Best 6 How To Cook Branzino Fillets Recipes

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Branzino, also known as European sea bass, is a delectable fish prized for its mild, slightly sweet flavor and firm, flaky texture. This versatile fish can be prepared in various ways, each highlighting its unique qualities. In this comprehensive guide, we present a collection of exceptional Branzino recipes that cater to diverse tastes and cooking preferences. From the classic pan-seared Branzino to the aromatic baked Branzino en Papillote, these recipes offer a culinary journey that celebrates the essence of this Mediterranean delicacy. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a home cook seeking culinary inspiration, this article has something for everyone. So, gather your ingredients, prepare your kitchen, and embark on a culinary adventure that will leave your taste buds tantalized.

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

GRILLED SEA BASS FILLETS: BRANZINO AI FERRI



Grilled Sea Bass Fillets: Branzino ai Ferri image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 16m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 5

3 lemons
1 (6 to 8-pound) sea bass
1 tablespoon olive oil
Sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Prepare the sea bass by snipping off the side and back fins with a strong pair of scissors. With a fish scaler or large, strong knife, scrape off the scales. This is best done by holding the fish by the tail in a sink and scraping downward. It is essential to do this thoroughly. Clean the fish by running a sharp knife up from the base of the belly to the head. Remove the innards and rinse the fish well.
  • To cut into fillets, lie the fish on its side and, using a sharp filleting knife, carefully slice along the backbone, from tail to head, keeping close to the bones with the blade so as not to waste any flesh. Then cut downward around the head, which will enable you to remove the fillet. Repeat this on the other side of the fish.
  • Place the fillets skin side down and run your hand over them to check for any bones. Pull out any that remain using tweezers. Cut each fillet into 3 equal portions.
  • Lightly brush the pieces of fish with oil, season well with salt and pepper, and grill for 3 minutes on each side, or until cooked.
  • Serve with lemon.

PAN-SEARED BRANZINO WITH TOMATO AND CAPERS



Pan-Seared Branzino with Tomato and Capers image

Provided by Giada De Laurentiis

Categories     main-dish

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

4 skin-on branzino fillets, bones removed
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
2 tablespoons capers, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup pitted nicoise olives, halved
3 tablespoons dry white wine
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley

Steps:

  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the branzino fillets on paper towels and dry well. With a sharp knife, score the skin of each fillet by making three shallow cuts on a slight diagonal. Sprinkle the fillets on all sides with the salt.
  • Add the oil to the hot pan; then add the fillets, skin side down, being sure to lay the fish away from you in the pan. Press gently on each fillet to make sure the skin has full contact with the pan. Allow the fish to cook undisturbed for 3 minutes. Using a fish spatula, gently flip the fillets and cook for another 30 seconds. Remove the branzino to a platter, skin side up, and keep warm.
  • To the hot pan, add the tomatoes, capers and olives. Cook for 1 minute, stirring with a wooden spoon. Add the white wine, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until the wine is reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Stir in the butter and parsley. Spoon the sauce over the branzino and serve.

GRILLED WHOLE BRANZINO



Grilled Whole Branzino image

Provided by Geoffrey Zakarian

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h15m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

Zest and juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons chopped capers
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
One 2- to 2 1/2-pound branzino or whole brook trout, fins trimmed, gutted and scaled
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
4 sprigs fresh thyme
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 lemon, sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Steps:

  • For the Salmoriglio sauce: Whisk together the lemon juice and olive oil in a medium bowl. Add garlic, capers, herbs and lemon zest. The sauce should be loose in consistency with high-acid flavor. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • For the fish: Preheat the grill for cooking over high heat (around 450 to 500 degrees F).
  • Bring fish to room temperature, 30 minutes, then wrap fish briefly in paper towels to dry out skin, which will help keep the fish from sticking to the grill.
  • Stuff the inside cavity of the fish with herbs, garlic and lemon slices, and sprinkle the cavity with salt and pepper. Brush the outside of the fish with olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Brush a fish grill basket with oil or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Place fish in fish grill basket and secure shut. (If you don't have a fish grill basket, place the fish between 2 wire cooling racks and secure the racks together with wire.)
  • Place basket on the hottest part of the grill. Cook until the eye turns white and skin is charred, 6 to 8 minutes per side. Let rest 5 minutes.
  • Place fish on a platter and dress with the Salmoriglio sauce.

BRANZINO MEDITERRANEAN



Branzino Mediterranean image

This simple, healthy, and delicious Mediterranean fish, also known as 'Greek Sea Bass', should be cooked whole. The cavity of the fish can be stuffed with lemon and other ingredients for added flavor. It is a very mild-tasting and versatile fish. The oregano and lemon make it truly Greek cuisine that many will enjoy. Can be found wild-caught in many stores. Enjoy!

Provided by Christala

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Greek

Time 40m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 11

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 red onion, chopped
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 whole Branzino (sea bass) fish, cleaned
2 wedges fresh lemon
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
½ cup white wine
¼ cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves
¼ cup chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley
2 lemon wedges

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  • Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil into a large baking pan; add onion and season with salt and pepper.
  • Place the 2 cleaned fish into the baking pan and stuff each cavity with 1 lemon wedge, 1 rosemary sprig, and some of the red onion. Pour white wine and lemon juice over each fish and sprinkle with oregano. Drizzle the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over the 2 fish.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork, about 25 minutes. Gently slide a spatula between the bones to separate fish; remove all the bones. Serve fish on a platter and garnish with parsley and lemon wedges.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 379.9 calories, Carbohydrate 6.6 g, Cholesterol 117.3 mg, Fat 12.6 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 53 g, SaturatedFat 2.4 g, Sodium 236.8 mg, Sugar 1.9 g

PAN-SEARED BRANZINO



Pan-Seared Branzino image

This pan-seared branzino recipe is a speedy dinner for two that can be ready in about 10 minutes. It's a fancy dish you can serve for a romantic dinner without breaking your wallet.

Provided by Rika

Categories     Main Course

Number Of Ingredients 6

2 branzino fish fillets ((pat the fish dry with paper towels, let them come to room temperature))
sea salt and black pepper ((as needed))
1 tbsp canola, avocado, or olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 sprigs thyme leaves
½ tbsp fresh lemon juice

Steps:

  • With your hand at least 12 inches away, lightly sprinkle salt and black pepper on both sides of fish fillets in a single layer, right before cooking.
  • Preheat a large skillet over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add oil and heat it for a few seconds until shimmers, and let it spread across the pan.
  • Cook fish fillets, skin-side up for about 45-60 seconds or until lightly golden browned. At this point, you only need to give the flesh a nice golden color as it will continue to cook after flipping.
  • Carefully flip the fish fillets and cook the skin for about 2 minutes. Using a spatula, hold for a few seconds to ensure even cooking and crisp skin all over.
  • Add butter, thyme, and fresh lemon juice to the pan. Tilt the pan slightly and use a spoon to baste the fish with melted butter. Continue basting for a few seconds until the fish is fully cooked and the skin is crispy.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 247 kcal, Carbohydrate 1 g, Protein 15 g, Fat 20 g, SaturatedFat 9 g, TransFat 1 g, Cholesterol 98 mg, Sodium 60 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 1 g, UnsaturatedFat 11 g, ServingSize 1 serving

PAN FRY GARLIC BUTTER BRANZINO



Pan Fry Garlic Butter Branzino image

This recipe is fast and simple to make. If you're a garlic and/or butter lover, you can add more of it.

Provided by amyheu

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 20m

Yield 3 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 -3 branzino fish fillets
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 -2 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/2 lemon, juice of
6 fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 dash of salt on only one side fish fillet
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1 dash minced parsley, on top of dish (optional)

Steps:

  • Rinse the Branzino fish filets and pat it dry with a paper towel.
  • Dash of salt on one side of the fish filets only. Do not salt both sides. Fish do not need a lot of salt. Add black pepper.
  • With frying pan on stove top, turn heat on medium high.
  • Put butter and extra virgin olive oil in pan. Wait until butter melts and sizzles, then add garlic.
  • When garlic is fragrant and lightly brown, add in the fresh basil. This will crisp up the basil.
  • Immediately, put in the Branzino fish filets and pan fry for 3 minutes.
  • Pour lemon juice onto fish into pan. Flip over fish filets and pan fry for another 3 minutes or until nice crisp brown colors on the edges.
  • Turn off heat and plate the fish filets with your choice of sides. Don't forget to pour some of that garlic butter sauce onto the fish filets. Sprinkled some fresh minced parsley on top of dish and enjoy!

Tips:

  • Choose fresh branzino fillets. Look for fillets that are firm and have a slight sheen. Avoid fillets that are discolored or have a slimy texture.
  • Season the fillets simply with salt and pepper. Branzino has a delicate flavor, so it's important not to overpower it with too many spices.
  • Cook the fillets over medium heat. This will help to prevent the fish from drying out.
  • Cook the fillets until they are just opaque. Overcooked branzino will be tough and dry.
  • Serve the fillets immediately with your favorite sides. Branzino is delicious with roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or a simple green salad.

Conclusion:

Branzino is a delicious and versatile fish that can be cooked in a variety of ways. Whether you're pan-frying, baking, or grilling the fillets, be sure to follow the tips above to ensure that you cook them perfectly. With its delicate flavor and flaky texture, branzino is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.

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