Best 10 Whole Grilled Fish With Lime Recipes

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In this comprehensive guide, we'll embark on a culinary journey to explore the art of grilling a whole fish, transforming it into a centerpiece of your next gathering. We'll take you step-by-step through two enticing recipes: the classic grilled fish with aromatic herbs and the tantalizing grilled fish with a zesty lime marinade. Along the way, you'll discover the secrets to selecting the freshest fish, mastering grilling techniques, and creating delectable sauces to complement your dish. Whether you're a seasoned grill master or just starting your grilling adventure, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and inspiration to create a grilled fish dish that will leave your taste buds dancing.

Here are our top 10 tried and tested recipes!

GRILLED BRANZINO WITH BASIL, LIME AND GINGER



Grilled Branzino with Basil, Lime and Ginger image

Provided by Geoffrey Zakarian

Time 55m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

Grated zest of 2 limes
1 teaspoon minced peeled ginger
1 small shallot, minced
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
5 limes
2 1-pound whole branzino, gutted and scaled (ask your fishmonger)
1/2 cup fresh basil, plus more for serving
8 thin slices ginger
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Vegetable oil, for the grill Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Flaky sea salt, for topping

Steps:

  • Make the marinade. Preheat a grill to medium high. Meanwhile, combine the lime zest, ginger, shallot, olive oil, 1 teaspoon kosher salt and a few grinds of pepper in a bowl.
  • Stuff the fish. Thinly slice 1 lime. Stuff the slices into the cavity of each fish along with the basil leaves and ginger slices. Set aside half of the marinade for serving, then brush the rest on the fish. Season inside and out with kosher salt and pepper.
  • Grill the fish. Preheat a grill to medium high and brush the grates with vegetable oil. Transfer the fish to the grill and cook until the skin starts to crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Do not move the fish or the skin will stick to the grill. To flip the fish, place a spatula under the head end and use tongs to hold the cavity closed; gently roll the fish over. Cook the fish on the other side until the skin is crisp, 5 to 7 more minutes. Check the eyes: When they're both white, the fish is done. Transfer to a platter. Cut the remaining 4 limes in half; grill cut side down until caramelized, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to the platter.
  • Fillet the fish. Using a fork and starting at the tail end, peel back the skin from one side of the fish; discard. Run a knife along the back of the fish to separate the top and bottom fillets. Use the knife to remove any additional skin along the back. Using a spoon, gently loosen and lift the top fillet away from the bottom fillet. Lift the head and use the spoon to carefully separate the spine from the bottom fillet. Discard the tail, head and stuffing. Remove and discard the skin from the bottom fillet. Repeat with the second fish.
  • Serve. Drizzle the fillets with the reserved marinade; finish with some olive oil and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. Serve with the grilled limes and more basil.

WHOLE GRILLED FISH WITH LIME



Whole Grilled Fish with Lime image

Provided by Chad Robertson

Categories     Fish     Fourth of July     Low Cal     Backyard BBQ     Lime     Seafood     Summer     Grill     Grill/Barbecue     Bon Appétit

Yield Makes 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 5-pound, two 2 1/2-pound, or three 1 1/2-pound head-on fish, such as gray or pink snapper, black sea bass, or branzino, scaled, gutted
Kosher salt
1/4 cup olive oil plus more for oiling and drizzling
2 limes or 5 Key limes (preferably from Mexico), thinly sliced
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 bunch each basil and cilantro, stems and leaves separated

Steps:

  • Build a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill, or heat a gas grill to medium-high. Score fish: Cut 1 slash lengthwise down to the bone, then crosswise in 2 places, spacing apart; repeat on other side. Season fish cavity and skin with salt; drizzle fish with 1/4 cup oil. Stuff some of the lime slices (reserve a few for garnish) and herb stems inside fish.
  • Clean and oil grill grate well. Grill fish, resisting the urge to turn it, until skin is nicely crisp and charred and flesh is flaky and opaque down to the bone. (This can take 6-15 minutes, depending on size of fish. Don't mess around with it until it's ready.) Place a metal spatula underneath fish (a pair of metal tongs on top of fish also helps for support), then lift and gently roll over to the other side. Cook until flesh is flaky and opaque down to the bone, 6-15 minutes. Use a small knife to check for doneness; if it slides easily through the thickest part of flesh, fish is done. If not, finish cooking fish on grill or in a 450°F oven.
  • Place fish on a serving platter; drizzle oil and lime juice over. Garnish with reserved lime slices, basil leaves, and cilantro.

WHOLE FISH WITH LIME SALSA VERDE



Whole Fish With Lime Salsa Verde image

Think of roasting a whole fish the same way you might think of roasting a whole chicken: an easy and delicious preparation that all cooks should have in their arsenal, and one that takes well to whatever ingredients you want to introduce. Here, those extra flavors are electric. The fish is stuffed with slices of lime and jalapeño, cilantro and scallion bottoms. An accompanying salsa is composed of more jalapeño, scallion tops, cilantro, lime juice and zest, as well as a dose of capers and garlic. The fish itself is simply oiled and seasoned, then roasted at 450 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, until it is opaque and flakes when pressed gently with a fork. (Each person you're feeding should get his or her own fish, weighing about one or one and a half pounds apiece.) Spoon the salsa on top, a streak of bright, spicy flavor for the delicate, moist fish.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories     dinner, weekday, main course

Time 40m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 bunches cilantro
2 bunches scallions
2 jalapeño peppers
1/4 cup drained capers, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 limes
1/2 cup plus 8 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
Black pepper
4 whole fish, like sea bass or black bass, 1 to 1 1/2 pounds each
3 teaspoons coarse kosher salt

Steps:

  • To make the salsa: Coarsely chop 2/3 cup of cilantro leaves and transfer to a bowl. Thinly slice 2/3 cup of the dark green scallion tops and add to the bowl, reserving the bottoms. Seed and finely chop one of the jalapeños and add it to the bowl. Stir in the capers and garlic. Finely grate in the zest of 1 lime and squeeze in its juice. Stir in 1/2 cup oil. Season with black pepper. Cover and let stand until ready to use.
  • Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil. Pat each fish dry and coat with 2 teaspoons oil. Generously season the outside and cavity of each fish with the salt and black pepper. Transfer fish to the prepared baking sheet.
  • Thinly slice the remaining 2 limes and seed and slice the other jalapeño pepper. Divide the lime slices, jalapeño slices, remaining cilantro sprigs and scallion bottoms among each fish cavity. Bake until fish is just opaque and flakes when pressed gently with a fork, 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Serve fish with salsa verde on top or alongside.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 918, UnsaturatedFat 37 grams, Carbohydrate 13 grams, Fat 48 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 107 grams, SaturatedFat 8 grams, Sodium 1738 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams

WHOLE GRILLED FISH WITH LIME



WHOLE GRILLED FISH WITH LIME image

Categories     Fish

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 5

•1 5-pound, two 2 1/2-pound, or three 1 1/2-pound head-on fish, such as gray or pink snapper, black sea bass, or branzino, scaled, gutted
•Kosher salt
•1/4 cup olive oil plus more for oiling and drizzling
•2 limes or 5 Key limes (preferably from Mexico), thinly sliced, plus 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
•1/2 bunch each basil and cilantro, stems and leaves separated

Steps:

  • •Build a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill, or heat a gas grill to high. Score fish: Cut 1 slash lengthwise down to the bone, then crosswise in 2 places, spacing apart; repeat on other side. Season fish cavity and skin with salt; drizzle fish with 1/4 cup oil. Stuff some of the lime slices (reserve a few for garnish) and herb stems inside fish. •Clean and oil grill grate well. Grill fish, resisting the urge to turn it, until skin is nicely crisp and charred and flesh is flaky and opaque down to the bone. (This can take 6-15 minutes, depending on size of fish. Don't mess around with it until it's ready.) Place a metal spatula underneath fish (a pair of metal tongs on top of fish also helps for support), then lift and gently roll over to the other side. Cook until flesh is flaky and opaque down to the bone, 6-15 minutes. Use a small knife to check for doneness; if it slides easily through the thickest part of flesh, fish is done. If not, finish cooking fish on grill or in a 450° oven. •Place fish on a serving platter; drizzle oil and lime juice over. Garnish with reserved lime slices, basil leaves, and cilantro.

WHOLE FRIED FISH WITH GRILLED LIME, CILANTRO AND GINGER VINAIGRETTE



Whole Fried Fish with Grilled Lime, Cilantro and Ginger Vinaigrette image

Provided by Michael Symon : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 45m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 limes, 1 zested, both cut in half
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup rice vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger, plus one 2-inch piece
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon fish sauce
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 cups vegetable oil or neutral oil, for frying
1 jalapeno
Two 1 1/2- to 2-pound whole fish such as red snapper or striped bass
4 cups rice flour
1 tablespoon coriander seeds, toasted and ground
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves and small stems (plooms)
4 scallions, sliced on a bias and soaked in ice water

Steps:

  • Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Add the limes cut-side down and cook until deeply charred, 5 to 8 minutes.
  • In a mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, rice vinegar, honey, grated ginger, soy sauce and fish sauce. Season with salt and pepper, then set aside.
  • Add the frying oil to a cast-iron skillet large enough so the oil comes no more than halfway up the skillet sides. Heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the jalapeno and 2-inch piece ginger to the oil.
  • Place the fish on a cutting board and pat dry with paper towels. Make slashes crosswise on a diagonal along the body of the fish every 2 inches on both sides, cutting all the way down to the bone. Season the fish generously inside and out with salt. Mix together the rice flour, coriander, lime zest and 1 tablespoon salt in a shallow bowl. Dredge the fish in the seasoned rice flour.
  • When the oil is 350 degrees F, grip a fish firmly by the tail and carefully lower head-first into the skillet, making sure to lay it down away from you. Repeat with the other fish. Fry until the flesh on the bottom side is cooked through and the skin is deeply browned and crisp, about 4 minutes. While the fish are frying, baste the inside of the heads with hot oil periodically.
  • Use tongs and a fish spatula to carefully turn both fish over. Fry until the flesh on the second side is cooked through and the skin is deeply browned and crisp, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and season both sides with more salt.
  • To serve: Place both fish on a platter. Spoon the ginger vinaigrette over the top and around the fish. Garnish with cilantro and scallions and place the grilled limes around the edges.

GRILLED WHOLE FISH WITH CHILE & LIME RECIPE - (4.4/5)



Grilled Whole Fish with Chile & Lime Recipe - (4.4/5) image

Provided by á-174535

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 (6-pound) cleaned sea bass or other firm white-fleshed fish
1/3 cup sambal oelek or other Asian chile sauce
salt to taste
15 cilantro sprigs
5 large basil sprigs
5 cloves garlic, crushed
4 Thai or serrano chiles, halved lengthwise
1 lime, thinly sliced crosswise
lime wedges, for serving

Steps:

  • Light a charcoal grill. Set the fish on 2 large sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Rub the sambal oelek inside and all over the fish. Season with salt liberally to taste. Stuff the fish with the cilantro, basil, garlic, chiles, and lime slices. Wrap the foil around the fish and seal to form a packet. Grill the fish over indirect heat for about 1 hour, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the fish registers 135°F. If using a gas grill, cover and grill the fish over low heat for about 50 minutes, turning once. Carefully transfer the fish to a baking sheet and let rest for about 5 minutes. Open the packet and fillet the fish. Serve with lime wedges. Enjoy!

GRILLED WHOLE FISH WITH LEMONGRASS, CHILES AND COCONUT



Grilled Whole Fish With Lemongrass, Chiles and Coconut image

Spicy, herbal and a little sweet from the coconut milk, these grilled whole fish are perfumed with lemongrass and spiked with tiny, potent Thai chiles. I like dorade here, but you can use any small whole fish (1 pound or so). Have your fishmonger clean them but leave in the bones. They help keep the fish moist on the grill and add great flavor. You can also roast the fish instead of grilling; place them on a rimmed baking sheet and roast at 425 degrees until the fish is cooked through, usually 10 to 15 minutes.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories     dinner, quick, main course

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

4 (1-pound) whole dorade, branzino or trout, cleaned
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, more as needed
Black pepper, as needed
1 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil, softened or melted
3 limes
2 small shallots, peeled
1 bunch cilantro, leaves and stems separated (about 2 cups leaves)
2 small stalks lemongrass, halved lengthwise and cut into 3-inch pieces
1 cup mint leaves, more for garnish
1 Thai chile or 1 to 2 serrano chiles, seeded and coarsely chopped
2 small garlic cloves, grated on a Microplane or minced
1/4 teaspoon Asian fish sauce, more to taste
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1 tablespoon safflower or grapeseed oil

Steps:

  • Season cavities and outside of fish with salt and pepper. Rub skin all over with coconut oil.
  • Thinly slice 1 lime and 1 shallot. Cut another lime into wedges and save for garnish. Fill each fish cavity with lime and shallot slices, a handful of cilantro stems (discard the rest) and the lemongrass.
  • Prepare the sauce: Coarsely chop the remaining shallot and juice the remaining lime. In a mini food processor, combine shallot, 1 tablespoon lime juice, the cilantro leaves, the mint, the chile, the garlic, the fish sauce and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Pulse until herbs are chopped, then add coconut milk and oil. Continue to pulse until a coarse, chunky sauce forms. (Don't overdo it; you want a relish-like texture, not a purée.) Taste and add more salt, fish sauce and/or lime juice if necessary. (Alternatively, chop everything really finely by hand and stir in the coconut milk and lime juice.) Sauce can be prepared up to 4 hours ahead. Refrigerate until needed.
  • Light or heat the grill to medium-high heat. Place fish in basket and grill until blistered and just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side. (Poke the fish along the spine; it should be tender but still juicy.) Serve, garnished with lime wedges and mint leaves, with sauce on the side.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 615, UnsaturatedFat 9 grams, Carbohydrate 13 grams, Fat 24 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 86 grams, SaturatedFat 12 grams, Sodium 495 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams

GRILLED WHOLE FISH



Grilled Whole Fish image

Cooking small whole fish, as opposed to fillets, optimizes flavor and juiciness, because the skin and a thin layer of (healthy) fat insulate the meat -- and it couldn't be easier. Mild, white-fleshed branzino is almost tailor-made for the technique: It has relatively few bones and they're simple to remove, so the fish is very easy to serve and eat.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Main Dish Recipes

Time 50m

Yield Serves 2 to 4

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 whole branzino (each 1 to 1 1/2 pounds), cleaned, heads and tails left intact
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
2 thin wooden skewers or 6 toothpicks, soaked in water 30 minutes
Vegetable oil, for brushing
1 lemon, half thinly sliced, half cut into 2 wedges
3 sprigs dill, plus more for garnish (optional)
1 lime, half thinly sliced, half cut into 2 wedges
3 sprigs fresh basil, plus more for garnish (optional)
3 Thai or serrano chiles, left intact but split down 1 side

Steps:

  • Preheat grill for direct-heat grilling over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, drizzle cavity of each fish with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then season generously with coarse salt and freshly ground pepper.
  • Aromatics help keep whole fish moist while grilling. Stuff 1 fish cavity with lemon slices and dill and the other with lime slices, basil, and Thai chiles. If using just 1 filling, double amounts called for.
  • Fasten each opening with a wooden skewer or toothpicks that have been soaked in water so they don't burn. This keeps the aromatics inside and also makes fish easier to handle on the grill.
  • Using a paring knife, make long, 1/4-inch-deep diagonal slashes at 2-inch intervals on both sides of fish so they cook evenly throughout. This also allows any seasonings on skin (see step 5) to penetrate.
  • Rub both sides of each fish with remaining olive oil and season with salt and pepper, working all into slashes as well as heads and tails -- both are edible, and the tail becomes delightfully crisp when grilled.
  • Brush hot grill with vegetable oil; immediately place fish on grill. Cook, undisturbed and uncovered, until undersides are charred and flesh along gills on undersides turns opaque, 5 to 7 minutes.
  • Turn fish with 2 large spatulas. If they stick, wait a few seconds until skin sears enough to release cleanly. Grill on other side until charred and fish are just cooked through and opaque, 5 to 7 minutes more.
  • Serve fish with lemon and lime wedges and more herbs. To serve, cut fillet free from top side of fish and remove with a spatula. Remove bones to free other fillet.

GRILLED WHOLE FISH WITH LEMON AND THYME



Grilled Whole Fish with Lemon and Thyme image

Use the freshest white fish you can find for this recipe. Stuffed with lemons and thyme, it cooks in no time on the grill, which makes for an easy dinner. The fish is especially delicious with a dab of homemade Sorrel Green-Goddess Dressing.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Seafood Recipes

Time 25m

Yield Serves 8 to 10

Number Of Ingredients 6

Olive oil, for rubbing
2 white fish, such as scup, pike, perch, or trout (each 1 1/2 to 2 pounds), gutted, scaled, and patted dry
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
4 lemons, 2 thinly sliced into rounds, 2 halved
1 bunch fresh thyme
Sorrel Green-Goddess Dressing, for serving

Steps:

  • Preheat grill for direct-heat cooking, or build a fire and burn down wood until only red coals and gray ash remain.
  • Rub a thin film of oil over cavities and skins of fish. Generously season all over (including cavities) with salt and pepper. Divide half of lemon rounds and thyme sprigs evenly between cavities. Secure cavities with skewers.
  • Place fish in a grill basket; scatter remaining lemon rounds, halved lemons, and thyme around them. Place basket on grill grate and cook, turning once, until fish are charred in places and just cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes, depending on size. Fillet fish and cut into portions. Serve with grilled lemon halves and dressing.

SPICY LIME AND DILL GRILLED FISH



Spicy Lime and Dill Grilled Fish image

Super-fast entree that tastes like you spent time in the kitchen. Light, crisp flavors of lime and dill say 'summertime' even if you grill this in the winter! Don't like spicy food? No problem, just omit the red pepper flakes. Delicious with a side of grilled asparagus! Just pull the packets from the grill and serve. You can even eat out of packets for a hobo-style meal!

Provided by Ginny Maziarka

Categories     Seafood     Fish

Time 20m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 8

cooking spray
2 pounds haddock fillets, each cut into thirds
6 tablespoons butter, melted
1 limes, juiced (with pulp)
1 tablespoon dried dill weed
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 onion, sliced crosswise 1/8-inch thick

Steps:

  • Preheat grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
  • Lay 4 8x10-inch pieces of aluminum foil onto a flat work surface and spray with cooking spray.
  • Arrange equal amounts of the haddock into the center of each foil square.
  • Stir butter, lime juice, dill, kosher salt, and red pepper flakes together in a small bowl; drizzle evenly over each portion of fish. Top each portion with onion slices.
  • Bring opposing ends of the foil together and roll together to form a seam. Roll ends toward fish to seal packets.
  • Cook packets on the preheated grill until fish flakes easily with a fork, 5 to 7 minutes per side.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 368.5 calories, Carbohydrate 4.2 g, Cholesterol 175.2 mg, Fat 19.2 g, Fiber 0.8 g, Protein 43.7 g, SaturatedFat 11.3 g, Sodium 760.2 mg, Sugar 1.4 g

Tips:

  • When selecting a whole fish for grilling, choose one that is fresh and has bright, clear eyes.
  • Rinse the fish thoroughly and pat it dry with paper towels before cooking.
  • Score the fish's skin in several places to help it cook evenly.
  • Season the fish with salt, pepper, and your favorite herbs and spices.
  • Place the fish on a well-oiled grill grate and cook it over medium heat.
  • Cook the fish until it is opaque and flakes easily with a fork, about 10-15 minutes per inch of thickness.
  • Serve the fish immediately with a squeeze of lime juice and your favorite dipping sauce.

Conclusion:

Grilling whole fish is a simple and delicious way to enjoy this healthy and versatile protein. With a little practice, you can grill a perfectly cooked fish that is sure to impress your family and friends. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal, give grilled whole fish a try.

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