Roasted Whole Black Bass

  0.0 – 0 reviews  • Fish
Level: Intermediate
Total: 1 hr 10 min
Active: 30 min
Yield: 2 to 4 servings

Ingredients

  1. One 2 1/2 to 3-pound whole black bass, gutted and scaled
  2. 1 bunch fresh parsley
  3. 1 bunch fresh tarragon
  4. 1 bunch fresh thyme
  5. 1 small head fennel, thinly sliced, fronds reserved
  6. 6 cloves garlic, minced
  7. 1/2 cup capers, chopped
  8. 2 lemons, thinly sliced
  9. 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  10. Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
  11. 1 1/2 cups dry white wine
  12. 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pats
  13. Herbed Israeli Couscous, for serving, recipe follows
  14. Kosher salt
  15. 1 1/2 cups Israeli couscous
  16. 2 tablespoons olive oil
  17. 1/4 cup currants
  18. 1/4 cup fresh chopped herbs, such as tarragon, parsley, chives, etc.
  19. 1 lemon, zested and juiced
  20. Freshly cracked black pepper
  21. Olive oil

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Rinse the fish and dry thoroughly with a paper towel. Score each side of the fish 3 to 4 times on a bias, about 1/2-inch deep. Combine the parsley, tarragon and thyme into 1 large bunch with the stems attached, and separate out one-third of the bunch. Finely chop the separated, smaller bunch. Mix with one-quarter of the fennel slices, one-third of the fronds, garlic and capers and 2 of the lemon slices, making a sort of herby citrus marinade. Mix the chopped herb mixture with the olive oil and rub the mixture inside and outside of the fish as well as inside the slits. This will allow the herby citrus flavors to permeate through the fish. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Place half of the remaining herbs, fennel, lemon slices, garlic and capers in a bed on the bottom of a roasting pan and the other half inside the cavity of the fish. Place the fish in a roasting pan. Evenly distribute the wine and butter pats in the pan, and place in the oven. The wine will help keep your fish moist and help steam it, as well as making a great sauce with the butter. Roast until the fish has cooked through, or until the skin is crispy and the fish is flaky, 25 to 30 minutes. Carefully transfer the fish to a serving platter with a bed of the Israeli Couscous (be careful, the fish is tender and can break). Pour the sauce from the pan over the fish and fillet to serve.
  2. Bring 3 cups salted water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the couscous, cover and remove from the heat. Allow the couscous to sit until the water is absorbed, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the currants, fresh herbs, lemon zest and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper and stir in a small glug of olive oil before serving. Yield: 6 servings.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 of 4 servings
Calories 1307
Total Fat 75 g
Saturated Fat 23 g
Carbohydrates 77 g
Dietary Fiber 10 g
Sugar 10 g
Protein 69 g
Cholesterol 311 mg
Sodium 1602 mg

 

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