Best 18 Whole Snapper Recipes

BAKED WHOLE RED SNAPPER WITH GARLIC

Steps:

• Place 24x18-inch piece of foil on heavy large baking sheet. Butter foil. Place fish in center of foil. Season cavity of fish with garlic, lemon juice and seafood seasoning. Dot cavity with butter. Arrange thyme sprigs inside cavity. Sprinkle outside of fish with salt and pepper. Top with lemon slices. Fold edges of foil over fish; seal. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Refrigerate.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake fish until cooked through, about 45 minutes. Transfer fish to platter. Open foil.

ROASTED WHOLE RED SNAPPER WITH TOMATOES, BASIL, AND OREGANO BY SCOTT CONANT RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C).
• If the fins are still on the fish, use kitchen scissors to cut them off (they just fall apart when cooked). Season both the inside and outside of the fish liberally with 2 teaspoons of salt. Stuff the cavity with the lemon slices, oregano sprigs, and whole basil leaves.
• Using a very large 14 inch (35 cm) sauté pan or a small roasting pan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat until nearly smoking. Add the fish and cook until well browned on one side, about 3 minutes. Drizzle with another tablespoon of olive oil and season with remaining ½ teaspoon salt.
• Using paper towels, wipe the excess oil out of the pan. Drizzle the fish with another 2 tablespoons of olive oil and add the cherry tomatoes and red pepper flakes and cook until the tomatoes begin to release some of their liquid, about 3 minutes. Stir in the potatoes.
• Squeeze the juice from the remaining lemon half over the fish and pour in the chicken broth. Carefully flip the fish over and baste with the sauce.
• Transfer the fish to the oven and cook for 18-19 minutes. To check for doneness, push the head down gently in the area between the nose and the top of the head; when the head easily moves away from the back of the neck, the fish is ready.
• Carefully transfer the fish to a rimmed serving platter, pouring any liquid from the cavity back into the pan. Cover the fish with foil to keep warm.
• Return the pan to the stove over medium heat. Cook the sauce and vegetables for 1-2 minutes to concentrate the flavors. Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil, chopped oregano, and chopped basil and season with salt to taste.
• Pour the sauce and vegetables over the fish and serve, using a large spoon to remove the flesh from the fish. (Don't forget to turn it over to eat off the other side!)
• Enjoy!

WHOLE BAKED RED SNAPPER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Rub the fish with olive oil and place it in an oiled oval pan, gratin dish, or sheet pan. Bake for about 15 minutes per inch of thickness at the thickest part of the fish. Check for doneness by carefully sliding a paring knife into the back at the thickest part, gently lifting the top fillet, and peeking inside to make sure the fish pulls away from the bone and the flesh is opaque (but still moist) rather than translucent and raw. Season with salt, pepper, olive oil and lemon.;

GRILLED WHOLE RED SNAPPER

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients and brush on both exterior and cavity of fish. Place on a hot grill and cook for 4 to 5 minutes a side or until done. Debone and sprinkle parsley on filets. Serve with lemon wedges.

WHOLE RED SNAPPER BAKED IN A SALT CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• In a bowl stir together salt and water until combined well. On a large baking sheet spread half of salt mixture in a rectangle just larger than the red snapper and set fish on top. Halve lemon crosswise and cut 3 slices from 1 half, reserving remaining half. Insert slices into cavity of fish. Pat remaining salt mixture over fish to cover completely and bake in middle of oven 30 minutes.
• Rap all around edge of salt crust with the back of a large spoon to loosen and lift top off. Squeeze juice from reserved lemon half over fish and drizzle with oil.

WHOLE ROASTED RED SNAPPER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Spread cubed vegetables evenly across a baking sheet, and bake until slightly tender, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, rinse the fish with cool water and season the insides with salt and pepper. In each fish, place sprigs of thyme, sage, and rosemary; a garlic clove, and a wedge of lemon.
• Remove vegetables to a medium saucepan, and reserve. Raise oven temperature to 450 degrees. Lightly oil the baking sheet that held the vegetables, and place the stuffed fish on it. Roast the fish at 450 degrees for about 15 minutes, or until cooked to taste.
• While fish is cooking, add lemon juice, lime juice and white wine to the saucepan of vegetables. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat, to reduce liquid slightly. Add butter, tomato, sage and oregano.
• Serve the whole roasted fish topped with vegetable sauce. Serve with roasted potatoes and grilled vegetables.

BAKED RED SNAPPER PREPARED WHOLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Line an oven tray (cookie sheet) with parchment paper. Take a large piece of foil (large enough to fully wrap the fish like a present) and put it on the oven tray. Butter the foil. Combine the 4 tablespoons of butter and the shallots in a small bowl and set aside. Put the fish in the center of the foil. Season the entire fish with the shallot butter, inside and out and sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Put the thyme sprigs inside cavity and top the fish with lemon slices. Fold the edges of the foil over fish and seal.
• Bake the fish until cooked through, about 45 minutes. Transfer the fish to a platter. Open the foil and serve.

ROASTED WHOLE SNAPPER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• In a heavy roasting pan or large cast-iron skillet, toss together the fennel, onions, 5 lemon quarters, and the wine. Rub the snapper all over with olive oil and season inside and out with salt and pepper. Stuff the cavity with the herbs and the remaining lemons.
• Roast about 30 minutes (15 minutes for each inch of thickness), until the flesh just begins to flake.

SALT CRUSTED WHOLE RED SNAPPER

Steps:

• When cooking with a whole fish you must first be sure that the fish is gutted, your local fish market will do this for you. The skin should be scaled and the gills and fins removed. Leave on the head and tail. Rinse the fish inside and out then pat dry.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the parsley, orange, fennel, bay leaves, shallot, red pepper flakes, fennel seed, and 1/4-cup olive oil. Stuff the cavity of the fish with 3/4 of the mixture, then spread the remaining 1/4 on the bottom of a roasting pan so the fish will not stick.
• Transfer the fish to the roasting pan and rub the skin with remaining olive oil. In another bowl, whip the egg whites to a stiff peak, then fold in the salt to make a paste. Smear the salt paste over the entire fish and roast in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 30 to 40 minutes. The egg whites form a hard crust that will crack like a shell. To serve, scoop the flesh from the fish with a spoon.

MEDITERRANEAN GRILLED WHOLE SNAPPER WITH FENNEL AND A PERNOD BUTTER SAUCE

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.

RED SNAPPER (WHOLE, ROASTED) WITH THAI SPICES AND COCONUT RICE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 2. Generously season the belly and both sides of the fish with salt and pepper. Place the fish on a roasting pan. 3. Combine the canola oil with the garlic, ginger, coriander, palm sugar, chili flakes, coconut milk, juice and zest of lime in a mixing bowl and stir to combine. 4. Spoon the spice mixture over the snapper and bake for about 30-35 minutes, basting frequently. Bake the fish until a metal skewer can easily be inserted into the fish and, if left in for 5 seconds, feels warm. 5. While the fish is roasting, cook the rice. Bring the rice water, and lemongrass to a boil in a medium pot. Lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the rice from heat, cover and let sit for another 10 minutes. When the rice is cooked, remove and discard lemongrass. Add the coconut milk and cilantro. Stir to incorporate and season to taste with lime juice, salt and pepper. 6. To serve, spoon the coconut rice onto the middle of four plates. Filet the snapper; running a knife down the center of the fish andunder the fillet toseparate it from the bone. Place each serving on top of the coconut rice and spoon some of the sauce from the roasting pan over the snapper. When the top fillets have been served, lift off the fish bones and cut the bottom in the same manner. Finishthe dish with a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

STEAMED WHOLE RED SNAPPER WITH ASIAN FLAVORS

Steps:

• Sprinkle inside of each fish with salt. Using sharp cleaver or knife, make 4 diagonal slits on 1 side of each fish, spacing equally and cutting to the bone. Insert 1 slice of ginger, 1 slice of garlic and 1 cilantro leaf into each slit. Turn fish over. Make 4 diagonal slits on second side of each fish and insert remaining sliced ginger, sliced garlic and cilantro leaves. Arrange fish in 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover; refrigerate).
• Place a slice of ginger and garlic, then a whole cilantro leaf in each slit; they will add flavor to the fish during the steaming process. Hold back the flaps to insert the seasonings more easily.
• Pour enough water into wok or large pot to reach depth of 1 1/2 inches. Place bottom of 11- to 12-inch-diameter bamboo steamer over water in wok or open a steamer rack and place in pot. Place dish with fish in bamboo steamer (or on steamer rack). Curl tails if necessary to fit.
• The classic Chinese way to cook the fish is in a tiered bamboo steamer set over boiling water in a wok. Pour water to a depth of 1 1/2 inches into the wok.
• If you don't have a bamboo steamer or a wok, you can use a vegetable steamer rack set in a large pot. The pot should be large enough to allow steam to circulate around the glass pie dish that holds the fish.
• Sprinkle 1 tablespoon each of chopped cilantro, shallots, lemongrass and green onions into dish around fish. Combine broth and 1 tablespoon soy sauce in cup and pour into dish. Bring water to boil. Cover bamboo steamer (or pot). Steam fish until just opaque in center at bone, about 18 minutes.
• Before steaming, surround the fish with chopped shallots, lemongrass, green onions, and cilantro. Then pour a broth and soy sauce mixture into the dish to flavor the fish as it cooks.
• Meanwhile, combine sesame oil and vegetable oil in heavy medium skillet. Add chopped ginger and chopped garlic, then 2 tablespoons each of chopped cilantro, shallots, lemongrass and green onions. Stir over medium heat until oil is hot and seasonings are fragrant, about 3 minutes. Pour seasoned oil into small bowl; add remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce.
• Using oven mitts as aid, transfer dish with fish to work surface. Using large spatula, transfer fish to platter. Spoon juices from dish over fish. Spoon some of seasoned oil over fish. Serve fish with rice; pass remaining seasoned oil.
• You may have to special-order whole fish from the supermarket or fish market.
• ** Available at Southeast Asian markets and in the produce section of some supermarkets.

WHOLE SNAPPER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• In a large sauté pan over moderate heat, warm the oil. Add the onions and sauté, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the chopped garlic and sauté, stirring occasionally, for 1 minute. Add 3/4 cup wine and the bay leaves and bring to a simmer. Continue simmering until the onions are tender and the wine is slightly reduced, about 3 minutes. Whisk in the butter then remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the lemon juice.
• Arrange the snappers, side by side, in a 12- by 18-inch or larger roasting pan. Stuff the cavity of each fish with about 1/4 cup of the onion mixture, along with the whole garlic, tomato slices, and celery. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon the remaining onion mixture over the fish then pour half the lime juice on and around the fish and add 2 cups of water to the pan. Wrap the pan snugly with foil and roast for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and continue roasting until the fish is cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes longer. Remove any onion from the top of the fish then carefully transfer the fish to a large serving platter (do not discard the onion or juices remaining in the pan). Drizzle the remaining lime juice over the fish and cover loosely with foil to keep warm.
• Scrape the onion and juices from the roasting pan into a medium saucepan. Add the remaining 1/4 cup white wine and 1/4 cup water, and bring to a simmer. Continue simmering until slightly reduced, then pour through a fine-mesh strainer.
• To Serve:
• Garnish the fish with cilantro and serve with the reduced pan sauce and lime wedges.

WHOLE ROASTED SNAPPER WITH ARTICHOKES AND AïOLI

Steps:

• Make aïoli:
• In blender, purée garlic, salt, cayenne pepper, and 2 teaspoons oil until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add yolks and lemon juice and blend until smooth. With motor running, very slowly add remaining 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons oil in thin, steady stream, blending until aïoli is thick, about 2 minutes. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Roast fish:
• Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 400°F. Grease 13- by 9-inch roasting pan.
• In small saucepan over moderately high heat, combine garlic and 3 cups water and bring to boil. Drain and repeat process two more times. Set garlic aside.
• Make seasoning mixture:
• Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and za'atar.
• Lay 1 fish on its side. Holding sharp paring knife at 30-degree angle from fish, cut 3 vertical 2 1/2-inch-long slits through skin and partially into flesh. Turn fish over and repeat in same manner. Repeat with other fish. Pat fish dry, then rub with seasoning mixture, being sure to tuck some into slits.
• Arrange tomato slices so they cover bottom of roasting pan. Lay fish on top and surround with thyme and rosemary. Roast, uncovered, 15 minutes.
• While fish is roasting, prep artichokes:
• Fill medium bowl with cold water. Squeeze juice from lemons into water; add squeezed lemons.
• Using serrated knife, cut off artichoke stems and discard. Cut off top 1/2 inch of 1 artichoke. Bend back outer leaves until they snap off close to base, then discard several more layers of leaves in same manner until reaching pale yellow leaves with pale green tips. Cut off green tips. With sharp paring knife, trim dark-green fibrous parts from base and sides of artichoke. Halve artichoke lengthwise and use spoon to scoop out choke. Drop artichoke into lemon water. Trim remaining artichokes in same manner and keep in lemon water until ready to use.
• When fish has roasted 15 minutes, scatter garlic cloves across pan and continue to roast until fish is just cooked through, about 15 more minutes. Keep warm.
• While fish is roasting, cook artichokes:
• In 4-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, heat oil until thermometer registers 350°F. Fry artichokes in batches (returning oil to 350°F between batches) until golden brown, about 8-10 minutes. Transfer fried artichokes to paper towels to drain, and immediately season with sea salt. Keep warm.
• To serve:
• Transfer fish to large platter and surround with tomatoes. Scatter artichokes over, and serve aïoli alongside.

WHOLE RED SNAPPER IN SZECHUAN HOT SAUCE

Steps:

• Rub the fish with soy sauce and dry wine mixture.
• Let the fish fillets marinated in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes.
• Heat oil in a large skillet, saute the fish fillets for about 3 minutes on each side.
• Remove the fillets, add garlic, green onion, ginger, chili bean sauce, tomato paste, sugar, vinegar and water.
• Bring the mixture to a boil before adding the fish fillets back to the skillet.
• Braise the fish in the sauce for about 4 to 5 minutes.
• Mix the cornstarch with 2 tsp of water, stir in the sauce and cook for another minute.
• Sprinkle with sesame oil (optional) and serve immediately with steamed rice and your favorite steamed vegetables.

BAKED WHOLE SNAPPER BASQUE STYLE

Steps:

• Rinse the fish in cold water and pat it dry inside and out with paper towels. Place it on a shallow glass or ceramic platter. Sprinkle the fish inside and out with salt, pepper, and lime juice. Whisk the olive oil and garlic together and pour over the fish, rubbing it into the skin on both sides. With a very sharp knife, make 3 incisions right down to the bone and insert a lemon slice in each one. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for several hours.
• To make the sofrito, heat the olive oil over low heat in a large heavy skillet. Add the onions and bell peppers and cook, stirring occasionally, for 6 to 8 minutes or until translucent. Add the tomatoes, olives, salt, oregano, and wine and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. When the sauce is thickened, stir in the Tabasco and remove from the heat.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and set a rack in the upper middle position. Rub a large roasting pan with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and lay the sliced potatoes in 4 overlapping lines to make a square. Season them generously. Wrap the tail of the snapper in foil and lay the fish on top of the potatoes. Drizzle the remaining tablespoon olive oil over the top. Bake until the fish is done through and flaky, about 45 minutes. Reheat the sofrito over low heat for the last 8 to 10 minutes of the cooking time.
• Slide the fish onto a large oval platter and arrange the potatoes at the top and bottom of the platter. Spoon the tomato sauce along the sides and remove the foil from the tail. Sprinkle the parsley over all and serve.

WHOLE SNAPPER WITH PEARL ONIONS AND CHILES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Cook the onions in some butter until cooked through and skins slide off easily.
• Grill the poblanos over a flame until toasted. Place in a bowl and cover to let the poblanos steam.
• Wash the fish and make cuts in the body. Press pieces of garlic into the cuts. Coat the fish thoroughly with olive oil.
• Stuff the fish with the sliced lemon and the basil stems. Add the fish stock to a large ovenproof pan. Add the fish and sprinkle with salt. Roast for about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make a slit in the chiles, remove the seeds, and stuff the chiles with the onions and a dab of butter.
• Remove the fish, strain the fish broth into a saucepan and add the stuffed peppers, butter and lemon juice. Serve the fish with the peppers alongside and drizzled with the sauce.

BAHAMIAN-STYLE WHOLE GRILLED SNAPPER

Steps:

• 1. Rinse the fish, inside and out, under cold running water, then drain and blot dry with paper towels. Make 4 or 5 diagonal slashes, to the bone, in each side of the fish. Set the fish aside.2. Thinly slice 2 of the chiles cut the other chile lengthwise in half. Cut one of the limes in half lengthwise, then into thin crosswise slices. Cut the second lime in half crosswise. Juice the remaining limes.3. Rub the fish all over with the cut chile and lime. Sprinkle salt and pepper in the cavity and into the slashes in the sides of the fish. Place a slice each of chile, lime, ginger, and garlic in each slit and under each gill, then place the remaining slices in the cavity. Place the fish on the banana leaf or foil on a large platter. Pour the lime juice over the fish and season again with salt and pepper, then drizzle with oil, if using. Cover and let the fish marinate, in the refrigerator, for 30 minutes or so while you preheat the grill.4. Set up the grill for indirect cooking and preheat to high.5. When ready to cook, place the fish, on its banana leaf, in the center of the grill away from the heat. Cover the grill, and cook the fish until the flesh breaks into firm flakes when pressed with a finger, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. If using a charcoal grill, you'll need to add 10 to 12 fresh coals after 1 hour.6. Using two long spatulas, carefully transfer the fish to a serving platter. At the table, fillet the fish.Serves 4