Cooking a whole fish is a rewarding experience, yielding a moist and flavorful dish that showcases the natural beauty of the fish. Fennel, with its aromatic and slightly sweet flavor, pairs perfectly with the delicate taste of fish, creating a harmonious balance of flavors. This article will guide you through the process of selecting the right fish, preparing it for cooking, and creating a delicious whole fish in fennel dish that will impress your family and friends.
Let's cook with our recipes!
WHOLE ROASTED FISH WITH FENNEL
This recipe is adapted from Marilu Henner's "Healthy Life Kitchen" (Regan Books, 2002)
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Seafood Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees with rack in center. Heat olive oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat; add julienned fennel, shallots, and half the garlic. Cook, covered, until just tender, about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer fennel mixture to a bowl, reserving oil in pan; season with salt and pepper. Stir in parsley; set aside.
- Place fish in an oiled shallow baking dish large enough to hold fish. Spread fish open, and transfer fennel mixture to center of fish. Sprinkle with lime juice, and close fish. Tie together crosswise in 2 or 3 places using kitchen twine.
- Season fish with salt and pepper; rub with remaining garlic. Pour reserved oil over fish; cover with fennel stalks and fronds. Pour in white wine.
- Bake fish, basting often with juices from pan, until flesh is opaque and flakes slightly, about 10 minutes per inch of thickness. Remove strings. Transfer to a large serving platter; garnish with watercress. Serve immediately.
MEDITERRANEAN GRILLED WHOLE SNAPPER WITH FENNEL AND A PERNOD BUTTER SAUCE
Provided by Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 1h
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat the grill to high.
- Rinse the snapper in clean water. Pat dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. Remove any large fins with sharp kitchen shears. Season the inside of the fish with salt and pepper.
- Remove the leafy green tops from the fennel heads. Using the greens from 1 of the fennel heads, stuff the inside of the fish. Reserve the fennel bulbs and the remaining greens. Add the thyme and oregano and press closed. Make 3 diagonal slices on each side of the fillet. Cut down to the bone. Insert 1 lemon slice into each slit. Brush the whole fish with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Clean the surface of the grill with a grill brush. Brush the surface of the hot grill with olive oil. Place the stuffed red snapper on the preheated grill at a 45 degree angle and cook for about 10 minutes or until the fish easily lifts off the grill. With 2 spatulas, carefully turn 90 degrees and continue to cook another 5 minutes. Turn fish and cook the other side to desired doneness, at least another 10 minutes. Do not overcook.
- Meanwhile, cut the reserved fennel bulbs into 1/4-inch slices. Drizzle with olive oil and place on the grill. Grill until tender and golden brown, about 4 minutes per side. Remove to a platter and keep warm.
- For the sauce: Place a small saucepan on the grill or on a burner over medium heat. Add the water and bring to a simmer. Add the lemon juice and Pernod and reduce by 1/3. With the remaining reserved fennel leaves, remove the tender inner leaves and chop finely. You should have about 1/4 cup chopped fennel. Set aside. Remove the water/lemon mixture from the heat and whisk in the butter, a few pieces at a time. When the butter is incorporated, add the chopped fennel leaves and whisk well. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
- When the fish is cooked and the flesh is opaque and lifts easily from the bone, carefully remove using 2 sturdy metal spatulas and place on a platter.
- Serve the fish with some of the Pernod butter sauce and grilled fennel.
FISH WITH FENNEL
This brightly-flavored fish is a great showcase for fennel. You'll use the seeds, bulb and fronds. This is an excellent springtime recipe, when fennel is at its peak. -Barbara Stelluto, Devon, Pennsylvania
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 40m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Cut lime in half; cut four slices from one half for garnish. Finely grate enough peel from remaining half to measure 3/4 teaspoon; squeeze juice from lime half. Set aside., In a dry small skillet over medium heat, toast fennel seeds until aromatic, about 1-2 minutes. Cool. Crush seeds in a spice grinder or with a mortar and pestle., In a large saucepan, bring 1 in. of water to a boil. Add sliced fennel and salt; cover and boil for 6-10 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain and pat dry., In a large nonstick skillet, saute fennel in 2 teaspoons oil for 3 minutes or until fennel is lightly browned. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Remove from the pan and set aside. , In the same skillet over medium-high heat, cook fillets in remaining oil for 3-4 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily with a fork. , Drizzle with lime juice; sprinkle with lime peel and crushed fennel seeds. Serve with sauteed fennel. Garnish with fennel fronds and lime slices.,
Nutrition Facts : Calories 285 calories, Fat 8g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 80mg cholesterol, Sodium 276mg sodium, Carbohydrate 7g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 46g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
WHOLE FISH IN FENNEL
Grilling fish is not daunting when you master a few details, like selecting the right type of fish, keeping your grill clean and - the moment of truth - knowing how to turn. A whole fish can simply be rolled over: make sure you have room on the grill to achieve this. For a very large fish, like a seven-pound wild striped bass, you will need to shovel two spatulas under it, then roll it.
Provided by Florence Fabricant
Categories dinner, easy, main course
Time 45m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Slice stems and fronds from fennel bulbs and lay on a work surface.
- Rub fish inside and out with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Tuck some fennel stems in fish cavity. Cover fish with remaining fennel stems and fronds. Use butcher's cord to tie fennel to fish, enclosing it. Rub fennel with another tablespoon olive oil. Trim fennel bulbs and slice 1/2-inch thick.
- Heat grill to very hot and oil grates. Place fish in fennel on grill, preferably at least 8 inches from coals or fire. Grill about 15 minutes on one side. Fennel will char.
- While fish grills, place sliced bulbs in a saucepan of boiling, salted water and blanch for 5 minutes. Drain well on paper towel.
- Turn fish and grill about 15 minutes on other side, or until flesh in cavity looks opaque and can easily be separated from the bone when poked with a knife. Remove to a platter and snip off cords.
- Rub fennel slices with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and place on grill. Sear on each side. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with the juice of 1/2 lemon. Bone fish and serve, with lemon wedges, additional oil for drizzling and seared fennel alongside.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 766, UnsaturatedFat 25 grams, Carbohydrate 20 grams, Fat 33 grams, Fiber 8 grams, Protein 94 grams, SaturatedFat 6 grams, Sodium 1686 milligrams, Sugar 10 grams
FISH AND FENNEL
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Seafood Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a medium skillet, combine 1/3 cup water and oil. Add the fennel, tomatoes, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, lemon, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes begin to fall apart, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Season the fish with salt and pepper. Add to skillet with vegetables. Cover, and cook until opaque, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve immediately.
ROASTED FISH WITH BLOOD ORANGE AND FENNEL
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories dinner, weekday, main course
Time 45m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Heat oven to 450 degrees. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with foil; have ready a second rimmed baking sheet.
- Trim the tops from the fennel bulbs and coarsely chop 1/4 cup of the fronds; discard the stalks. Remove the outer layers of the fennel and halve each bulb through the root end. Thinly slice each bulb. Thinly slice one of the limes and quarter the other.
- Pat each fish dry and coat each lightly with a teaspoon oil. Generously season fish inside and outside with salt and pepper. Transfer fish to the foil-lined baking sheet. Stuff each cavity with slices of lime and orange, fennel fronds and garlic.
- Toss sliced fennel with 3 tablespoons oil, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Spread on the remaining baking sheet. Transfer fish and fennel to the oven; roast fennel, tossing occasionally, until golden and tender, about 15 minutes. Bake fish until it is just opaque, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve fish drizzled with more olive oil and squeeze fresh lime juice on top. Serve with fennel on top or alongside.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 620, UnsaturatedFat 9 grams, Carbohydrate 18 grams, Fat 14 grams, Fiber 6 grams, Protein 103 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 924 milligrams, Sugar 8 grams
RED SNAPPER WITH FENNEL AND GARLIC
Steps:
- Preheat an oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Heat 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in 3 cloves minced garlic, fennel, and minced shallot. Cook and stir until the fennel has begun to soften, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Transfer vegetables to a bowl, and stir in chopped parsley. Reserve cooking oil.
- Season the fish all over with salt and pepper to taste, then stuff snapper with fennel mixture. Use kitchen twine to tie the snapper together in three places. Place the snapper into the prepared baking dish, drizzle with the white wine, lemon juice, and reserved oil. Sprinkle with 3 tablespoons of garlic.
- Bake in the preheated oven until the fish is no longer translucent, and flakes easily with a fork, about 20 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 452.1 calories, Carbohydrate 7.1 g, Cholesterol 110.9 mg, Fat 16.6 g, Fiber 1.6 g, Protein 63.3 g, SaturatedFat 2.6 g, Sodium 160.1 mg, Sugar 0.6 g
WHOLE STUFFED ROAST FISH WITH FENNEL
This roast fish dish was inspired by Sicily, where the aromatic spices and dried fruit of Arabian cuisine meet with the fresh fish and veg of the Med
Provided by Good Food team
Categories Fish Course, Main course
Time 1h5m
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the fennel and onion in a large roasting tin and toss with 2 tbsp oil, 1 tbsp lemon juice and plenty of seasoning. Roast for 20 mins until almost tender and starting to caramelise. Meanwhile, put the couscous in a medium bowl. Mix the saffron and hot stock, pour over the couscous and cover with cling film.
- Rinse the fish with cold water inside and out, then pat dry. Slash deeply on both sides and season with salt, pepper and a pinch of the lemon zest. After 10 mins soaking, fluff up the couscous with a fork and add 2 tbsp lemon juice, the remaining zest, the dill, 1 tbsp pine nuts and seasoning to taste. Stuff the couscous into the cavity of each fish, reserving any leftover couscous for later.
- Stir the tomatoes and currants into the tin. Sit the fish on top and roast for about 30 mins, depending on its size. Look for juices running from the slashes in the flesh. Tug gently on the back fin - if it comes away easily, the fish is cooked.
- 4 Scatter with the rest of the pine nuts, then serve from the tin, with lemon wedges for squeezing over. Serve one stuffed fish per person, or if you have cooked large fish, gently lift the fillets from the top of the fish first, then turn over and repeat. Share out the couscous stuffing and leftover couscous.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 489 calories, Fat 18 grams fat, SaturatedFat 2 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 45 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 11 grams sugar, Fiber 9 grams fiber, Protein 36 grams protein, Sodium 0.5 milligram of sodium
ROASTED WHOLE FISH AND FENNEL WITH CRUSHED POTATOES, PERSERVED LEMON, AND CHARMOULA
Steps:
- Mix yogurt, chopped cilantro, and lime juice in small bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and chill.
- Cut 2-inch-long, 1/2-inch-deep slits into outside of both sides of fish, spacing 2 inches apart. Sprinkle fish inside and out with salt and pepper. Place parsley sprigs, thyme sprigs, fennel fronds, and lemon slices in fish cavity. Sprinkle top side of fish with chopped parsley and 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped thyme. Cover and chill at least 1 hour. Do ahead Lime yogurt and fish can be made 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Stir fennel seeds in small dry skillet over medium heat until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Mix fennel wedges, 2 tablespoons olive oil, toasted fennel seeds, and 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped thyme on rimmed baking sheet; toss. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast until fennel is tender and beginning to brown, stirring often, about 30 minutes. Do ahead Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Rewarm in 400°F oven until heated through, about 10 minutes.
- Place potatoes in large saucepan; fill with enough cold salted water to cover. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer just until potatoes are tender, about 12 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Transfer potatoes to baking sheet and cool slightly. Using heel of hand, smash potatoes coarsely. Return potatoes to same saucepan. Add 3 tablespoons olive oil and preserved lemon. Do ahead Can be made 1 hour ahead. Let stand at room temperature.
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Drizzle 2 tablespoons olive oil over fish. Roast fish just until opaque in center, about 30 minutes. Let fish rest 5 minutes.
- Add 1/4 cup reserved potato cooking liquid to potato mixture; stir gently over medium heat until heated through, adding more cooking liquid by tablespoonfuls if mixture is dry, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Using 2 large metal spatulas, transfer fish to platter. Arrange fennel and potato mixture around. Spoon some Charmoula , then some lime yogurt atop fish. Garnish with cilantro sprigs. Serve with remaining Charmoula and lime yogurt.
Tips:
- Choose the right fish: For this recipe, it's best to use a whole fish that is firm and flaky, such as sea bass, snapper, or trout. The size of the fish should be between 1 and 2 pounds.
- Prepare the fennel: Fennel is a versatile vegetable that adds a sweet and slightly anise-like flavor to the dish. To prepare the fennel, slice it thinly and then sauté it in olive oil until it is softened.
- Stuff the fish: Once the fennel is cooked, stuff it into the cavity of the fish. This will help to keep the fish moist and flavorful while it is baking.
- Season the fish: Before baking the fish, season it with salt, pepper, and any other desired spices. This will help to enhance the flavor of the fish.
- Bake the fish: Bake the fish in a preheated oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through. The fish is cooked when it flakes easily with a fork.
Conclusion:
This recipe for whole fish in fennel is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a special occasion or a weeknight meal. The combination of the flaky fish and the sweet and savory fennel is sure to please everyone at the table. Serve the fish with roasted vegetables or a simple salad for a complete meal.
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