A foolproof Mediterranean fish recipe featuring tender sea bream marinated in a garlic-lemon sauce and roasted with baby potatoes using the wet parchment method.
Servings 2people
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mediterranean, Turkish
Ingredients
2wholeSea bream (cleaned and scaled)
1lbBaby potatoes (halved if large)
1largeOnion, sliced into rings
½cupExtra virgin olive oil
2tbspLemon juice (freshly squeezed)
3clovesGarlic, minced
1tspPaprika
1tspDried thyme
1tspSalt
Equipment
Large Baking Dish: Big enough to fit the fish without bending the tail.
Sharp Chef's Knife: For scoring the skin and slicing lemons.
Small Bowl: To whisk together the lemon-garlic oil sauce.
Kitchen Tweezers: (Optional) To check for and remove any small pin bones before serving.
Method
Wash and thoroughly dry the sea bream. Place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
Take some of your onion rings and place them inside the cavity of the fish. This keeps the fish moist and adds flavor from within.
In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, red pepper powder, thyme, and salt. Whisk until well combined.
Brush the marinade generously over both sides of the fish. Toss the baby potatoes and the remaining onions in the leftover sauce and arrange them around the fish.
Take a sheet of parchment paper and run it under water. Squeeze out the excess water and crumple the paper. Spread it over the entire tray, tucking in the edges.
Place in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) and bake for 35-40 minutes. The wet paper will "steam-roast" the fish.
Remove the tray from the oven and discard the wet parchment paper. Return the tray to the oven for another 10-15 minutes until the fish skin and potatoes are golden and crispy.
Serve hot with a fresh arugula salad and a wedge of lemon.
If your sea bream are large (over 1 lb each), increase the baking time by 5–10 minutes. The fish is done when the flesh flakes easily with a fork and reaches 145°F internal temperature.