YELLOW TAIL SNAPPER BAKED IN A SALT CRUST

Yellow Tail Snapper Baked in a Salt Crust image

Provided by Tyler Florence

Time 1h10m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 (3 to 4 pound) whole yellow tail snapper, scaled and cleaned
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 lemons, sliced thin
2 shallots, sliced thin
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
3 tablespoons thyme leaves
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for oiling baking sheet
4 egg whites, room temperature
1 cup kosher salt

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Rinse the fish and pat dry; season it inside and out with salt and pepper. In a mixing bowl, combine the lemon, shallot, parsley, 2 tablespoons thyme, bay leaves, red pepper flakes, and 1/4-cup olive oil. Place the fish on an oiled baking sheet and stuff the cavity with the lemon mixture.
In a clean mixing bowl, whip the egg whites until they form soft peaks. Fold in the salt to make a paste then fold in the remaining thyme leaves. Smear the salt paste over the entire fish and roast for 35 to 45 minutes. The egg whites will form a hard crust. Gently crack the shell with a spoon and lift off the salt crust. Serve.