Print

Roasted Whole Vermilion Snapper

Roasted whole Vermilion snapper with veggies on a bed of arugula. A great two-person dinner that is flavor-forward with herbs and olives.

  • Author: David (Doggy Daddy)
  • Prep Time: 15
  • Cook Time: 40
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 2 1x
  • Category: dinner
  • Method: roasting
  • Cuisine: Mediterranean
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Grapeseed oil
  • A small bunch of fresh thyme sprigs
  • 2 lemons
  • 2 limes
  • 4 cups arugula
  • 1 tbsp chives, finely chopped

Protein

  • 1+ pound Vermilion snapper

Vegetable Mix

  • 1/2 pound small potatoes
  • 1/2 pound small sweet tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 1/2 cup asparagus, chopped
  • 1 cup bell peppers, chopped
  • 1/4 cup Kalamata olives, chopped

Herb Topping

  • 4 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1/2 cup parsley
  • 2 tbsp capers, chopped
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 2 tbsp EVOO

Instructions

Veggies

  1. Set oven to 400°.
  2. Roughly chop the thyme.
  3. Prep the veggies, cutting the potatoes, olives, and tomatoes in halve and roughly chopping the bell peppers. Coat all separately with EVOO, adding thyme to the potatoes, and season then set aside.
  4. Prepare the herb mixture by chopping capers, garlic, parsley, and red pepper flakes. Add a small amount of EVOO and mix together.
  5. Combine all veggies together and place in a parchment-lined baking sheet. Roast for 20 minutes in the oven.
  6. Finely chop 1 tbsp of chives and set aside.

Fish

  1. While the vegetables are roasting, pat the fish dry.
  2. Make three slices on each side about 1/4" deep (don't hit the bone).
  3. Season with sea salt and black pepper inside and out.
  4. Prepare a skillet on medium-high heat so it will be ready 15 minutes into the veggie roast.
  5. Add 1.5 tbsp grapeseed oil and when it shimmers, place the fish in the skillet.
  6. Add lemon and lime slices to the fish's cavity.
  7. After 5 minutes, add 2 tablespoons of butter and pull it off the heat.
  8. When the butter melts, baste the fish, spooning it over the whole thing. Then top it with the herb mixture.
  9. Place fish skillet into the oven to finish - about 15 minutes.

Salad

  1. While the fish is roasting, prepare your dressing.
  2. Add 1 tbsp vinegar, 2 tbsp EVOO, sea salt, and cracked black pepper into a bowl and whisk to combine.
  3. Add arugula to the bowl and toss to combine.

Plating

  1. Spread out the arugula on a wide platter.
  2. Place the fish on top of the arugula bed.
  3. Spoon the veggies around the fish.
  4. Squeeze some lemon over everything.
  5. Crush a pinch of Maldon over everything.
  6. Top it all off with the chives.

Notes

Double the fish if you're really hungry, or double the whole recipe if you have more people to serve.

Keywords: vermilion snapper, vegetables, arugula