toss the cherry tomatoes with a little salt and spoon them over the fish (you can drizzle a bit of the sauce again all the tomatoes). Finish with fresh dill. Serve immediately.

COUSCOUS WITH OLIVES AND LEMON

Steps:

• Cook garlic in oil in 2-3 quart wide heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until golden, 1-2 minutes.
• Add water and salt and bring to boil.
• Stir in remaining ingredients, cover pan and remove from heat.
• Let stand 5 minutes.
• Fluff with fork.