Ingredients:

  • 1 whole sea bass (about 2-3 pounds), cleaned and scaled
  • 1 lemon, thinly sliced
  • 4 sprigs of fresh thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • ½ cup parsley, finely chopped (for garnish)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Rinse the whole sea bass under cold water and pat it dry with paper towels. Place it on a large cutting board.
  3. Using a sharp knife, make diagonal cuts across both sides of the fish at about one-inch intervals. This will help the seasoning penetrate better.
  4. Rub salt and freshly ground black pepper generously inside the cavity and over both sides of the fish.
  5. Stuff the cavity of the sea bass with half of the lemon slices, all of the minced garlic, and fresh thyme sprigs. Reserve remaining lemon slices for garnishing later.
  6. In a small bowl, mix together olive oil and remaining salt & pepper. Brush this mixture all over both sides of the fish evenly.
  7. Place a large piece of parchment paper or aluminum foil on a baking sheet for easy cleanup. Lay down any remaining lemon slices on top as well for flavor infusion before placing your seasoned sea bass on top.
  8. Bake in preheated oven for about 25 minutes or until fish is opaque and flakes easily when tested with a fork at its thickest part.
  9. Once cooked, remove from oven and let rest for about five minutes before serving. Sprinkle chopped parsley over it as garnish before transferring to a serving platter.