Branzino Alla Max Recipes

BRANZINO MEDITERRANEAN

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.

BRANZINO A LABELLE

Steps:

• Season the branzino fillets with salt and a big pinch of pepper. Sprinkle with the turmeric.
• Heat the grapeseed oil in a large pan over medium heat until shimmering. Add the fillets to the pan and cook for 2 minutes. Flip and add the butter, parsley and garlic to the pan. Continue cooking, basting the fish as the butter melts, until cooked through, about 2 minutes.
• Transfer the fillets to a platter. Garnish on the side with the tomatoes and lemon wedges.

BRANZINO WITH ROASTED TOMATOES, OLIVE OIL POACHED MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• For the mushrooms: In a saucepan over medium-high heat, add the olive oil to the pan and allow to heat until the verge of smoking. Then reduce the heat to medium and add the mushrooms. Allow the mushrooms to cook for 5 to 6 minutes, and then remove.
• For the fish: In a nonstick saute pan, add the grapeseed oil over medium heat for 1 minute. Sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper, and then add the fish to the pan, flesh-side down. Cook for 2 minutes, flip the fish and turn the heat off. Allow the fish to finish with the residual heat for 2 minutes. Then remove the fish and allow to rest until serving.
• For the sauce: In the same pan, return to medium-high heat. Sprinkle the tomatoes with salt and pepper, add to the pan and cook for 1 minute. Then flip the tomatoes and add the wine to deglaze the pan. Next, add the lemon juice, parsley and garlic. Remove the tomatoes and arrange flat on a serving plate, end to end. Allow the sauce to reduce by half, yielding 1/2 cup. Once reduced, turn the heat off and stir in the butter to finish the sauce. Then place the fish over the tomatoes, arrange the mushrooms and spoon the sauce over the fish. Serve.

BRANZINO WITH BROWN BUTTER AND ALMONDS ON A BED OF CRISPY KALE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the broiler.
• Drizzle the kale with a little EVOO and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Arrange on a rack set over a rimmed baking sheet and broil until crisp, about 5 minutes.
• Warm a serving platter in a 250 degree F oven.
• Heat 1 tablespoon EVOO in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the fish with salt and pepper, then saute until just cooked through, about 3 minutes on each side. Douse the fish with the vermouth, then transfer to the platter and cover to keep warm.
• Return the skillet to the heat and toast the almonds over medium heat. Add the butter and cook until browned, about 3 minutes. Grate the zest of the lemon and add it to the browned butter, then squeeze in the juice from half the lemon. Stir in the parsley.
• Arrange the fish on a bed of crispy kale. Slice the remaining lemon half into 4 thin rounds and place one on each piece of fish. Spoon the brown butter sauce and the almonds on top.