Best Whole Striped Bass Recipes

WHOLE STRIPED BASS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• Trim the fins from the fish, rinse and pat dry. Set aside.
• Rub the bottom of a roasting pan with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Place 1/2 of the parsley, dill, lemon and onion in the center of the roasting pan. Make sure that this mound of aromatics is high enough to prevent the fish from touching the bottom of the pan. Rub the fish inside and out with 1 tablespoon of the oil. Season the fish inside and out with the salt and pepper and lay on the bed of aromatics. Place the second half of the aromatics on top of the fish and drizzle with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Cover the roasting pan tightly with aluminum foil and cook for 30 to 35 minutes or until the fish reaches an internal temperature of 120 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. Remove from the oven and allow to sit for 10 minutes before transferring whole to a platter lined with the additional fresh parsley. Serve immediately.

WHOLE SMOKE-ROASTED STRIPED BASS AND ROCKET PESTO

Steps:

• Make sure the fish has had all its scales removed, and that the inside cavity is clean. If there are any scales left, remove them using the back of a knife to scrape the skin from tail to head. Pat the skin dry with a towel.
• Prepare smoker and bring heat to 400degreesF (200 degrees C). We recommend oak or hickory as the smoke wood.
• In a blender, puree the olive oil, garlic, 5 cups (300 g) parsley leaves, rosemary, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until smooth. Coat the fish with the herb mixture inside and out. Stuff the cavity with the basil, tarragon, thyme, and remaining 1 bunch parsley.
• Transfer fish to a large foil-lined baking sheet, and smoke for 5 minutes for every inch (2.5 cm) the fish measures at its largest circumference, or until the fish's internal temperature reaches 140 degrees F (60 degrees C).
• To serve, gently transfer roasted fish to a large platter or cutting board and drizzle with Rocket Pesto. Serve with Cheesy Grilled Corn.
• Pesto is traditionally made with basil, garlic, parmesan or pecorino cheese, pine nuts, and olive oil, but we thought we'd shake things up a bit by replacing the basil with arugula and substituting pistachios for pine nuts.
• In a food processor, puree the pistachios, garlic, and cheese. Add arugula and pulse to combine. With the motor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
• Grilled corn with cotija cheese (a hard, dry cheese named for the town in Mexico from whence it originates), mayonnaise, and a dusting of chili powder is popular street food in Mexico. One bite and it's easy to see why. Here's our version.
• In the bowl of a food processor, puree the egg yolks, garlic, and lemon juice. With the motor running, slowly drizzle in oil to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl and reserve.
• Prepare grill. When fire is medium-hot (you should not be able to hold your hand over the coals for more than 10 seconds), grill corn for about 5 minutes, rolling it to toast all sides and keep it from burning (C). Remove from grill and slather with aioli, then sprinkle with queso fresco and chili powder. Serve with lime wedges.

CRISPY WHOLE STRIPED BASS WITH RED TOMATILLO SAUCE AND ROASTED RED POTATOES

Steps:

• Heat about 2 inches of oil in a high-sided skillet over medium heat to 360 degrees F.
• Whisk together flour, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Whisk in enough water to make a batter the consistency of a crepe batter. When the oil has 360 degrees. Season each fish well on the inside and outside and dip into the batter, allowing any excess to run off. Carefully place 2 whole fish in each pan and cook until golden brown on both sides. Serve each fish on a large plate, ladle with some of the Red Tomatillo Sauce, and arrange the Roasted New Herb Potatoes around the plate.
• Red Tomatillo Sauce: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place tomatillos in a small roasting pan, toss with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Roast until soft, about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Heat remaining olive oil in medium sauce pan, add onions and cook until soft. Add garlic and habanero and cook for 1 minute. Add the chile powder and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatillos, stir, and cook for 10 minute. Transfer the mixture to a food processor, add the vinegar, honey, and cilantro, and process until almost smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• Roasted New Herbed Potatoes: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Toss potatoes with olive oil, garlic, and salt and pepper, to taste. Place in a small roasting dish and roast until cooked through and golden brown. Remove from oven and immediately fold in the herbs.

WRAPPED AND GRILLED WHOLE STRIPED BASS WITH SALSA

Steps:

• Combine marinade ingredients in a glass or ceramic baking dish. Whisk to combine. Using a sharp knife, score several diagonal lines along the length of the fish, down to spine, on either side. Marinate 1 hour in the refrigerator. After marinating, preheat grill or broiler. Meanwhile, prepare salsa: Preheat the broiler. Place the tomatoes, garlic, chilies and onion on a baking tray. Tuck the garlic underneath the vegetables to avoid blackening.
• Broil, turning frequently, until well charred, 15 minutes. Set aside to cool. Transfer roasted ingredients to a food processor fitted with the metal blade or blender and puree until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk in the olive oil and add the avocado. Set aside. Blanch greens in a large pot of boiling, salted water, just until the water returns to a boil. Refresh with iced water and drain. On a large baking sheet, arrange greens, overlapping to form 2 rectangles as long as each fish and more than twice as wide. Place each fish in the middle of each rectangle and wrap with greens so that only the head and tail are exposed. The dampness will make them cling.
• Transfer fish to grill, reserving marinade. Cook 7 to 8 minutes per side, until greens, head and tail blacken. It will take 2 spatulas, one at the head and one at the tail, to turn fish. Don't be concerned about greens sticking. To test for doneness, try to pull out a dorsal fin from the top of the fish. If it slides out easily, the fish is done. To serve, place whole fish on a serving platter. Using a dull knife and soup spoon, scrape off any remaining skin and remove fins. Cut along spine first and serve the top fillet. Lift tail, insert knife between bones and flesh, and run it along length. All (or most) bones should easily lift out. Repeat for second fish. Serve with the salsa.

ROASTED WHOLE STRIPED BASS WITH SALMORIGLIO

Steps:

• In a bowl, mix the herbs with the garlic and olive oil. Add the lemon zest and juice and stir gently. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 500°. Grease a baking sheet with olive oil.
• Rinse the fish and pat dry. Trim off the fins.
• Scatter the herb stems, bay leaves and garlic on the baking sheet.
• Place a row of lemon slices down the center of pan; reserve one slice. Place half of the onion slices over the lemon slices.
• Place the fish over the onions and season liberally with salt and pepper. Place the remaining onions on top of fish.
• Drizzle with olive oil and place the remaining slice of lemon on top of fish. Cover with foil and bake until the fish is cooked through, about 20 minutes. Serve the fish whole, with the salmoriglio sauce on the side.

WHOLE GRILLED ACHIOTE STRIPED BASS WITH SPICY PICKLED RED ONIONS

Steps:

• Preheat the grill to medium-high.
• In a medium bowl add the orange juice and the lime juice. Stir in the achiote paste, cumin, oregano and salt. Mix into a smooth paste. Rub the paste all over inside and outside of the fish. Drizzle both sides of the fish liberally with vegetable or canola oil. Put the fish on the grill. Grill until golden, about 4 minutes and then carefully flip the fish over. Grill until the fish starts to separate when lifted with a spatula. Fish will be golden brown with some charring.
• Lay the fish on a large platter. Cover with pickled red onions, sliced avocado and chopped cilantro and serve family style.
• To make the Pickled Red Onions:
• Add the sliced onions to a medium-size bowl large enough for the onions to be spread out into a thin layer. Juice the limes into the bowl, then add the chopped chile and salt. Stir to combine. Allow to sit at room temperature for 2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes or cover and refrigerate overnight. Onions are ready when they are bright pink and softened. Their flavor will be sweet and spicy with a little texture but not crunchy.
• Yield: about 1 cup

CRISPY WHOLE STRIPED BASS WITH RED TOMATILLO SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat about 2 inches of oil in 2 high-sided skillets over medium heat to 360 degrees F.
• Whisk together flour, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Whisk in enough water to make a batter the consistency of a crepe batter. When the oil has reached 360 degrees, season each fish well on the inside and outside and dip into the batter, allowing any excess to run off. Carefully place 2 whole fish in each pan and cook until golden brown on both sides. Serve each fish on a large plate, ladle with some of the Red Tomatillo Sauce, and serve.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Place tomatillos in a small roasting pan, toss with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Roast until soft, about 20 to 25 minutes.
• Heat remaining olive oil in medium saucepan, add onions and cook until soft. Add garlic and habanero and cook for 1 minute. Add the chile powder and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatillos, stir, and cook for 10 minute. Transfer the mixture to a food processor, add the vinegar, honey, and cilantro, and process until almost smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

WHOLE STRIPED BASS WITH LEMON AND MINT

Steps:

• Arrange rack 6 inches below broiler. Preheat broiler. Line rimmed baking sheet with foil. Cut 1 lemon half into slices. Cut other half into wedges. Place fish on foil. Sprinkle inside and out with salt and pepper. Blend olive oil, onions, chopped mint, lemon juice, oregano, and garlic in mini processor until coarse puree forms. Season sauce with salt and pepper. Reserve 3 tablespoons sauce. Spread remaining sauce inside cavity and over fish, rubbing into cuts in flesh. Place lemon slices and mint sprigs in cavity.
• Broil fish until cooked through and skin is crisp, about 5 minutes per side. Serve fish with lemon wedges and reserved sauce.

WHOLE STRIPED BASS WITH FENNEL AND TOMATOES IN A ROASTING BAG

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Scrape off any scales adhering to the fish and refrigerate.
• Cut the feathery green fronds off the fennel and reserve. Cut off the stalks at the top of the bulb and discard. Use a vegetable peeler to remove any rough, stringy fiber from the outside of the bulb and then cut the fennel into 3 wedges. Place in a non-aluminum pan with the wine, coriander seeds, olive oil and salt and pepper. Simmer over low heat, covered, until the wedges soften but still retain some crunch, about 20 minutes. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, rinse and dry the fish, season it with salt and pepper and slide it into a roasting bag. (If the fish is too large you can cut off its head, but avoid this if possible as a headless fish makes a much less dramatic presentation.)
• Put the fennel, its cooking liquid and the reserved fennel fronds in the bag with the fish. Season the tomatoes with salt and pepper and add them to the bag. Push down on the bag to squeeze out excess air and seal with string.
• Carefully place the bag in an oval baking dish or shallow pan (it's easiest to bake the fish in something you can take straight to the table) and bake for about 15 minutes per inch of thickness (about 30 minutes for a 2-inch-thick fish).
• To serve, cut the bag open with a knife or scissors and serve pieces of fish surrounded by fennel, chopped tomatoes and a spoonful of the cooking juices.