on Oct 27, 2021, Updated Dec 22, 2023
Why You’ll Love Branzino
Branzino reminds me of growing up near the Black Sea 🌊 and the Mediterranean. My dad and I would often go to the sea and order grilled, freshly caught fish. There’s nothing more nostalgic to me than cooking this fish at home and trying to recreate a bit of these childhood memories. I actually loved picking out the fish 🦴 bones as a kid, because it gave me a sense of satisfaction to work for my delicious meal.
What is Branzino?
Branzino is a very light, mild white fish. It’s not overly fishy (less fishy-tasting than salmon, mahi mahi, and tuna) and, when cooked properly, it falls right off the bone in lovely tender bites. The skin is completely edible, but do be careful of bones. To finish it off before serving, we drizzle on a bit of extra olive oil or butter and lemon juice. It doesn’t take many ingredients to make this fish really special. Here’s a helpful visual guide for deboning a Branzino.
How to Prepare Branzino
🔥 Preheat the oven to 400F. You can also cook this fish on a BBQ. 🧂 Season the outside of the fish all over with salt, pepper, and olive oil. Then, season the inside of the fish with salt, pepper, and olive oil. 🍋 Stuff the fish with fresh lemon slices and lemon thyme or parsley. ♨️ Place the fish on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the skin is crisped and browned in spots and the flesh is opaque and flakes off easily with a fork. 🌿 Take it out of the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. Remove the lemon and herbs from the crevice and gently open up your fish. Discard the fish bones. 🍋 Garnish with extra lemon and olive oil. Enjoy!
Variations and Substitutions for Branzino
From cooking methods to added herbs, you can definitely make this fresh fish your own!
Best Served With
I love to serve branzino alongside my potato salad and a big green salad. My creamy Greek salad would also be a delicious accompaniment. You could also serve it with some fresh bread, like my no-knead peasant bread.
Common Questions
